You'd be hard-pressed to find a resume more impressive than that of Seattle Storm superstar forward Breanna Stewart.
ONE PLAY: You never know what's coming next when guarding Stewart
At 26, Stewart is a two-time WNBA champion, a two-time WNBA Finals MVP and the MVP of the 2018 WNBA season. And that only scratches the surface of a list of accomplishments that include four NCAA titles and multiple EuroLeague honours, including MVP and a title this past season.
Today, Stewart added another accomplishment by becoming the newest member of the Puma Hoops family and signing a groundbreaking deal that will see her receive her own signature shoe, something she discussed with ESPN's Nick DePaula and Boardroom.
BREAKING: @WNBA Finals MVP @BreannaStewart has signed with @PUMAhoops — and will receive her own Signature Shoe in the future.
— Nick DePaula (@NickDePaula) May 12, 2021
Stewie will become just the 10th player in #WNBA history with a Signature Shoe, the 1st in 10 years.
She discussed the milestone with @Boardroom: pic.twitter.com/eAV6ANwxWg
"(My) excitement level to sign with Puma, obviously, through the roof," Stewart said of her new beginning. "Something that's big and a big change, but I think that change is good."
She continued, adding how she felt about receiving a signature shoe as part of the deal. "Anytime you hear signature, I think that's like jaw-dropping (and) eye-opening. There haven't been many, especially on the women's side
As DePaula noted in the above tweet, Stewart becomes the 10th player in WNBA history to receive a signature shoe and the first since Candace Parker, who had a signature shoe with Adidas during her time as a member of the Los Angeles Sparks.
Stewart now heads a WNBA Puma Hoops roster that also features Storm (and UConn) teammate Katie Lou Samuelson as well as Phoenix Mercury guard Skylar Diggins-Smith. Stewart becomes the first confirmed Puma athlete to receive a signature shoe, while J. Cole, who recently signed to play in the Basketball Africa League, has collaborated with the brand to release two iterations of his signature sneaker, the RS-Dreamer, which Stewart can be seen wearing in her Puma ad.
THE CHAMP IS HERE 🙌 Welcome to the fam @breannastewart 🐾 #SheMovesUs pic.twitter.com/q5tSefqcmY
— PUMA Basketball (@PUMAHoops) May 12, 2021
As the WNBA celebrates its 25th season, its players continue to make history on and off the floor.
In addition to Stewart's deal, Indiana Fever rookie and No. 4 overall pick Kysre Gondrezick signed a multi-year deal with Adidas Basketball, which, according to DePaula, will place her as a face of the brand for years to come.
MORE: What does Gondrezick bring to the Fever?
Her involvement with Adidas could blossom a number of ways, as the brand has ventured into the lifestyle department with Grammy Award-winning artists like Beyoncé and Kanye West, while the basketball side of things includes the aforementioned Parker on the WNBA side as well as NBA superstars like James Harden, Damian Lillard and Donovan Mitchell.
Nike and Jordan Brand have got things covered, too, as reigning league MVP A'ja Wilson is a Nike athlete in addition to legends Sue Bird and Diana Taurasi, while a new wave of rookies, including No. 1 overall pick Charli Collier, have joined as well.
No. 5 overall pick Chelsea Dungee could be joining a Jordan Brand roster that includes back-to-back Sixth Woman of the Year Dearica Hamby as well as legend Maya Moore, who will again spend the season away from the game to fight for social justice.
With a number of icons making groundbreaking moves, it's clear that WNBA style is much much deeper than the orange hoodie.
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