Seattle’s Breanna Stewart poses with the WNBA Finals MVP trophy and the WNBA championship trophy after the Storm beat Washington in a three-game sweep Sept. 12, 2018 in Fairfax, Virginia. (AP Photo/Nick Wass)

Seattle’s Breanna Stewart poses with the WNBA Finals MVP trophy and the WNBA championship trophy after the Storm beat Washington in a three-game sweep Sept. 12, 2018 in Fairfax, Virginia. (AP Photo/Nick Wass)

Storm star Stewart to miss 2019 WNBA season

The reigning league MVP ruptured her Achilles tendon playing overseas Sunday.

  • By Percy Allen The Seattle Times
  • Wednesday, April 17, 2019 8:40pm
  • SportsStorm

By Percy Allen

The Seattle Times

SEATTLE — The Storm are expected to be without the WNBA’s reigning most valuable player, Breanna Stewart, for the 2019 season, the team announced Wednesday.

The 6-foot-4 forward ruptured her right Achilles tendon on Sunday while playing for her Russian team Dynamo Kursk in the EuroLeague Final Four championship.

Stewart took to Instagram to thank supporters and promised to return “better than ever.”

“First off, I just want to say thank you for the tremendous amount of love and support I’ve received over the past few days,” Stewart wrote on her Instagram account. “The situation is still a shock to me, I have ruptured my right Achilles tendon.”

On Monday she flew to Los Angeles, where medical examinations confirmed initial reports of the injury that typically requires 6-12 months of recovery.

Dr. Neal ElAttrache of the Kerlan-Jobe Orthopaedic Clinic will perform the surgery, according to the Storm.

It’s uncertain if Stewart will play overseas this year, but the Storm believe she’ll return for the 2020 season.

“This is a tough time for Stewie and our hearts go out to her,” Storm CEO and general manager Alisha Valavanis said in a statement. “The Storm family is behind her and we will support Stewie in every way we can as she begins her journey back to the court.”

Without Stewart, the defending champion Storm are no longer the favorites to win the WNBA title.

Last year, she averaged a career-best 21.8 points, 8.4 rebounds, 2.5 assists, 1.4 blocks and 1.3 steals while guiding Seattle to a league-best 26-8 record.

During the postseason, Stewart continued her dominance while averaging 24.6 points, 6.8 rebounds and 2.5 assists during two playoff series.

The Storm beat the Phoenix Mercury, 3-2, in the semifinals before claiming a 3-0 sweep over the Washington Mystics for their third WNBA title and first championship since 2010.

Stewart, the WNBA Finals MVP, went on to claim MVP honors while guiding USA to a gold medal in the FIBA World Cup in December.

Stewart, who was recently named the EuroLeague MVP, averaged 20.9 points and 8.6 rebounds for Dynamo Kursk.

“This year especially has been amazing and filled with lots of success and as we all know there are highs and lows throughout a career,” Stewart said. “This is just another obstacle that I will overcome. I’m thankful that I have so many people in my corner to help me every step of the way.

“I’m feeling every emotion possible at this point but just know that the bounce back will be real and I’ll be back better than ever.”

Talk to us

More in Sports

Everett Community College has hired longtime assistant coach Daniel Thompson (middle) as its new head men's basketball coach. (EvCC Athletics photo)
EvCC names Thompson new men’s basketball head coach

Thompson, 35, has been an assistant with the Trojans for 9 seasons and takes over for Mike Trautman, who stepped down in April.

X
Spring 2023 All-Wesco teams

Note: All-Wesco teams are chosen by the league’s coaches. For any misspellings… Continue reading

Hammer throw.
Local trio shines in high school hammer throw finals

Adrianna Coleman and Kimberly Beard place 1-2 in the women’s portion, and Calvin Gutierrez takes 2nd in the men’s championship.

Washington celebrates a home run by Rylee Holtorf (3) at home plate during the second inning of an NCAA softball Women's College World Series game against Utah Friday, June 2, 2023, in Oklahoma City. (AP Photo/Nate Billings)
UW opens Women’s College World Series with key win over Utah

After being rained out on Thursday, Washington beats Utah 4-1 to advance into the winner’s bracket.

X
Vote for The Herald’s Prep Athlete of the Week for May 22-28

The Athlete of the Week nominees for May 22-28 Voting closes at… Continue reading

X
Hops rally in 9th inning to sink AquaSox

Reid VanScoter turns in an impressive outing, but Everett’s bullpen falters late in a 4-3 defeat.

Rangers shortstop Corey Seager (left) reaches down to tag out the Mariners’ Teoscar Hernande, who was trying to stretch a single into a double during the third inning of a game Friday in Arlington, Texas. (AP Photo/Tony Gutierrez)
Mariners’ bats silent in shutout by Rangers

Seattle’s offense musters just three hits in the 2-0 defeat.

X
AquaSox can’t make huge rally hold, lose to Hops

Everett takes the lead with six runs in the eighth, but allows two runs back in the ninth and falls 13-12 to Hillsboro.

The Everett Elite Flag Football 14-under team practices Sunday morning at Harbour Pointe Middle School in Mukilteo, Washington on January 16, 2022. (Kevin Clark / The Herald)
Community roundup: 3 Jackson grads to D-I baseball tournament

Plus, Jayden White is headed back to the NCAA track and field nationals, the Silvertips sign their first-round picks and more.

Most Read