New York Liberty head coach Chris DeMarco delivered the boldest endorsement of the WNBA MVP race yet, declaring Breanna Stewart the undisputed “best player in the world” following her 27-point, three-quarter masterclass in Sunday’s 106-69 win over the Toronto Tempo. While national debate centers on A’ja Wilson, Caitlin Clark, and rookie standout Olivia Miles, DeMarco left zero doubt where he stands on his star forward.

Stewart’s dominant 2026 campaign reached a crescendo after she anchored New York to a Commissioner’s Cup title over the Las Vegas Aces before capturing FIBA Women’s World Cup gold with Team USA. Carrying averages of 20.7 points, 8.2 rebounds, and 3.2 assists per game, her efficiency and presence remain the foundation of New York’s championship push.

Following Sunday’s victory, DeMarco addressed reporters to emphasize why Stewart’s case goes far beyond standard stat sheets.

“I think if you ask any coach who’s ever coached her and played against her, she is the best player in the world. She’s an absolute winner. You can feel it when she’s off the court. You feel when she’s on the court, not only here, obviously FIBA World Cup and everything else,” DeMarco said, via reporter Jackie Powell on Threads. “When it comes to impact and winning, like there’s nobody better. It’s not even close.”

Stewart’s 20.7 points per game and floor leadership were the primary engine behind Liberty’s playoff push, navigating an intense schedule where a league-high seven New York players were pulled for World Cup duty. With just a week remaining before the postseason, DeMarco’s squad is peaking at the ideal time, riding a three-game winning streak.

Against the expansion Tempo, Stewart posted 27 points, eight rebounds, and four assists in just three quarters before resting the final period. In that same stretch, Stewart climbed to eighth on the WNBA all-time scoring list, surpassing Sue Bird (6,803) and Cappie Pondexter (6,811). Sitting at 6,833 career points, she is on pace to overtake Candace Dupree (6,895) for seventh during the upcoming postseason.

Reserve guard Rebecca Allen, who added 14 points against Toronto, reinforced her coach’s sentiment.

“Honestly, playing with people like Stewie’s a gift,” Allen said. “She’s a different kind of superstar as well as someone who the way that she speaks to her team is unlike no other … She makes the game so much easier.”

Stewart is already a two-time MVP, and while head coach DeMarco believes she is the best player in the league, winning the award is easier said than done. This is not because Stewart’s accomplishments are not enough to make her a clear winner, but because of the insane amount of competition for the award.

New players like Caitlin Clark and rookie Olivia Miles have jumped into the scene this season, having their best seasons themselves. The Indiana Fever anchorwoman is averaging 22.7 points, 8.4 assists, and 3.9 rebounds this season, firmly in the MVP race due to her insane overall proficiency.

Meanwhile, Miles has all but sealed the Rookie of the Year award and recently became the rookie with the most points in a WNBA season, surpassing Clark’s 2024 tally of 769. Miles’ case becomes even stronger when we realise she was the star of a Lynx team that did not have Napheesa Collier for half the regular season. The Lynx rookie now has the opportunity to become the first player since Candace Parker in 2008 to potentially win both the MVP and the ROTY award.

And then there is A’ja Wilson, who is already in uncharted territory with her four MVP awards. However, she is once again the favorite this season after averaging 26.4 points, 9.4 rebounds, and 3.2 assists per game. Wilson scored another 30 points in her most recent game against the Seattle Storm and is now the only player in WNBA history to have multiple 1,000-point seasons.

Regardless of whether Stewart wins her third MVP or not, she is currently focused on the present and revealed how the Liberty have managed the business end of the season despite having the most players sent to the World Cup.

Breanna Stewart’s Winning Mentality Despite the Odds Stacking Up Against the Liberty

Despite missing seven players to international duty during the World Cup break, New York returned to win crucial matchups, including a key victory over the top-seeded Lynx, to secure a 26-16 record and keep pace for first-round home-court advantage.

“I know we’re not win-or-go-home yet, but these games are so important that you want to leave everything out on the court,” Stewart said.

“So taking that from the gold medal game and continuing that here is definitely top of mind, and it’s something that I think we have to do,” Stewart added.

With two final regular-season games remaining against Angel Reese and the Atlanta Dream, Stewart gave a direct answer regarding her mindset heading into the postseason setup:

“To win,” Stewart said point-blank.

While the MVP award is not in her hands despite a wonderful individual season, Breanna Stewart is completely locked in to win the Commissioner’s Cup, World Cup, and now the WNBA championship, all in the same season.