Stewart pursued higher education in Sport Studies at the University of Connecticut in Storrs, CT, USA. During her college years, she played for the University of Connecticut team, winning four consecutive NCAA titles from 2013 to 2016. She was the first women's player to win four NCAA Final Four Most Outstanding Player awards.

Professional Career

In 2016, Stewart was selected as the first overall pick by Seattle Storm in the WNBA Draft. She also plays for UMMC Ekaterinburg in Russia. Her preferred positions are Centre and Forward. Stewart has been coached by Dan Hughes at Seattle Storm and Dawn Staley for the national team.

Awards and Honours

Stewart has received numerous accolades throughout her career. In 2020, she was named Sports Illustrated's Sportsperson of the Year and MVP at the WNBA Finals. She also won the ESPY award for Best WNBA Player in 2019. In 2018, she was named MVP of the WNBA regular season, WNBA Finals, and World Cup in Tenerife, Spain.

During her college career, she was named Associated Press Player of the Year three times and won four consecutive Final Four Most Outstanding Player awards. She was also USA Basketball's Female Athlete of the Year in 2011 and 2013.

Injuries

Stewart faced significant injuries during her career. In April 2019, she ruptured her right Achilles tendon while playing in the EuroLeague for Dynamo Kursk. This injury required surgery and kept her out of action for most of 2019. She also missed the end of the 2016/17 season due to a knee injury while playing for Shanghai Swordfish in the WCBA.

Influences and Hobbies

Stewart credits US basketball coach Geno Auriemma, US basketball player Diana Taurasi, and her father as the most influential people in her career. Outside of basketball, she enjoys listening to music, supporting New York Yankees and New York Giants sports teams, and baking.

Milestones

At the 2016 Olympic Games in Rio, Stewart was the youngest women's basketball player on a US team since 1988. Her college career was marked by a 151-5 win/loss record and becoming the only women's college player to reach 300 career blocks and assists.

Other Activities

Stewart has been active off the court as well. She participated in a rally against anti-immigration laws in 2016 and supports movements like Black Lives Matter, gender equality, and LGBTQ inclusion. In her acceptance speech at the 2016 ESPY Awards, she called for more media attention for women's basketball.

Future Plans

Looking ahead, Stewart aims to continue her successful career with Seattle Storm and UMMC Ekaterinburg while advocating for social causes close to her heart.