UConn lessons: toughness and standards

"We know as the players grow, the league grows and vice versa, so we aren't settling for anything less than we've earned." Breanna Stewart

March celebrates all the amazing women out there and we were pumped to sit down with one of the greatest female athletes of this generation who isn't just a legend on the court, but a superstar in all aspects! Basketball royalty Breanna Stewart joins The Pivot Podcast for a powerful conversation about leadership, legacy, and the future of women’s basketball.

Fresh off winning a championship in Unrivaled Basketball, a league Stewart and her former teammate Napheesa Collier created, Breanna is preparing to etch her legacy in stone even more as she is at the forefront of a historical moment for the WNBA.

Breanna opens up about her role in helping shape the WNBA’s next collective bargaining agreement and why this is critical for the league’s continued growth. She shares insight into how players are pushing for improved salaries, revenue sharing, better working conditions, and long-term sustainability as the popularity of women’s basketball reaches new heights. The foundation was built from strong women like herself, Sue Bird, Diana Taurasi to the new energy of Caitlin Clark, Angel Reese, Aja Wilson and Paige Bueckers...Women's sports is drawing millions of viewers worldwide.

Stewart also discusses the vision behind the new Unrivaled league and why creating more opportunities for WNBA players during the offseason was so important. She explains how the league is designed to keep elite players competing in the United States while giving them greater ownership, financial opportunities, and a stronger voice in the business side of the sport. With more eyes on the sport than ever, the challenge to get it right is one of the most defining opportunities in her career.

The conversation also reflects on Stewart's iconic journey—from becoming one of the greatest players in UConn history with four National Championships to winning three WNBA titles to MVP honors to the privilege of playing and winning gold for her country with Team USA . She talks about the pressure that came with being a generational talent, how those expectations shaped her competitive mindset, and what she hopes her legacy will be as the women’s game continues to evolve.

Off the court, Stewart shares how motherhood and marriage have changed her perspective on life and basketball. She speaks candidly about balancing family with the demands of being a professional athlete, how becoming a mom has influenced her leadership, and the importance of building a future where the next generation of players—and young girls watching—have more opportunities than ever before. No stranger to using her platform for change, Stewart is a powerful voice in cultural and society issues as well as an advocate for women of sexual abuse.

From the young girl who learned competition the hard way to now on the front lines advocating for the growth of women’s sports, Breanna Stewart continues to push the game forward while competing at the highest level.

It’s a powerful discussion about impact, ownership, and using your platform to change the game. Pivot Family! Please comment, like, hit the subscribe button, we enjoy hearing and learning from you- the good and the bad, we want to hear it all!

Hot Topics Covered:

• WNBA Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA) negotiations

• The vision behind the Unrivaled basketball league

• UConn dominance and college basketball legacy

• Winning WNBA championships and MVPs

• Leadership in women’s basketball

• Motherhood, marriage, and life off the court

• Representing Team USA and Olympic success

• Building the future of women’s sports

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