Wendell Cruz-Imagn Images

Breanna Stewart Makes Career Move Amid WNBA CBA Negotiations

Originally posted on Athlon Sports | By Sami Haider | Last updated Feb 16, 2026 9:02 AM ET

Breanna Stewart averaged 18.3 points, 6.5 rebounds, and 3.5 assists per game this season with the New York Liberty. The team went 22–9 with her on the floor, including a 9–0 start to the season.

Beyond her scoring, Stewart earned 2025 WNBA All-Defensive Second Team honors. As a Vice President of the WNBPA, she is also a lead negotiator in the league's ongoing CBA negotiations.

These talks have reached an 18-month impasse as players seek a new CBA with better revenue sharing and benefits before the 2026 season.

New York Liberty forward Breanna Stewart Credit: D. Ross Cameron-Imagn ImagesD. Ross Cameron-Imagn Images

She recently revealed on her podcast that negotiations have finally gained traction after the league sent its latest proposal in early February, saying "there's movement" after months of stalemate.

But the latest development has many questioning whether the 2026 WNBA season will tip off on time. Fenerbahçe Opet announced that Stewart will return to the Turkish powerhouse in April for the EuroLeague Women Final Six in Zaragoza, reuniting with the club where she delivered a record-breaking 35-point Finals MVP performance in their maiden 2023 championship run.

Dünya Yıldızı Breanna Stewart yeniden Fenerbahçe Opet’te! ✍️@breannastewart

Kazandığı tarihi başarılar, imza attığı rekorlar ve geçmişten bugüne dek kadrosunda yer alan dünya yıldızlarıyla Türk Sporuna büyük bir marka değeri kazandıran Türk Basketbolunun Lokomotifi… pic.twitter.com/01q2vm2yKt
— Fenerbahçe Opet (@fbkadinbasket) February 16, 2026

WNBA training camps are set to open on April 19, the exact same day the EuroLeague finals end in Spain. By joining Fenerbahçe, Stewart is cutting it remarkably close to the WNBA’s May 8 start date.

This move signals she either expects CBA negotiations to fix the league’s strict "report-on-time" rules very soon, or she’s prepared for the WNBA season to start late if a deal isn't reached.

Stewart is pursuing a third EuroLeague title while also helping lead collective bargaining talks. Her decision reflects a long-standing reality in the WNBA: even star players have often played overseas to supplement league salaries, which have topped out around $250,000 before a new proposal that includes the possibility of million-dollar contracts.

Whether she suits up for Fenerbahçe while her Liberty teammates wait in limbo could determine whether the W's 2026 season starts on time.

This article first appeared on Athlon Sports and was syndicated with permission.

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