Stewart provides just the sort of jolt the Storm needs to re-invigorate its ever-loyal fan base. And coupled with the Huskies’ rise to Final Four caliber, it stamps Seattle as a women’s basketball haven of the first order, a distinction not lost on Stewart.
The suspense was non-existent. Yet when Breanna Stewart’s name was announced as the No. 1 overall draft pick by the Seattle Storm on Thursday — a fait accompli ever since the Storm won the WNBA draft lottery in September — it still packed a punch.
The crowd of Storm fans packed into the Kickin’ Boot Whiskey Kitchen in Ballard for a draft party erupted in jubilant cheers, mindful of what the Connecticut superstar could mean for the franchise.
“This gives us possibilities we didn’t dream about; it gives us the possibility of another championship,’’ Storm co-owner Dawn Trudeau told the attendees, before adding, “No guarantees.”
No guarantees, certainly, but the WNBA has a long history of teams being instantly elevated to title contenders by the arrival of one dominant player, from Candace Parker to Maya Moore to Diana Taurasi to Brittney Griner.
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The Storm knows first hand, having drafted Sue Bird and Lauren Jackson No. 1 overall in 2001 and ’02, then winning titles in 2004 and 2010.
The Storm has struggled the past four seasons, however. This was its second straight year of drafting No. 1 overall, symbolic of finishing near the bottom of the league. But while last year’s top pick, Jewell Loyd, is an outstanding player, Stewart is almost universally regarded as a franchise-changer.
Storm co-owner Lisa Brummel told the crowd that despite the lack of intrigue, Stewart’s announcement was still one of the most emotional moments she had experienced in her tenure, “because you realize what this player can do in combination with the players we have.”
That very thought was also on the mind of Storm veteran guard Monica Wright.
“Oh, my gosh,’’ she said. “It’s pure excitement. Just thinking about our future, and putting her together with the rest of the girls that are coming. I’m just thinking about how awesome training camp is going to be. That’s really exciting to think about.”
In a phone interview, Stewart said that even though she has known for months that Seattle was her almost certain destination, hearing the words was still powerful.
“It was definitely special,’’ she said. “No matter what people thought, that I was going to Seattle, the fact my name was called and I was able to experience that … a lot of people dream of that moment but not many get to see it happen. My dream came true.”
Stewart has been described as Kevin Durant on offense and Anthony Davis on defense. At 6 feet 4, she is a dominant post presence, yet has a deft enough shooting touch to record 43 percent accuracy from three-point range. She is the first college women’s player ever to record 300 blocks and 300 assists, the former a testament to her 7-foot wingspan, the latter to her unselfish mindset.
“I see a very versatile player that has the ability to change the league with her dynamic game,’’ Wright said.
Stewart provides just the sort of jolt the Storm needs to re-invigorate its ever-loyal fan base. And coupled with the Huskies’ rise to Final Four caliber, it stamps Seattle as a women’s basketball haven of the first order, a distinction not lost on Stewart.
“I was able to Skype in with some of the fans, and to see how excited they were made me more excited,’’ she said. “Not that I needed to be.”
On the national broadcast, Stewart joked that when former Connecticut great Rebecca Lobo quizzed her about the name of Seattle’s airport and the Storm’s coach (Jenny Boucek), she came up blank.
“I know Coach Jenny now,’’ Stewart told me. “I still struggle with the airport, but I’ll figure it out.”
The Storm is expecting Stewart, who arrives in town next week, to figure things out quickly. That brings an undeniable pressure, but she seems unfazed by it.
“I think as a player, that’s what you want,’’ she said.
Being with fellow Connecticut alumni Bird and Kaleena Mosqueda-Lewis (a former Huskies teammate) will help her comfort level. Stewart also has played with and against Loyd, last year’s WNBA rookie of the year.
It should be noted that the Storm hovered around the .500 mark in its first two seasons with Bird and Jackson, finishing 17-15 and 18-16 before breaking loose for the title in their third year as a tandem. Instant success is no guarantee, which could be daunting for someone whose collegiate record was 151-5 with four straight national titles.
“Making the jump from a highly successful college program, you want to have really really high expectations, but obviously it’s a process,’’ Stewart said. “Everything doesn’t just happen in one day or with the snap of your fingers. It’s going to be a grind, I’m sure.”
Stewart expects the physical nature of the pro game to be her biggest challenge. She’s been re-doubling her efforts in the weight room to prepare herself.
“It’s my job now,’’ she said.
The finality of those words struck her, just as the words, “With the first pick of the WNBA draft, the Seattle Storm select Breanna Stewart” had done so an hour earlier.
“It’s crazy,’’ she said.
And for the Storm, crazy good.
| Storm No. 1 picks | |||
| This was the fourth time Seattle had the No. 1 overall pick in the WNBA draft. | |||
| No. | Player | College | Year |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Breanna Stewart | UConn | 2016 |
| 1 | Jewell Loyd | Notre Dame | 2015 |
| 1 | Sue Bird | UConn | 2002 |
| 1 | Lauren Jackson | Australia | 2001 |