September Sports Person: Breanna Stewart Still Rising Still Winning

At the highest level of sport, winning once is an achievement. Winning repeatedly has become a legacy for Breanna Stewart.
In September 2026, American basketball star added another remarkable chapter to hers when she was named the TISSOT MVP of the 2026 FIBA Women’s Basketball World Cup in Berlin, Germany.

The award was not simply another trophy for an already decorated athlete. It made Stewart the first player in the history of the FIBA Women’s Basketball World Cup to win the MVP award twice. She had previously received the honour in 2018.
And she did it while helping the United States win yet another world title. The USA entered the World Cup carrying the weight of expectation. By the end of the tournament, they had carried home another gold medal.

In the final, the United States defeated France 97–79, overcoming a 14-point deficit early in the game. France were playing in their first-ever Women’s World Cup final and appeared capable of producing a historic upset.
She finished the final with 22 points and 10 rebounds, recording a double-double and a performance efficiency valuation of 30. Her contribution helped the USA turn the game around and secure its 12th Women’s World Cup title and fifth consecutive championship.

That performance captured something important about Stewart’s career: she has repeatedly been able to produce when the stakes are highest.
Across the competition, she averaged:
12.8 points per game
7.3 rebounds
2.8 assists
18.8 efficiency rating

FIBA highlighted her leadership and her ability to make an impact during the crucial final stages of the tournament. In the semifinal against Spain, she scored 16 points, before producing her 22-point, 10-rebound performance in the championship game.
Born on 27 August 1994, Stewart has built one of the most decorated careers in modern women’s basketball. She was the No. 1 overall pick in the 2016 WNBA Draft and has gone on to become a multiple-time WNBA champion and MVP. The WNBA lists her among its W25, recognising her as one of the league’s 25 most dominant, skilled and entertaining players in its history.

Her international résumé is equally impressive.
She has won Olympic gold medals and multiple FIBA World Championship titles, making her one of the defining figures of the United States women’s basketball programme

Her message to her teammates before the final was simple: “we are the standard.”
At 32, Stewart is no longer the young basketball prodigy who entered the professional game with enormous expectations. She is now a veteran, a leader and a player whose experience has become part of her competitive advantage.
She described the 2026 World Cup as her fourth World Cup, acknowledging that she knows the highs and lows that come with competing at the highest level.
The 2026 Women’s Basketball World Cup itself was historic. The USA’s victory extended its remarkable championship run to five consecutive titles, while France reached its first-ever World Cup final. Spain claimed bronze, and hosts Germany finished fourth — their best-ever result in the competition.
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