Breanna Stewart returns to EuroLeague action, her timing raising questions amidst ongoing WNBA CBA negotiations and potential player leverage.
The whole idea of the Unrivaled league seems to fall apart as seven-time WNBA All-Star Breanna Stewart is heading back overseas.
On Monday, Fenerbahçe Opet announced Stewart’s return to the Turkish powerhouse ahead of the 2025–26 EuroLeague Final Six, which tips off April 15 in Zaragoza, Spain. The tournament concludes April 19 — the same day WNBA training camps are currently scheduled to open.
Under ordinary circumstances, Stewart’s short-term EuroLeague stint would be viewed simply as a competitive opportunity. She previously starred for Fenerbahçe during the 2022–23 season, earning All-EuroLeague First Team honors and capturing Final Four MVP while leading the club to a championship.
This time, however, the timing carries additional weight.
Stewart is not only the face of the New York Liberty but also a vice president of the Women’s National Basketball Players Association (WNBPA). With negotiations between the WNBA and players ongoing over a new collective bargaining agreement, every move by a union leader is being scrutinized.
The previous CBA expired Jan. 9. Talks have continued without a finalized agreement, and players have already voted overwhelmingly to authorize a strike if necessary. NBA Commissioner Adam Silver acknowledged the urgency during All-Star Weekend.
“Often things tend to get done at the 11th hour,” Silver said. “We’re getting awfully close to the 11th hour when it comes to bargaining.”
Though it recently got a reality check from veteran sportscaster Robin Lundberg. But against that backdrop, Stewart's commitment to play through mid-April in Europe has fueled speculation about what it signals. Some observers interpret it as leverage regarding the league’s prioritization rule, a provision in the previous CBA requiring veteran players under contract to report by the start of training camp or May 1, whichever came later. Failure to do so resulted in a season-long suspension.
The prioritization rule has also long frustrated several star players, particularly those balancing domestic commitments with overseas opportunities.
Still, Stewart’s timeline does not necessarily conflict with the scheduled start of the 2026 WNBA season in May. The EuroLeague Final Six concludes weeks before the regular-season tipoff, and she is not alone.
However, Liberty teammate Emma Meesseman and Team USA forward Gabby Williams are also part of Fenerbahçe’s roster, alongside WNBA standouts Kayla McBride, Teaira McCowan and others.
From a basketball standpoint, Fenerbahçe enters the tournament as a title favorite despite last season’s semifinal exit. Stewart’s presence strengthens a roster already built for a championship run. She averaged 21.7 points and eight rebounds during her previous EuroLeague campaign with the club.
There is also the practical concern of workload. Stewart is currently playing in Unrivaled, the new offseason league, and would transition from that into EuroLeague competition before returning to the WNBA.
The condensed schedule raises legitimate questions about fatigue and injury risk for the 31-year-old forward, who remains central to the Liberty’s title hopes.
For now, Stewart’s decision can be viewed as both competitive and calculated.