Liberty star Breanna Stewart was ready for her second within the Bronx.
The 6-4 celebrity had the distinction of throwing the ceremonial first pitch for Sunday’s Subway Collection rubber match at Yankee Stadium. Stewart, a right-hander with the identical peak and comparable body as Sunday’s Yankee starter Max Fried, used a brief leg kick and delivered to catcher J.C. Escarra.
The pitch was low and outdoors, however a decent provide from the basketball participant. She will get a bit extra respect for tossing the pitch from the rubber. Bonus factors for conserving the championship ring on her left hand.
Breanna Stewart’s first pitch . Ball or strike? you be the umpire pic.twitter.com/dQKrr7KN8o
“I was definitely throwing from the rubber. I’ve seen some other people not throw from the mound, but I didn’t wanna do that. I threw before in Seattle. I had some practice in the back,” stated Stewart, who shared the second with a handful of Liberty teammates behind the mound.
“I want to try from where the real pros throw,” she stated.
Stewart, the North Syracuse native, grew up a Yankees fan and was properly conscious of the tense rivalry recreation that passed off after her first pitch. She stated having her ceremony throughout a Subway Collection was “a big deal for our entire family.” And the three-time WNBA champion reminisced about her previous years watching favourite gamers in pinstripes, together with Derek Jeter and Alex Rodriguez.
“It’s Yankees or bust. I feel like I signed to the Yankees honestly,” she stated.
With Juan Soto’s return to the Bronx for the primary time since signing a 15-year, $765 million take care of the Mets, feelings have been excessive across the Bronx. Yankee followers booed Soto all through the weekend. They have been additionally handled to tight video games between two first-place, playoff certain groups.
Followers handled the connection between the Yankees and Mets — even earlier than Soto’s presence — as a rivalry for when the 2 groups confronted off in the summertime. Stewart will get that comparable feeling when taking part in a sure WNBA franchise — the one her staff defeated in Saturday’s residence opener.
“I would say Vegas,” Stewart stated when requested who’re the Liberty’s rival. She decisively selected A’ja Wilson’s squad against the Minnesota Lynx, the staff the Liberty defeated in an exhilarating five-game collection within the 2024 WNBA Finals.
“It’s like the way that we had the game last night, just because us and Vegas, We have a history. We have like the drama. We have the storylines. We have the players going head-to-head.”
The Liberty and Aces undoubtedly have a protracted technique to go by way of the rivalry’s longevity to totally examine to the Subway Collection. The heated summer season baseball collection began in 1997, the identical yr the WNBA had its first-ever recreation. On the time, the Aces have been often called the Utah Starzz. The franchise later relocated to San Antonio in 2002 and once more moved to its present metropolis in 2018.
However because it stands, Stewart believes the 2 rivalries share a typical floor: wholesome competitors.
“I believe a wholesome rivalry is much like what you noticed final evening. Our followers are booing Vegas, and once we go to Vegas, we’re going to get booed. And comparable state of affairs to what you’re going to see right here at this time. I noticed yesterday when the followers have been turning their backs on Soto.
“That’s the luxury of the sport. That’s what sports is all about, is having passionate fans behind you, like we do at Liberty games, like they do here for the Yankees.”
