Breanna Stewart and Sabrina Ionescu are shutting down the rumors before they can begin.
While both New York Liberty stars are set to become free agents this offseason, they each confirmed Wednesday that they plan to return to the franchise where they have been teammates for the last three seasons.
"I'm gonna just set the record straight here: I will be staying in New York. I'm not planning on taking any free agency meetings, even though I am an unrestricted free agent," Stewart said on the "Game Recognize Game" podcast, which she co-hosts with Myles Turner of the NBA's Milwaukee Bucks.
She added, "Good luck to everybody else in free agency, but I'm not a part of that."
Ionescu, meanwhile, shared her intention to return to the team at USA Basketball's training camp.
"Obviously I'm where I'm supposed to be," the four-time All-WNBA star said, according to ESPN's Alexa Philippou. "Never thought anything different, and so excited to be able to sign and get started. It's coming up really quickly, so excited to get all this behind us and just be able to start our season and get going in New York."
Neither Stewart nor Ionescu confirmed terms of their new contracts with New York. However, thanks to the league's new collective bargaining agreement, the deals will likely come with a substantial pay increase from the $222K they each earned in 2025.
Free agents are expected to receive permission to negotiate with teams later in April.
Stewart led the Liberty in scoring last season, averaging 18.3 points along with 6.5 rebounds, 3.5 assists, 1.4 steals, and 1.4 blocks. However, she missed 13 games because of a bone bruise in her right knee. She returned for New York's final seven regular-season games before its first-round series loss to the Phoenix Mercury.
The pair are among six unrestricted free agents for the Liberty this offseason, a list that includes 2021 MVP Jonquel Jones and three-time All-Defensive pick Natasha Cloud.
