As the New York Liberty gear up for their first Championship title this year, their star Breanna Stewart has a chance at redemption. Last year Stewie was distracted by a personal tragedy: the loss of her father-in-law Josep Xargay to lung cancer, just 3 days before the start of the Finals. Hence, when the Liberty’s main star had the ball in her hands, during the fourth game with just 8.8 seconds left in the fourth quarter, instead of shooting, she made a pass. This was considered the main reason for the Liberty’s third and final loss against the Aces in the Championship series by a 70-69 margin. However, contrary to popular opinion, she doesn’t mind losing the WNBA ring if at the crossroads of choosing between America’s popular professional league and the Olympics gold.

On Wednesday’s episode of The Eli Manning Show, the 30-year-old revealed her preference for Olympic gold, which surprised everyone. “Like for me, the gold medal is the cream of the crop. Like that’s the highest of the high. Especially because you know you’re playing against the other best countries in the world with the best players in the world. And it’s… and with USA basketball like the standard is gold and to be able to share that with Sab this summer was a lot of fun, and little bit stressful but we came home with another gold,” Stewart stated boldly without breaking a sweat.

The 3x Olympic gold medalist has been part of the national women’s basketball team thrice for the quadrennial event, driving her squad to the gold each time. Two of her best performances at the Paris Olympics this year came against Japan and Belgium when she hit 22 and 26 points respectively. Overall with her 16.3 points per game and 78.3% free throws, she was one of the core players to take Team USA to its eighth consecutive title in the Summer Games. However, everyone was surprised after her latest statement, considering the salvation she will achieve if the Liberty clinch their first Championship title this month.

Though Stewie is a 2x WNBA Champion with the Seattle Storm, she hasn’t won a title since her transfer to the New York-based franchise last season. She had the worst playoff stints then, as she averaged her lowest points per game and field goal percentage, in her elimination series career. And when her father-in-law passed away, fans speculate it took a mental toll on her, as she could only score 16.3 points per game with 36.2% shooting from the field in the Championship series. Therefore, it wasn’t expected of her to ditch the Liberty after so much had transpired last season. But despite her not attaching much importance to the WNBA Finales, a certain analyst has backed the Sandy Brondello-coached franchise to finish the job in their favor.

Stephen A. Smith opines the New York Liberty might win the series

Last year when the Liberty had made it to the Finales against the Aces, the biggest trouble standing between them and their dream was A’ja Wilson. The 2x WNBA Champion averaged 23.8 points with 11.8 rebounds per game on her way to her consecutive Championship title. This year, she won the MVP title averaging 26.9 points with 11.9 rebounds per game. Nonetheless, she couldn’t stand the heat from the Liberty in the semis as they trumped the Aces by a 3-1 margin. Hence, Stephen A. Smith, on Wednesday’s episode of the First Take, backed the Liberty to finish the job.

“This is their 6th trip to the Finals. They are 0-5 in the Finals. They better get it done. If you could take out A’ja Wilson, you could take out Napheesa Collier. It’s just that simple. Handle your business, do what the hell you gotta do. … New York is starving for our basketball championship,” Smith enumerated.

The Liberty, notably, have made it to the Championship series five times since the inception of the W in 1997, losing it on every occasion, including the inaugural season. However, Smith, born in the Bronx, is confident that the Liberty can oust the Minnesota Lynx and take home the silverware for the first time. But if stats are to be believed, then the Lynx could well emerge victorious in the Championship series for the fifth time. And the same opinion is amplified by fans when they take notice of the fact that the Liberty lost the Comissioner’s Cup this year to the Lynx by a 94-89 margin.

Hopefully, Stewie will make the most of this opportunity in the upcoming games, taking the Liberty to their first title. And perhaps, she would rejoice when the Liberty’s Championship ring shares a place next to the gold medals.