Breanna Stewart Opens Up About Perfection, Pain, and Power Beyond the Game. Few athletes embody excellence quite like Breanna Stewart — and yet, even after a career filled with titles and trophies, she’s still chasing perfection. Sitting down with Kelley, the all-world basketball star pulled back the curtain on her mindset, her recovery, and her mission to use her platform for change.
Fresh off her comeback from a torn Achilles, Stewart reflected on how the injury reshaped her relationship with the game. “It made me more grateful — every rep, every moment matters now,” she shared.
Despite her legendary college record of 151 wins and just 5 losses at UConn, Stewart admits she’s still haunted by those rare defeats. “I’m still salty about the games we lost,” she said with a grin. “That’s just who I am — I hate losing more than I love winning.”
She also looked back on a moment that sparked her Olympic dreams: watching Team USA at the 2008 Beijing Games. “That was the moment I realized — I want to be there. I want to represent something bigger than myself,” she said.
Stewart spoke about what makes UConn players different — their mentality, discipline, and drive — shaped by the demanding standards of coach Geno Auriemma, with whom she admits she’s butted heads. “We didn’t always agree, but he brought the best out of me,” she reflected.
Her connection with Kobe Bryant also runs deep — both as a mentor and as a source of inspiration. “Kobe showed me what greatness looks like every single day,” she said, her tone softening as she mentioned his passing.
Beyond the court, Stewart has become one of the WNBA’s most powerful voices, advocating for racial justice through the Black Lives Matter movement and standing up for survivors of sexual abuse. “Athletes have a responsibility,” she said. “We have a platform — and if we don’t use it, what’s the point?”
Since winning a WNBA championship just three seasons into her career, Stewart has proven that her impact extends far beyond basketball. Her story is one of resilience, accountability, and the relentless pursuit of something greater — both on and off the hardwood.
Just Women’s Sports exists to spotlight exactly that — the athletes and moments that define women’s sports. In a world where women’s athletics have long been underfunded, under-promoted, and undervalued, JWS stands firm: this isn’t a side project, and it isn’t charity. No gimmicks, no glitter — just raw, powerful stories that remind fans why women’s sports deserve the world’s full attention.
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