Seattle Storm’s Breanna Stewart: Shooting square about balancing motherhood and basketball
SEATTLE — It’s no secret that Breanna Stewart was instrumental in leading Team USA to the women’s basketball championship at this summer’s Tokyo Olympics.
It was, however, long concealed from most that the Seattle Storm superstar and her wife, fellow basketball player Marta Xargay, were due to welcome a baby shortly after the Games concluded. In fact, a mere two days following the American ladies defeat of host country Japan to capture their seventh straight tournament gold medal, Ruby Mae arrived by way of gestational surrogate, and one of Stewart’s eggs, in Nampa, Idaho. It was Stewart who cut her baby’s umbilical cord.
“It took my breath away. The most important moment of my life.”, Stewart gushed to The New York Times about witnessing the birth of her first child.
It’s significant to note that Stewart can now benefit from the recently struck collective bargaining agreement between the WNBA and the League’s Players Association. In addition to boosting salaries across the board, the pro sports pioneering pact guarantees full pay during maternity leave, increases access to childcare and furnishes significant financial support for child adoption, surrogacy and egg freezing (which Stewart did), thus giving players individual freedom of choice regarding when to have children.
Stewart amplified the purpose behind the landmark labor accord when she said to The Times, “…why can’t I be the best player, a mom and have a child in the way we have done?”
Ruby Mae’s mom is already firmly established as one the top talents in women’s basketball history. Stewart’s long and ever-expanding list of accolades includes winning a pair of WNBA titles, two Finals Most Valuable Player honors, a league MVP award, three All-Star team nods and four NCAA championships as a UConn Husky.
So while a warm bottle and a binky may occupy tiny hands now, one wonders how long it will be before a basketball is placed into Ruby’s palms.
For the moment, however, Stewart shares this declaration with AP News, words of gratitude echoed by all mother’s throughout the ages and for time eternal, “I’m super glad she’s healthy.”
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