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Breanna Stewart trades for Sue Bird in WNBA All-Star draft

By Doug Feinberg / Associated Press
Published July 2, 2022 at 5:04 PM EDT
Breanna Stewart of the Seattle Storm announced a deal for a signature shoe with sports brand Puma.
1 of 5  — Breanna Stewart of the Seattle Storm announced a deal for a signature shoe with sports brand Puma.
Breanna Stewart of the Seattle Storm announced a deal for a signature shoe with sports brand Puma.
Julio Aguilar / Getty Images
UConn's Breanna Stewart (left) celebrates with her teammates after winning last year's national championship.
2 of 5  — UConn's Breanna Stewart (left) celebrates with her teammates after winning last year's national championship.
UConn's Breanna Stewart (left) celebrates with her teammates after winning last year's national championship.
Getty Images
They're No. 1: Breanna Stewart of the Connecticut Huskies reacts after a score during Tuesday night's game against Notre Dame. Her team won its ninth national championship.
3 of 5  — They're No. 1: Breanna Stewart of the Connecticut Huskies reacts after a score during Tuesday night's game against Notre Dame. Her team won its ninth national championship.
They're No. 1: Breanna Stewart of the Connecticut Huskies reacts after a score during Tuesday night's game against Notre Dame. Her team won its ninth national championship.
Andy Lyons / Getty Images
Syracuse's Cornelia Fondren, (center) and Connecticut's Napheesa Collier (right) battle for a loose ball as UConn's Breanna Stewart goes airborne, preparing to block a shot in the first half of the NCAA championship game.
4 of 5  — Syracuse's Cornelia Fondren, (center) and Connecticut's Napheesa Collier (right) battle for a loose ball as UConn's Breanna Stewart goes airborne, preparing to block a shot in the first half of the NCAA championship game.
Syracuse's Cornelia Fondren, (center) and Connecticut's Napheesa Collier (right) battle for a loose ball as UConn's Breanna Stewart goes airborne, preparing to block a shot in the first half of the NCAA championship game.
AJ Mast / AP
Notre Dame guard Lindsay Allen shoots against Connecticut forward Breanna Stewart as Connecticut guard Moriah Jefferson looks on April 7 during the first half of the NCAA women's college basketball championship game in Tampa, Fla.
5 of 5  — Notre Dame guard Lindsay Allen shoots against Connecticut forward Breanna Stewart as Connecticut guard Moriah Jefferson looks on April 7 during the first half of the NCAA women's college basketball championship game in Tampa, Fla.
Notre Dame guard Lindsay Allen shoots against Connecticut forward Breanna Stewart as Connecticut guard Moriah Jefferson looks on April 7 during the first half of the NCAA women's college basketball championship game in Tampa, Fla.
John Raoux / AP

Breanna Stewart traded for her Seattle teammate Sue Bird in the WNBA All-Star draft Saturday.

Bird was set to be a co-captain with A’ja Wilson before Stewart pulled off the deal to acquire Bird for Sylvia Fowles. Bird and Fowles are set to retire at the end of the season and were named co-captains with Stewart and Wilson.

“We can do legend for legend. Ok, I got that. I’m good with that,” Wilson said. ’I feel good about that. We’re back on track. That was a good one.”

Bird will be playing in her record 13th All-Star Game on July 10 in Chicago. Fowles will be in her eighth.

Sue Bird of the Seattle Storm has said the 2022 season will be her last in the WNBA. Her retirement comes in her 21st year with the basketball league and after many all-time records.
1 of 3  — Sue Bird of the Seattle Storm has said the 2022 season will be her last in the WNBA. Her retirement comes in her 21st year with the basketball league and after many all-time records.
Sue Bird of the Seattle Storm has said the 2022 season will be her last in the WNBA. Her retirement comes in her 21st year with the basketball league and after many all-time records.
Steph Chambers / Getty Images
Seattle Mayor Jenny Durkan, center, wears a T-shirt honoring Megan Rapinoe, right, of the U.S. women's World Cup champion soccer team and the Seattle Storm's Sue Bird, left, before a WNBA game on July 12.
2 of 3  — Seattle Mayor Jenny Durkan, center, wears a T-shirt honoring Megan Rapinoe, right, of the U.S. women's World Cup champion soccer team and the Seattle Storm's Sue Bird, left, before a WNBA game on July 12.
Seattle Mayor Jenny Durkan, center, wears a T-shirt honoring Megan Rapinoe, right, of the U.S. women's World Cup champion soccer team and the Seattle Storm's Sue Bird, left, before a WNBA game on July 12.
Elaine Thompson / AP
Diana Taurasi (left) and Sue Bird of the U.S. women's basketball team pose with their gold medals during the Tokyo Olympic Games in 2021. The two are tied for the most gold medals in Olympic basketball, for both the women's and men's competitions.
3 of 3  — Diana Taurasi (left) and Sue Bird of the U.S. women's basketball team pose with their gold medals during the Tokyo Olympic Games in 2021. The two are tied for the most gold medals in Olympic basketball, for both the women's and men's competitions.
Diana Taurasi (left) and Sue Bird of the U.S. women's basketball team pose with their gold medals during the Tokyo Olympic Games in 2021. The two are tied for the most gold medals in Olympic basketball, for both the women's and men's competitions.
Kevin C. Cox / Getty Images

Stewart also acquired Nneka Ogwumike for Sabrina Ionescu in a separate trade with Wilson.

Wilson had the first pick in the draft and chose Candace Parker, who will be playing in front of her home fans. The Las Vegas star then chose her Aces teammate Kelsey Plum with her second pick. Stewart drafted the third Las Vegas starter Jackie Young with her first pick and Jonquel Jones with her second choice.

Stewart had the first pick in the reserve round and selected her Seattle teammate Jewell Loyd. Stewart also drafted Kahleah Copper, Skylar Diggins-Smith, Alyssa Thomas, Arike Ogunbowale and Emma Meesseman.

Wilson chose rookie Rhyne Howard with her first pick of the All-Star reserves. Howard is the only rookie in the game. The co-captain then selected her Aces teammate Dearica Hamby. Wilson also drafted Courtney Vandersloot, Ariel Atkins, Brionna Jones and Natasha Howard.

The WNBA switched to the team captain format in 2018.

Ionescu, Plum, Howard and Young will be playing in their first All-Star Game.

___

More AP sports: https://apnews.com/hub/sports and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports
Sports News
Doug Feinberg / Associated Press
See stories by Doug Feinberg / Associated Press

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The independent journalism and non-commercial programming you rely on every day is in danger.

If you’re reading this, you believe in trusted journalism and in learning without paywalls. You value access to educational content kids love and enriching cultural programming.

Now all of that is at risk.

Federal funding for public media is under threat and if it goes, the impact to our communities will be devastating.

Together, we can defend it. It’s time to protect what matters.

Your voice has protected public media before. Now, it’s needed again. Learn how you can protect the news and programming you depend on.

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