Podcast Summary: Fudd Around And Find Out
Episode: “You May Also Like: Unrivaled 201: 60 Hours in the Day with Breanna Stewart”
Date: January 9, 2026
Host: Sarah Spain
Featured Guest: Breanna Stewart
Overview
This episode features WNBA superstar and Unrivaled co-founder Breanna Stewart (“Stewie”) in a wide-ranging interview with Sarah Spain. The discussion centers on Stewart’s basketball journey, the evolution of the Unrivaled 3x3 league, the future of women’s pro hoops, and how Stewart balances her many roles—as player, entrepreneur, mother, and union leader—while also delving into the looming WNBA collective bargaining agreement (CBA) negotiations. The episode showcases Stewart’s vision for women’s sports and her mission to elevate athlete experience, pay, and player empowerment.
Key Discussion Points & Insights
1. Breanna Stewart’s On-Court and Off-Court Excellence (12:58–13:55)
- Sarah Spain introduces Stewart: A lengthy list of achievements vaults Stewart as “one of the winningest basketball players of all time.”
- Opening Game-Winner: Stewart describes hitting a game-winning shot in Unrivaled’s season opener and reflects on staying in rhythm despite substitutions and interviews.
“Everybody knows I like the right shoulder fade… I got a little bit close to the baseline, and I was like, all right, just don’t hit the backboard. And it was perfect.”
— Breanna Stewart (13:55)
2. Launching the Unrivaled League: Building Suspense & Community (14:30–16:17)
- Masterclass in Launch: Stewart explains the intentional roll-out of league branding, player reveals, and partnership announcements. The phased approach created buzz, community, and a sense of anticipation.
- Support from Sponsors: Both sponsors and business partners welcomed the league’s 3x3 format, seeking something “different” and dynamic.
- Player Adaptation: While the pace and space of 3x3 were initially a challenge for players, Stewart notes quick adjustment—and the appeal of solid pay.
“When you’re able to show them we’re going to be in Miami, we’re going to try something new, and you’re going to get paid a lot to do it—everybody’s willing to test it out.”
— Breanna Stewart (16:17)
3. Roses and Thorns: Season One Reflections (17:44–18:57)
- Highlights: Success of the debut season, positive player and fan experience, strong foundation.
- Lowlights: Stewart’s team struggled for wins and she played through injury, leading to mental and physical frustration.
“I was playing through like a partial meniscus tear. And when you have to play through injury, it’s just like a different type of mental… But I’m happy to be like, feeling back to myself, you know, feeling healthy and just being able to be the player that I am.”
— Breanna Stewart (18:33)
4. Growth & Improvements for Season Two (19:01–20:40)
- Facility Upgrades: Stewart details improvements, including increased space—three courts, expanded weight and training rooms, more fan seating.
- Enhanced Player Care: There are more opportunities for player development, with structured practice and individualized time ensuring reps and rest.
- Merchandise Boom: Jersey popularity is up, with stars like Paige Bueckers’ selling out immediately.
5. Developmental Pipeline & Player Improvement (20:40–21:44)
- Athlete Pathways: The league’s “developmental player pool” gives rising talent reps and readiness to step up, filling roster gaps due to injuries or absences.
- Proof of Concept: Players who compete in Unrivaled improve statistically when returning to the WNBA, both due to the format and elite competition/coaching.
“Every player that played in Unrivaled and then got back to [the WNBA] in 2025 improved statistically, which says something about the ability…”
— Sarah Spain (21:44)
6. Road Games & Market Expansion (22:22–24:39)
- Market Selection: Philly is the first new stop, chosen to introduce pro women’s hoops to a city—right before the city gets a WNBA expansion team.
- Future Expansion: Stewart suggests future stops and possibly individual team ownership could be in the cards, but Unrivaled will remain centralized to manage costs and community.
“As we continue to evolve…where do we want to go next? Who’s really engaging and watching this and from what cities…[we want to] make the most of it for them.”
— Breanna Stewart (23:02)
7. Team Structure, Expansion Drafts, and Fan Allegiance (24:57–27:03)
- Team Stability: Expansion means some team shakeup—expansion drafts when adding new teams, but otherwise limited restructuring.
- Fan Affiliation: There’s a tension between fans’ desire for continuity and the excitement of new player pairings.
“There's excitement around seeing different players play together, but there’s also like an allegiance, like—no offense—but I’m Ghost Gang, and I have been Ghost Gang for two years running…”
— Sarah Spain (25:32)
8. Unrivaled’s Model vs. Rival Leagues; Impact on WNBA (27:03–30:14)
- Competition: Project B, a new league, has “stolen” some Unrivaled talent, but Stewart is confident: long-term contracts, strong partnerships, and early NIL deals are key to Unrivaled’s appeal.
- Pay & Player Experience: Unrivaled’s high salaries and player-first model set a new standard. The league is cited as a bargaining chip in WNBA CBA talks.
“98% of the players here are making more than what they made in the WNBA. And that's what we want. We want to have a place where people can come, they can work hard, they can play, they compete, they get better and they make money.”
— Breanna Stewart (29:53)
- Comparison Caveat: Stewart and Spain agree, however, it’s “apples and oranges”—Unrivaled’s costs and structure differ from the traditional league model and its decades of legacy constraints.
9. Building a Legacy & Maintaining Balance—How Stewie Does It All (31:25–33:27)
- Juggling Roles: Stewart recounts her jam-packed schedule, balancing family, travel, awards trips, union work, and running Unrivaled, sometimes across time zones.
- Family Retreats: Offseasons in Spain allow for rare downtime and reset.
“Sometimes I don’t know [how I do it]… I saw this thing: ‘I swear Stewie has like 60 hours in her day.’”
— Breanna Stewart (31:25)
10. WNBA CBA Negotiations & the Free Agency Frenzy (33:27–35:48)
- Uncertainty: The expansion draft’s unknown details and delays in CBA talks create anticipation and anxiety for players, coaches, and teams.
- Goal for a Deal: Stewart is hopeful, but realistic, targeting a February 1 finish.
“It doesn’t mean on Saturday we’re going to have a lockout…hopefully everything can be done by February 1st.”
— Breanna Stewart (35:11)
11. Lightning Round: “Good, Gooder, Goodest”—Stewie’s Sneakers (35:52–37:14)
- Favorite signature shoes: Stewart ranks her Puma models—the Stewie 4 Night Vision (Good), the Stewie 2 Ruby (Gooder, named for her daughter), and the Stewie One Quiet Fire (Goodest, as the first signature shoe for a WNBA player in a decade).
“Goodest is the Stewie One Quiet Fire. First signature shoe in 10 years, really kind of starting a domino effect… so young girls and young boys can grow up and be like, they want to get the Stews or they want to get the Asians in store. Because we didn't have that.”
— Breanna Stewart (36:29)
Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments
- On adapting to the 3x3 format:
“When you’re told to like, sprint the lane… you’re not used to having four steps and then being at the next three point line.” (16:17) - On player experience:
“More space and more people—you're not running over everybody trying to get on a table or… able to get everything you need.” (19:42) - On Unrivaled’s player development:
“Making sure there’s developmental time… get that PD work where… after we practice together… your team has for you to get what you need, which is really cool.” (21:19) - On balancing roles:
“My schedule is, like, right, busy.” (32:21) - On signature shoe legacy:
“Now you have everything [in stores]… I’m really excited to be able to… be a part of that shared space and know that we’re really making a big change.” (37:08)
Timestamps for Key Segments
- Stewart’s resume & game-winner: 12:58–13:55
- Unrivaled launch philosophy: 14:30–16:17
- Pace & adaptation to 3x3: 16:17–17:15
- Season one highlights/lowlights: 17:44–18:57
- Improvements for season two: 19:01–19:42
- Player development pipeline: 20:40–21:44
- Expansion & city choice: 22:22–23:31
- Ownership and team structure: 23:39–24:57
- Draft mechanics and fan affiliation: 24:57–27:03
- Competition & CBA impact: 27:03–30:14
- Balancing roles & family: 31:25–32:21
- WNBA CBA negotiations: 33:27–35:48
- Sneaker ranking (Good, Gooder, Goodest): 35:52–37:14
Tone and Takeaways
- The conversation is lively, candid, and insightful, blending basketball strategy, business acumen, athlete empowerment, and humor.
- Stewart is portrayed as both a generational player and a generational leader—forward-thinking, grounded, and laser-focused on creating lasting change.
- The episode is essential listening for fans seeking understanding of women’s basketball’s future and the visionaries shaping it.
For Further Engagement
- Watch Unrivaled games (links in episode show notes).
- Support women’s sports at all levels and keep an eye on upcoming WNBA CBA developments.
End of Summary
