What if Breanna Stewart... keeps doing this?
What if Breanna Stewart... keeps doing this?
One of the most accomplished 26-year-old athletes ever had an INCREDIBLE Game 1. What if this is somehow only the beginning?
Good morning.
I thought of something terrifying last night. Like… what if Stewie just keeps going off like she did in Game 1… for… another decade? If Friday night proved anything, it was that Stewart’s best basketball is leagues above almost everyone else who plays the sport. She… she just owned.
There’s levels to where I’m going here. First, the WNBA Finals are far from over. The Aces put up a helluva fight considering how batshit Seattle was shooting the ball. The series is best-of-five, and the Storm are up just 1-0. There’s a lot of game left.
But holy crap — Stewie is so good.
If you’ve been avoiding the internet/TV good for you, but you missed her 37-point game in 37 minutes to start off the 2020 Finals. She made 15-of-24 shots she took including 5-of-8 three-point shots. She grabbed 15 boards, dished a pair of assists and blocked four shots. Four!!!
This coming just a year-and-a-half after she tore her freaking Achilles.
I mean just lol:
A 6’4 guard-forward with a 7’1 wingspan, Stewie has a unicorn build, and she’s quickly developed into a two-way force. She has the tools, the history and the trajectory to be something legendary.
Maybe she already is something legendary?
Ok, she had a good game. We get it, Matt. Why are you being so dramatic?
I’m being so dramatic because we have seen Stewie play four years of college basketball and four years of WNBA basketball. She’s now playing in her sixth championship game/series with the potential to win uhhh her sixth championship ring. Remember: she is only 26 years old, and coming off a major, major injury.
To recap Stewie’s basketball career quickly, and by quickly I mean not quickly because you can’t do this quickly:
2020 WNBA All-Defensive Team
2019 EuroLeague regular season MVP
2018 WNBA champion
2018 Finals MVP
2018 WNBA MVP
2018 WNBA All-Star
2018 All-WNBA First Team
2018 FIBA World Cup MVP
2017 WNBA All-Star
2016 Olympic Gold Medalist
2016 WNBA Rookie of the Year
2016 All-WNBA Second Team
2016 All-Defensive Second Team
2016 All-Rookie First Team
2016 NCAA Champion
2016 NCAA Tournament Most Outstanding Player
2016 College National Player of the Year
2015 NCAA Champion
2015 NCAA Tournament Most Outstanding Player
2015 College National Player of the Year
2014 NCAA Champion
2014 NCAA Tournament Most Outstanding Player
2014 College National Player of the Year
2013 NCAA Champion
2013 NCAA Tournament Most Outstanding Player
So yes, in the next week, she has a chance to earn yet another championship and, if she plays like that again, a second Finals MVP. What if she does this for five more years? Ten? Fifteen? I mean hell, Sue Bird is out here dropping 16 assists in a Finals game at nearly 40 years old.
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Can the Aces stop her?
I’m sure as hell that Bill Laimbeer’s entire last 48 hours have gone into planning a way for Stewart to… not score 37 points against his team. That’s a tough task for any group, and even tougher for a team playing without 6’8 center Liz Cambage, and two-time Sixth Woman of the Year and star defender Dearica Hamby.
Doubling Stewart against this Seattle team won’t help. Not with Jewell Loyd making 11-of-17 shots for 28 points, with Sue Bird waiting on the perimeter, or with their weakest shooting starter from distance being Natasha Howard, who makes a healthy 35 percent of them.
One-on-one? Well that’s a lot to ask from A’ja Wilson, who also needs to be one of the team’s top-two scorers. And if not Wilson, who?
Laimbeer and the Aces have found ways to win all season. It’s why they were the top seed in these playoffs without Cambage and Kelsey Plum all year. They’re tough defensively — strong, quick and decisive. I’m beyond curious to see what actions they throw at Stewart.
You can watch the game today at 3 p.m. ET on ABC.
Let’s talk DraftKings
Remember, since there is only one game, one player is designated to cost 1.5 times her salary and tally 1.5 times her points. Today, I think you should choose Angel McCoughtry for this spot.
Guards to pick
Jewell Loyd, Seattle Storm ($9,600) - Loyd is the best guard in this series, and the top option if Vegas chooses to throw two or more defenders Stewie’s way. If you can’t afford to make Stewie your 1.5 multiplier player, choose Loyd.
Danielle Robinson, Las Vegas Aces ($6,400) - Robinson’s priced fairly again after having a solid 22.75 fantasy point night in Game 1. I’d play her again.
Epiphany Prince, Seattle Storm ($4,300) - Best budget guard on the market. She logged 21.75 fantasy points in Game 1, though I doubt she’ll repeat that hot shooting again. Still, she played 16 minutes.
Guards to avoid
Sue Bird, Seattle Storm ($8,200) - Bird was obviously ridiculous in Game 1 with 16 assists, but I’m hesitant that she’ll repeat a performance like that.
Forwards to pick
Breanna Stewart, Seattle Storm ($11,200/$16,800) - LMFAO did you pay attention to this newsletter or the first game of the series. If you can make her your 1.5 multiplier player, DO IT.
Alysha Clark, Seattle Storm ($7,200) - Clark had a rough shooting night going 2-of-13 in Game 1. That just won’t happen again. This is a good price for someone who could light it up at any point.
Carolyn Swords, Las Vegas Aces ($5,800) - I thought she’d have to play less against a quick Storm team, but she logged 28 minutes and 19.5 fantasy points in Game 1. She’s as good of a budget option as you’ll find.
Forwards to avoid
A’ja Wilson, Las Vegas Aces ($10,400) - I don’t think there’s enough of a price gap to justify Wilson over Stewart, and it’s nearly impossible to play both financially.
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