Breanna Stewart didn’t wait long to do what she said she would do. Less than a day after holding an “Abolish ICE” sign at Unrivaled, the two-time WNBA MVP announced a new foundation to help people in her hometown of Syracuse who are living in poverty. The quick change from protest to program shows how athlete activism is changing. They are now making public statements that are backed up by plans that last longer than the headlines.

The timing is directly related to Stewart’s protest at Unrivaled, where she held up a “Abolish ICE” sign during player introductions. Her message was in response to federal immigration operations in Minneapolis that led to two deaths this month, including events where families and communities were torn apart. Stewart’s activism is important to her personally because her wife, Marta Xargay Casademont, is a Spanish citizen and is still going through the citizenship process even though she is a legal permanent resident. The situation has made Stewart’s views on immigration enforcement stronger.

Stewart’s public stance is part of a larger trend in the WNBA, where players have always used their platform to fight for social justice. Stewart said she decided to protest because “Really, all day yesterday, I was just disgusted from everything that you see on Instagram and in the news.” She stressed that her message supports “policies to uplift families and communities instead of fueling fear and violence.” Other players, like Napheesa Collier, Paige Bueckers, and Natisha Hiedeman, showed their support for the people of Minneapolis. Bueckers even promised to match up to $50,000 in donations to local relief efforts.

WNBA players have made a difference through activism before; for example, their 2020 bubble season helped Raphael Warnock win a Senate seat. Stewart is using the same playbook now. She is telling people to put pressure on local leaders, from council members to governors, to change immigration laws. She knows that change takes time, but long-term advocacy can save lives. Her foundation puts that idea into action.

Breanna Stewart leads Mist while building a community foundation

Stewart has been just as dominant on the court this Unrivaled season as she has been off the court, where she builds community infrastructure. Stewart has found her rhythm with consistent performances for the Mist that show why she’s a two-time MVP.

The numbers speak for themselves. Stewart scores about 21 points per game in about 18 minutes of play, and in recent games, she has shot between 47 and 69 percent from the field. That level of efficiency shows that a player knows exactly when and where to strike, whether it’s from midrange or going straight to the basket.

The last three games show how flexible she is. On January 19, she scored 26 points and grabbed 11 rebounds. Four days later, she scored 19 points on 9-13 shooting. She had another double-double in her last game on January 25th, scoring 21 points on 8 of 13 shooting and grabbing 11 boards, three of which were offensive rebounds that gave her team second chances.

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Defense is still the most important part of her game. Stewart always gets 2 to 4 steals and blocks per game, which makes it hard for the other team to play both ways. That two-way presence keeps the Mist competitive and shows the same dedication to completeness that she brings to her activism: nothing is left out, and every detail is taken care of.