Landon Buford
This past Saturday, Seattle Storm forward and former WNBA league and Finals MVP, Breanna Stewart finally made her return, after having to miss the 2019 season due to rupturing her right Achilles tendon. An injury that she suffered during the EuroLeague championship game on April 14, 2019.
The former U Conn product poured in 18 points, grabbed eight rebounds, and collected four steals, as she led the Storm past the New York Liberty [87-71] and their promising rookie standout Sabrina Ionescu. Ionescu had 12 points, six rebounds, and four assists in her WNBA debut.
Stewart’s former coach, Jenny Boucek recently shared what the Storm were getting back in the former MVP. Boucek is currently an assistant coach with the Dallas Mavericks, and coached Stewart from 2016 to 2017.
“Stewie is still young, but she is now entering that conversation along the lines of Lauren Jackson. Where if she is healthy and on the floor, your team has a chance to win a championship. That’s how good she is and so, they get her back healthy, which it sounds like she is and I know she has been extremely dedicated to top-notch rehab and sport science. I know the woman that she has been working with, so I know she has had the very best care,” said Boucek.
“So, there is no doubt in my mind she will be better than ever because sometimes things like that can make you better. Because you appreciate the game more and you get a mental break, which she hasn’t had. And you just have even more fire and competitiveness, and appreciation. That can make you even better and she was already the best player in the world. They are going to the team to beat in my opinion.”
After the game on Saturday, Stewart said, “It felt great to be back on the court, but the most important thing was representing Breonna Taylor, and before the game, and during the game, and continue to fight for justice.”
Taylor a 26-year-old African-American emergency room technician was killed on March 13 as police in Louisville, Kentucky were executing a search warrant, they did not announce themselves before using a battering ram to enter Taylor’s apartment. Taylor and her boyfriend, Kenneth Walker, had been asleep, but were woken up by the loud bang at the door, after a brief exchange, Walker discharge his gun and the police officers did the same and one of their bullets hit Ms. Taylor.
Officer Brett Hankison has fired from LMPD for his part in the murder of Breonna Taylor effective June 23, but Hankison, Jonathan Mattingly, and Myles Cosgrove are still walking free.
