Breanna Stewart of the New York Liberty reacted to a team announcement concerning the 2024 WNBA Finals. The Liberty will host the first two games of the series, with rapper Rick Ross performing at the halftime show for Game 1. Stewart dropped her reaction to one of Drake's rivals getting the nod.
The Liberty announced on Instagram that Ross will be performing in Game 1 of the 2024 WNBA Finals on Thursday. Ross is a nine-time Grammy Award-nominated rapper and record executive. He had a beef with Drake back in April after collaborating many times over the years.
Breanna Stewart was one of many who reacted to the announcement and wrote a three-word comment.
"This is OD!!," Stewart wrote.
The WNBA Finals is back in New York, and having someone like Rick Ross performing at the opening game's halftime show gives it a special feel. He's not the first rapper to be on the big stage for the league, with Pitbull doing the honors at the 2024 All-Star Game in Phoenix.
Breanna Stewart and the Liberty back in the WNBA Finals
The New York Liberty are back in the WNBA Finals and are looking to finish what they started last season. The Liberty fell short of winning their first championship against the Las Vegas Aces last year, but they returned with a vengeance this season.
Breanna Stewart led the Liberty to the best record in the league, earning the No. 1 seed in the playoffs. They made quick work of the Atlanta Dream in the first round before meeting the Aces in the semifinals, a rematch of the 2023 WNBA Finals.
The Liberty won the first two games before the defending back-to-back champions won Game 3. However, New York won't be denied as they eliminated the Aces with a dominating 76-62 performance in Game 4. Stewart finished with 19 points, 14 rebounds and five assists.
The 30-year-old star is looking to win her third WNBA championship. It's a much bigger deal, as the Liberty have never won the title.
Breanna Stewart kept receipts after Becky Hammon's remarks last year
Las Vegas Aces coach Becky Hammon took a shot at Stewart's 3-for-17 performance in Game 4 of last year's WNBA Finals. Stewart was grieving at the time after her father-in-law, Josep Xargay, died after a long battle with cancer.
"No matter what, it's a really tough time and just the way the series went last year, kinda going through all of that and making sure this year is different," Stewart said.
"Marta (Xargay) and I talk about doing everything her dad would want us to do. And you know, I have receipts on the things that were said, the entire team does. My mentality today was to go in and get this win for my wife and her dad."
The "trash talk" stuck with Stewart, and she used it as motivation to beat the Aces in this year's playoffs.