The Russian super-team can have another WNBA All-Star, as a treat
Breanna Stewart is on her way to Russia for more EuroLeague Women basketball, but she won’t be rejoining her former club.
European powerhouse UMMC Ekaterinburg announced Friday it had signed Breanna Stewart for the rest of the 2019-20 season as well as the 2020-21 season. The move comes a day after Stewart re-signed with the Seattle Storm.
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“For me, it’s something that makes sense financially,” Stewart said last month. “Playing EuroLeague is a very high level. And my window is short. Maybe when I’m 30, I won’t want to . But right now I want to play as much as I can.”
About 10 months ago, Stewart ruptured her Achilles tendon while playing for Dynamo Kursk — with whom she won the Fans’ MVP award — in the EuroLeague Women final against UMMC.
Her successful recovery led to her making her return against her alma mater, UConn, on January 27 with Team USA. Stewart also played in Team USA’s February 2 exhibition against Louisville and at the Olympic Qualifying Tournament in Serbia last weekend.
Stewart joins a packed UMMC roster that includes WNBA notables Brittney Griner, Courtney Vandersloot, Emma Meesseman, Jonquel Jones, Allie Quigley and Jamierra Faulkner. The team’s first assistant coach is Chicago Sky head coach James Wade.
UMMC is eyeing its sixth EuroLeague Women title, and its third in a row. Currently in first place with an 11-1 record, the team has already qualified for the EuroLeague Women quarterfinals.
With just two weeks left in the regular season, Stewart may suit up as soon as Wednesday’s game against Bourges Basket.
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