Did we ever have any doubts? Today the Seattle Storm announced that none other than Breanna Stewart, AKA Stewie, is their #1 draft pick for the 2016 season! It’s never a done deal until the announcement has been made, but it’s also been a bit obvious all season long, especially since Seattle Storm head Coach Jenny Boucek has not hidden her focus on Stewie at all. You can see a fun photo of Stewie in a Storm uniform on the team’s Facebook page. Stewie, who stands at 6’4, is a forward from UConn. She is, of course, famous for taking her team to the championship for four years in addition to her other numerous awards and honors.

Fans are comparing the duo of Stewart and Jewell Loyd to be akin to the powerhouse of the WNBA, Sue Bird and Lauren Jackson. Although Bird is still very much a part of the Storm, Jackson announced her retirement this year, so perhaps it is time for another dynamic duo to take to the court. Both of these women are some of the most talented players we’ve seen in modern history, so it is very possible that they could create the next power partnership on the team.

During her senior year, Stewie averaged 19.4 points, 8.7 rebounds, 4.0 assists and 3.4 blocks per game. She has scored a total of 2,676 points at UConn, making her the second lead scorer in the team’s history. She’s also got the highest number of blocks in the school’s history, 414, and is the only player in NCAA history to reach 300 career blocks and 300 career assists. She’s a stellar athlete and we are very happy to have her in Seattle.

Many fans say that Stewie reminds them of Lauren Jackson as well, and warn adversaries to watch out because the Storm will be unbeatable this year. Stewart is also bringing a huge fan base with her to the Storm. Beloved during all four years of college, she had lots of folks watching her and becoming new Storm fans just to see her play in the WNBA. Most fans are also excited about the news, already lining up to buy tickets to Storm games in their respective cities as well as in Seattle.

Did you think that Stewie would ultimately be the Storm draft selection this year? Who did you hope they would pick? Who do you hope they could still add onto the team later?

Photo courtesy of Wikipedia