VIDEO EXCLUSIVE: N.Y. Liberty’s Breanna Stewart Eyes Olympic Gold For Women’s Basketball In Paris

Olympic gold medalist Breanna Stewart believes women’s basketball is poised for unprecedented growth, with the Paris 2024 Olympics serving as a pivotal moment for the sport’s global appeal.

Stewart, a key player for the U.S. national team, expressed optimism about the current trajectory of women’s basketball. “I hope that we can continue to sustain this momentum that we’re having and build on it,” she said, citing the recent NCAA March Madness tournament as a springboard for increased interest.

The four-time WNBA All-Star emphasized the importance of maintaining fan engagement from the college season through the WNBA and into the Olympics. “People can continue to watch us in the Olympics,” Stewart noted, highlighting the unique opportunity the Paris Games present for fan interaction.

“This is going to be the first Olympics in a while where fans are able to really engage with us as athletes, be in the arena and also watching on TV,” Stewart explained. The Tokyo Olympics in 2021 were held without spectators due to Covid-19 restrictions.

Stewart, who helped lead Team USA to gold medals in Rio 2016 and Tokyo 2021, is expected to play a crucial role in the team’s quest for an eighth consecutive Olympic title in Paris.

The 29-year-old forward’s excitement extends beyond the upcoming Games. Looking ahead to the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics, Stewart expressed enthusiasm for bringing the event back to the U.S. “To have the Olympics be back on U.S. soil, I think, is something that I could speak for all of Team USA — we’re really excited about,” she said.

However, Stewart emphasized the team’s focus remains on the immediate challenge. “We want to make sure we do our best in Paris in 2024 so then we can focus on that,” she added.

Stewart’s comments come at a time of rising popularity for women’s basketball. The 2023 WNBA season saw record-breaking attendance and viewership numbers, while the 2024 NCAA Women’s Basketball Tournament final between Iowa and South Carolina drew 18.7 million viewers, surpassing the men’s final.

A standout player for the New York Liberty, Stewart was the WNBA MVP in 2018 and 2023. She has also excelled internationally, winning EuroLeague championships and earning multiple Final Four MVP honors.

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