New York Liberty v Golden State Valkyries SAN FRANCISCO, CA - JUNE 28: Breanna Stewart 30 of the New York Liberty warms up before a game between New York Liberty and Golden State Valkyries at Chase Center on June 28, 2026 in San Francisco, California. 9435

Breanna Stewart Highlights the Business Philosophy Fueling Her Off-Court Success

Jul 14, 2026, 1:27 PM CUT

New York Liberty veteran Breanna Stewart's Unrivaled league is now valued at $340 million, a direct result of her equity-first business model. Stewart has spoken up about what makes the new age of athlete-brand partnerships more appealing to her amid her off-court success.

Stewart has partnered with brands not just for sponsorships, but to maintain a firm grip on the companies she works with. She not only has a multi-year deal with Puma, launching her own signature shoe called Puma Stewie, but has also co-founded the Unrivaled 3v3 basketball league as well. Stewart says her drive for off-court partnerships comes amid a new business philosophy.

"When I first started in the league in 2016, you would get endorsements and partnerships, but it was just cash on the table," Stewart said, according to Forbes. "And now it’s more so becoming less cash and more equity. And for me, that’s the more exciting thing because it’s actually the investment in not only the company, but also the athlete, and creates a longstanding relationship."

Sport Bilder des Tages WNBA, Basketball Damen, USA 2024 champions New York Liberty Breanna Stewart stands near the Championship trophy as the team celebrates at City Hall after a ticker-tape parade celebration on Thursday, October 24, 2024 in New York City. Days after defeating the Minnesota Lynx in a Game 5, the Liberty and their fans celebrate in Lower Manhattan and at City Hall and a parade up the Canyon of Heroes. PUBLICATIONxINxGERxSUIxAUTxHUNxONLY WAX20241021111 JOHNxANGELILLO

The three-time WNBA champion sees equity and stake ownership as a way to build a more lasting relationship with the brands, as per Forbes. The report further states that Stewart has partnerships with CHOPT Creative Salad Co., CLIF, and Ally Financial, and became the first female athlete to partner with Throne SPORT COFFEE.

"I think that’s my biggest thing is as I’m building my brand and as my brand is continuing to go, I want to make sure that I’m showing the people closest to me, but also the fans around me what I really use," Stewart continued. "And really, I have CLIF Bars and CLIF Energy Bites with me 24/7."

With Unrivaled, Stewart has given the word "equity" justice, having a great structure for players to thrive.

Breanna Stewart Co-Founding Unrivaled And Its Success

Stewart co-founded Unrivaled with another WNBA veteran, Napheesa Collier, in 2023, with the first season being held in 2025. Both founding players have equity in the league, with the league being valued at $340 million. Stewart had a few words to say regarding the success of Unrivaled.

"For all players, especially founding players, to have equity in the league so that they know it’s player-led," Stewart said, according to Forbes. They’re a part of the league’s success. They can really put themselves out there on a limb to go after what they believe in."

The league generated $45 million in revenue and had over 1.2 billion digital impressions. Also, the revenue made from ticket sales saw a 204 percent increase since the last season. The value of the player equity pool has grown 290 percent, reaching over $120 million in 2026 from $30 million in 2025.

The seven-time All-Star has become one of the most successful WNBA players off-court, and her drive for authenticity and equity to build strong relationships with the brand has proved to be vital points for her success.

Written by

Dhruv Singh

Edited by

Ashvinkumar Patil