As the new 3v3 basketball league prepares to tip off in 2025, Boardroom sat down with Stewart to discuss the emerging league and securing key sponsorships, her impending Olympics run, and more.
Breanna Stewart exemplifies of excellence in the world of women’s basketball, continually cementing her name in history with her on and off court achievements. The 8-year veteran’s accomplishments transcend mere statistics and accollades, embodying a commitment to constantly foster the growth of the sport.
As one of the foundational players of the WNBA’s super team New York Liberty, Stewart’s leadership extends beyond traditional arenas of play. Most recently, alongside fellow WNBA star Napheesa Collier, she co-founded Unrivaled, a pioneering 3v3 basketball league, which tips off in Miami in January 2025. The league consists of six teams, with five players on each team. In its inaugural year, the emerging league has already unveiled top-tier talent, including both Stewart and Collier, Kelsey Plum, and Jewell Loyd. However, more importantly, it introduces a new professional opportunity for top tier talent in women’s hoops to secure a bag, while staying in the US.
On Friday, Unrivaled announced its “first and founding” partnership with Ally, its first and founding brand partner. As the official retail banking partner of Unrivaled, jerseys for all six teams will boast the financial services firm’s logo; Ally will activate hospitality and fan engagement opportunities and appear in online/digital content and in-arena signage. However, perhaps more importantly, the partnership includes a major media spend, which will be a critical variable as the league secures broadcast rights. Stewart herself also joins Team Ally, alongside other elite athletes, including Ali Krieger, Nneka Ogwumike, and more.
The partnership marks the most recent investment in women’s sports for the financial institution, which set an industry-shifting 50/50 pledge in 2022 and has shown up repeatedly to broaden the media availability of women’s sports.
“You’re not only impacting and catalyzing the industry and helping athletes directly, but it’s also showing up in brand and business returns. So it’s been a no-brainer for us to continue keeping our foot on the gas and continue to elevate our investments,” Stephanie Marciano, Head of Sports & Entertainment for Ally recently told Boardroom.
Ahead of the announcement, Stewart spoke with Boardroom about partnering with Ally, competing in her third Summer Olympic Games, and how the New York Liberty are elevating the WNBA fan experience.
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This interview has been edited for length and clarity.
VINCIANE NGOMSI: For years now, Ally has been at the core of the storytelling when it comes to women’s sports through the NWSL and now Unrivaled. How does it feel having the support of such a large company?
BREANNA STEWART: I think it’s amazing, and I’m really excited to have Ally be a part of Unrivaled just because they seem to always want to be on the right side of history and continuing to elevate women in sports and make sure we continue to grow together. With the help of Ally, we’re going to continue helping these players build their brands. So we are not going overseas, we’re staying home. We’re in a different market than the W and want to make sure fans new and old can find us wherever we are when the W is not going on.
VN: What’s the appeal of having a 3-on-3 team versus a regular starting five lineup?
BS: When I started playing being at the downtown Y, you go, and you’re playing 3-on-3, and it’s just faster. It is more competitive, it’s quicker turnaround from offense to defense, and it’s a way for us to have these quick games. You see three on three at the Olympics and it’s a way to get in great shape, too.
VN: We’re just under a couple of weeks out from the Olympics. How are you preparing yourself mentally and physically to adjust to European time and play alongside other members of Team USA?
BS: Honestly, it’s not too much of a prep. I’m really excited for the Olympics, knowing that this is my third one, and I feel like Paris is going to be crazy in itself. But to go alongside the other best 11 players in the world, a lot of respect comes with that because we know our time together is short. We’re making up for a lot and we want to continue to represent USA with pride and win gold medals.
VN: We’re halfway through the W season, and of course, the Liberty are performing exceptionally well as expected. How do you plan on maintaining that momentum even after the Olympics going into the mad dash of the second half of the season?
BS: Honestly I think Olympic years are one of the hardest years in the WNBA because you have this one month gap that is not normal. But what my message to my team is going to like everybody go home, relax, get your rest. When you come back, be ready to lock back in, tighten up any loose ends because people are going to come out and be even hungrier and so are we. Where we are right now doesn’t mean anything.
VN: Your relationship with Puma grows as your career progresses. When designing your signature sneaker, how do you all keep the creativity alive?
BS: I’m really happy with my partnership with Puma. I think that we just continue to grow together and I can’t believe we’re on the Stewie 3 at this point. But now I’m making sure all my shoes have a story, but also the product is what the consumer wants and also what I want. I want my shoe to be colorful, loud, and vibrant. [I am] so excited with the shoes that have dropped so far this season and there’ll definitely be more coming.
VN: The Liberty have been performing exceptionally well, but I think the real MVP this season has been Ellie the Elephant. She is so fun to watch and I love how you all participate in the tunnel walks with her on game day. And that’s obviously elevated the appeal of going to Liberty matches. What’s been her impact on the team in your opinion?
BS: I mean, Ellie is definitely building her brand as we speak day in and day out. The games at Barclays are an experience and I feel like anybody who goes, that’s what you feel. Because between the games, the Timeless Torches, then you have Ellie, who you could be watching the entire game she’s having a lot of fun. Not many W teams have mascots, and Ellie, I have to say, is top of the top.
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