The John R. Wooden Award will celebrate it’s 50th anniversary this season. Leading up to the award ceremony on April 10, 2026, The Sporting Tribune in partnership with the Wooden Award and the Los Angeles Athletic Club will highlight past winners of the Wooden Award and the Legends of Coaching Award.
Born in Syracuse, New York, Breanna Stewart was already towering over her middle school classmates – by age 12 basketball training had turned serious and her game was built around the pillars of versatility and skill.
When high school came around she dominated at Cicero–North Syracuse, becoming one of the most decorated prep players ever. As her comradery with teammates grew she became affectionately known as “Bean” and later “Stewie”. She won Gatorade National Player of the Year and every major program chased after her as she was the number one recruit in the country.
In the end, legendary coach Geno Auriemma and the UConn Huskies were just the right fit for Stewart. Stepping foot on that court had to have been different for her, so many eyes and high expectations, and yet she exceeded all of them.
As a freshman in 2013 she helped lead UConn to a national title and was named the Final Four’s Most Outstanding Player. That was just the beginning of a historic collegiate run as Stewart became a Four‑time National Champion, Three‑time National Player of the Year, and anchored UConn’s 111‑game win streak, one of the most dominant runs in sports history. Among that she was also a Four‑time Final Four Most Outstanding Player, the only player in history to do it.
Right when you think she couldn’t be more decorated, in 2015 and 2016 Stewart became a two-time Wooden Award recipient.
Following graduation, she was drafted number 1 overall by the Seattle Storm in 2016 and worked her way to earning Rookie of the Year, having an All-Star appearance, and becoming one of the most versatile forwards in the league.
She led the Storm to multiple championships and earned multiple Finals MVPs with elite two‑way play. She’s also been dominant in her overseas career, including EuroLeague titles and MVP honors. Stewart was also a crucial fixture on Team USA, winning multiple Olympic and World Cup gold medals.
The 31-year-old is now back in her roots playing for the New York Liberty and is still adding to her legacy.
In 2023 alongside fellow UConn alum and WNBA star Napheesa Collier, they launched a women's 3-on-3 basketball league (Unrivaled) designed to provide top WNBA players with a high-paying, domestic, and player-owned option during the offseason; the league features 30 of the best professionals across six teams.