Make It Happen, Amber: The Everything-Changing Stewie Swing The Collective Bargaining Agreement will be completed.
Perhaps not next week, perhaps not tomorrow, but eventually. Simply put, both sides have too much at stake, too much momentum, and too much money to abandon the situation. When that ink eventually dries, Amber should know that it’s time to make a big move.
Due to this window? It won’t remain open indefinitely. Aliyah Boston and Caitlin Clark are currently under rookie contracts. This gives the team financial breathing room, flexibility, and an opportunity that is rare in the WNBA. The chemistry is developing, the pieces are in place, and the excitement surrounding this team is unlike anything the league has witnessed in a long time. However, sometimes you have to make a move that completely upends the league in order to turn potential into a dynasty.
Brianna Stewart might have made that move. To be clear, Stewie’s resume is self-evident. Three WNBA titles. Two MVPs in the league. MVPs of the Finals. gold medals at the Olympics. She is among the greatest players of all time, not just in the league. Additionally, she is finally entering unrestricted free agency this offseason after being “cored” by the Liberty twice. Thus, she cannot be franchise-tagged by New York once more. Brianna Stewart is finally in control of her next move for the first time in years. And that’s where the interesting part begins.
Stewart’s all-around impact was demonstrated in 2025, when she ranked sixth in defensive win shares and averaged one of the top eight scoring marks in the league. She is still very talented, in her prime, and able to lead a team that is vying for a championship. However, her future now seems less certain than it did a few weeks ago following New York’s playoff exit last month.
During the postgame press conference, Stewart was asked about her plans for 2026 and responded without hesitation that she intended to return to the Liberty. It was the emotional response, the safe one. It’s the kind of thing you say when the season has just ended and you’re feeling both loyal and frustrated. However, the Liberty fired Sandy Brondello, their head coach, three days later. Brondello was the one who initially brought Stewart to New York. The new Toronto expansion team will now be led by Brondello. That is not a trivial matter. Relationships are important in coaching. Trust is important. Additionally, players occasionally begin to perceive the landscape in a different way as the emotion wanes and the dust settles.
Amber and her front office must recognize the opportunity if they are listening, which they always are. Imagine Stewart teaming up with Aliyah Boston, who is already among the most skilled and knowledgeable post players in basketball, and Caitlin Clark, the league’s most exciting young star. With the core already in place, you have a roster that has the potential to change the definition of dominance in the contemporary WNBA. Additionally, don’t undervalue the off-court appeal. Stewart is a brand-builder as well as a competitor. She is astute, deliberate, and conscious of the league’s changing focus. Playing in front of national television audiences, sold-out crowds, and a fan base that is changing the definition of support for women’s sports? It is difficult to overlook that.
Amber has demonstrated her ability to identify and acquire elite talent. Without sacrificing the future, she has methodically assembled this team piece by piece. However, there are instances when taking a risk is the better course of action. One question will therefore define the offseason once the CBAs are completed and the phones begin to ring: Will Amber make the call that makes all the difference? Because this could be the move that transforms a contender into a dynasty if Brianna Stewart is available and all the other elements line up perfectly. Amber, make it happen.
