UNCASVILLE, Conn. — One by one, Breanna Stewart took in the questions asked by reporters who approached her in the lobby of Mohegan Sun Casino Thursday morning. There were well-wishers seeking autographs and even some Syracuse alums giving her grief for defeating her hometown Syracuse Orange in last week's NCAA tournament title game, calmly burying each one like she was at shootaround back at Connecticut.
It isn't necessarily the case that a preternatural ability to shoot, rebound and do virtually everything else on a basketball court comes with the media skills to transition seamlessly into the face of a league. But that's what is being asked of Stewart, who was the No. 1 pick by the Seattle Storm in Thursday night's WNBA Draft, and it is a challenge she's not only ready for, but embracing.
“I don't think there's any strategy behind it,” Stewart said, sitting in the hallway outside her Mohegan Sun hotel room. She was dressed in a black skirt and white top, one of several costume changes to make on the day ahead, just after ESPN filmed her entering her hotel room and saying hello to her roommate, fellow draft pick Jonquel Jones. “I think you have to get used to it. With success comes attention, and when you're in front of the camera, you have to act comfortable. Because if you don't, you'll have to do it multiple times.”
Stewart's selection started an unprecedented parade of UConn players at the top of the draft. Guard Moriah Jefferson, a Texas native, went second overall to San Antonio while forward Morgan Tuck of UConn went No. 3 to the Connecticut Sun. This is the first time in draft history three players from the same school went 1-2-3. The Associated Press reported this has never happened in any major sport according to information provided to the WNBA by the Elias Sports Bureau.
Even the knowledge of the process reflects a sophisticated view of the task ahead for Stewart and an ability to focus on it and conquer. But it is the basketball that put Stewart in this position, and her ability to help the Storm cannot be overstated.
This is the player, remember, who tallied more than 400 blocks and 400 assists, adding more than 200 steals to go with it. She shot 58% from the field and better than 42% from three. By Offensive Rating, she was the most effective player in the country this season at Connecticut — and by Defensive Rating, the most effective in the country as well.
There's an awareness that comes through those stats — an ability to find teammates, to anticipate the path to the basket by an opponent, where the open space on the floor will be — and it translates off the court as well, with Stewart instantaneously inquiring whether the maid's cart noisily rolling down the hallway would make it impossible to hear an answer she'd give to a question.
For a Storm team that missed the playoffs last season, finishing 10-24, that acute awareness is a skill that will fundamentally shift the franchise. But with Seattle now definitely without Lauren Jackson, who retired this spring, and Sue Bird in what is likely her last Olympic cycle, a future with Stewart and last year's top pick Jewell Loyd can begin in earnest.
Stewart takes the long view, too, unsurprising from the freshman who created her own Muhammad Ali/Joe Namath moment that will live for as long as fans talk basketball by setting a public goal of winning four championships at Connecticut and then making it so. She understands that what's happening with her now fits within the broader sports landscape for women. And she intends to use her platform to speak out about what matters to her.
“I think people want to hear about me about how to grow the game,” Stewart said. “Because the game needs to grow — not just for us playing the game, but the number of people watching us needs to grow as well.”
Stewart often talks about creating “Wow moments” — things she can do on the court that haven't been done before. It is a specialty of hers, and it simultaneously seems like precisely the skill set necessary for a league desiring more eyes amid the social media age. It's a focus on the individual that even got lost a bit among Connecticut and all that winning.
“It's set us up perfectly,” Stewart said of her place in the league. “All these other sports are stepping up and doing great things. And now it's our turn.”
FULL DRAFT ORDER: First round
1. Seattle, Breanna Stewart, F, UConn
2. San Antonio, Moriah Jefferson, G, UConn
3. Connecticut, Morgan Tuck, F, UConn
4. Connecticut (from Atlanta), Rachel Banham, G, Minnesota
5. Dallas (from Los Angeles), Aerial Powers, F Michigan State
6. a — Los Angeles (from Dallas), Jonquel Jones, C, George Washington
7. Washington, Kahleah Copper, F, Rutgers
8. Phoenix, Courtney Williams, G, South Florida
9. Indiana, Tiffany Mitchell, G, South Carolina
10. Chicago, Imani Boyette, C, Texas
11. Atlanta (from Minnesota), Bria Holmes, G, West Virginia
12. New York, Adut Bulgak, C, Florida State
Second round
13. Atlanta (from San Antonio), Rachel Hollivay, C, Rutgers
14. b — Minnesota (from Seattle), Jazmon Gwathmey, G, James Madison
15. Los Angeles (from Connecticut), Whitney Knight, G, Florida Gulf Coast
16. Atlanta, Courtney Walker, G, Texas A&M
17. Connecticut (from Los Angeles), Jamie Weisner, G, Oregon State
18. Dallas, Ruth Hamblin, C, Oregon State
19. Washington, Lia Galdeira, G, Bulgaria-NBL (team Haskovo)
20. Phoenix, Jillian Alleyne, F, Oregon
21. Indiana, Brene Moseley, G, Maryland
22. Minnesota (from Chicago), Bashaara Graves, F, Tennessee
23. Connecticut (from Minnesota), Brianna Butler, G, Syracuse
24. New York, Ameryst Alston, G, Ohio State
Third round
25. San Antonio, Brittney Martin, G, Oklahoma State
26. Seattle, Lexi Eaton Rydalch, G, BYU
27. Connecticut, Aliyyah Handford, G, St. John's
28. Atlanta, Niya Johnson, G, Baylor
29. Los Angeles, Talia Walton, F, Washington
30. Dallas, Shakena Richardson, G, Seton Hall
31. Washington, Danaejah Grant, G, St. John's
32. Phoenix, Nirra Fields, G, UCLA
33. Indiana, Julie Allemand, G, Belgium
34. Chicago, Jordan Jones, G, Texas A&M
35. Minnesota, Temi Fagbenle, C, Southern California
36. New York, Shacobia Barbee, G/F, Georgia
a — Traded to Connecticut along with the Sparks 2016 17th pick for G Chelsea Gray and the 2016 15th and 23rd picks plus Connecticut's 2017 first-round pick.
b — Traded to San Antoino for G Jia Perkins.
