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Stewart targeting UConn exhibition for long-awaited return from injury

Michael Gonzales / National Basketball Association / Getty

Seattle Storm forward Breanna Stewart is targeting a return to game action on Jan. 27, when Team USA is set to face her alma mater Connecticut in an exhibition tuneup, her agent confirmed to SB Nation's Matt Ellentuck.

Stewart has been out of action since rupturing her right Achilles tendon in April while playing with Dynamo Kursk in the EuroLeague championship game. She subsequently missed the entire 2019 WNBA season.

The injury scuttled the 25-year-old's opportunity to build off a historically great 2018 in which she accomplished a litany of personal and group achievements, including:

  • WNBA MVP
  • WNBA champion (and Finals MVP)
  • All-WNBA First Team
  • WNBA All-Star
  • FIBA World Cup champion
  • FIBA World Cup MVP
  • FIBA World Cup All-Star Five
  • USA Basketball Female Athlete of the Year

Stewart averaged 21.8 points and 8.4 rebounds per game through the WNBA season, and 16.3 points per game at the World Cup.

In addition to UConn, Team USA will also face Louisville on Feb. 2 before jetting to Belgrade, Serbia. Although the U.S. has already qualified for Tokyo 2020 based on its performance at the 2018 World Cup, the Americans will still participate in one of the four Olympic qualifying tournaments from Feb. 6-9. In addition to host Serbia, Team USA will play Nigeria and Mozambique, with the top three teams in the group advancing to next summer's Olympic tournament.

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