The question of where Breanna Stewart will land in 2023 has dominated the WNBA free agency conversation.

That is due in part to her clear position as the marquee free agent in the class. But it is also by her own design. The 2018 MVP has spent the last week teasing WNBA fans and media with emoji-filled tweets, most of which seemed design to confuse.

In one post, though, she revealed her top four destinations: The Seattle Storm. The New York Liberty. The Minnesota Lynx. The Washington Mystics.

Stewart met with each of these teams to kick off the negotiating period Saturday, ESPN’s Ramona Shelburne reported. But the signing period does not start until Feb. 1, so until then, the 28-year-old forward could keep everyone in an emoji-laden limbo.

As we wait with bated breath, Just Women’s Sports asks: Which of her top four choices is the best fit for Stewart?

✈️🗳️🌊👽🔮🧸💰⏳🍪🪴

— Breanna Stewart (@breannastewart) January 22, 2023

New York Liberty

The Liberty look to be building a super team in New York. Even after trading for one former MVP in Jonquel Jones, they’re still in the running for Stewart. And there are reports that wherever Stewart goes, Courtney Vandersloot could follow.

With the addition of both Stewart and Vandersloot, the Liberty would have Sabrina Ionescu at point guard, Vandersloot also in the backcourt, and Jones and Stewart in the frontcourt. The team would also bring bench power, with Stefanie Dolson and Michaela Onyenwere adding depth.

The Liberty also have the advantage of a large market — and they’re relatively close to home for Stewart, who grew up in Syracuse. New York also would make for a shorter flight home for Stewart’s wife, Marta Xargay, who is originally from Spain.

Seattle Storm

As the team that originally drafted Stewart with the No. 1 overall pick out of UConn in 2016, there certainly are a few draws to Seattle. Not only has Stewart won two championships with the team, she also has played with fellow Storm star Jewell Loyd for her whole career.

But the Storm head into the 2023 WNBA season without Sue Bird for the first time since 2002. If Stewart could convince Vandersloot to join her in Seattle, that would help fill the void. Still, the Storm will need to retool, if not rebuild entirely, and they would need to find other pieces in order to once again contend for a championship.

🤩 𝐓𝐇𝐄 𝐁𝐄𝐒𝐓 𝐎𝐅 𝐓𝐇𝐄 𝐁𝐄𝐒𝐓 🤩@breannastewart is your AP Player of the Year and AP All WNBA First Team!#TakeCover pic.twitter.com/QXbk4Wwsb0

— Seattle Storm (@seattlestorm) August 16, 2022

Washington Mystics

The Mystics already several key pieces that could push them toward a title run. Elena Delle Donne, Ariel Atkins and Natasha Cloud provide the veteran presence, while young stars Shakira Austin and Evina Westbrook bring their own skills to the table.

Stewart would fit in well alongside Delle Donne and Austin, who has proven capable at center. Add in Cloud and Atkins and the Mystics could be a title contender. But the Mystics might struggle to find the cap space for both Stewart and Vandersloot.

Minnesota Lynx

The retirement of Sylvia Fowles leaves the Lynx without a cornerstone, and Stewart is one of the very few players who could fill the role left by the WNBA legend. She also would be able to link up with former UConn teammate and fellow power forward Napheesa Collier.

But of the four teams on the table for Stewart, the Lynx arguably need the most work to put themselves in title contention. The retirement of Fowles has left them without a center, and without a clear leader on defense. While Stewart and Vandersloot could help, cap space could limit Minnesota’s possibilities.

For the first time in the NWSL's 12-year history, fans can now buy their own goalkeeper jerseys. And while replica goalkeeper jerseys representing all 14 NWSL teams hit the market on Wednesday, some didn't stick around for long. 

Fans across women's soccer have long vocalized their discontent over the position's lack of availability on social media, often comparing the shortcoming to the widespread availability of men’s goalkeeper jerseys. And as the NWSL has grown, so has demand — and not just from those in the stands. 

"To have goalkeeper kits available for fans in the women’s game as they have been for so long in the men’s game is not only a long-awaited move in the right direction, it’s just good business," said Washington Spirit goalie Aubrey Kingsbury in an team press release. "I can’t wait to see fans representing me, Barnie [Barnhart], and Lyza in the stands at Audi!"

just went looking at #nwsl goalkeeper kit stock out of curiosity — Alyssa Naeher's $145 kit already sold out S-XL (league announced GK jerseys on sale 3 hours ago)https://t.co/8bYA7tlwcx

— Meg Linehan (@itsmeglinehan) April 17, 2024

Business does, in fact, appear to be booming. Alyssa Naeher’s Chicago Red Stars kit sold out less than three hours after the league's announcement. Jerseys for other keepers like DiDi Haračić, Abby Smith, Michelle Betos, Katelyn Rowland, and Bella Bixby aren’t currently available via the Official NWSL Shop, though blank goalkeeper jerseys can be customized through some individual team sites. Jerseys start at $110 each.

"This should be the benchmark," said Spirit Chief Operations Officer Theresa McDonnell. "The expectation is that all players’ jerseys are available to fans. Keepers are inspiring leaders and mentors with their own unique fan base who want to represent them... I can’t wait to see them all over the city."

Decorated gymnast Simone Biles took to the popular Call Her Daddy podcast this week to open up about her experience at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics, revealing she thought she was going to be "banned from America" for her performance.

After Biles botched her vault routine due to a bout of the "twisties," she withdrew from the team final as well as the all-around final in order to focus on her mental health. She later reentered the competition to win bronze in the individual balance beam final.

In her interview with podcast host Alex Cooper, Biles admitted to feeling like she let the entire country down by failing her vault attempt.

"As soon as I landed I was like 'Oh, America hates me. The world is going to hate me. I can only see what they’re saying on Twitter right now,'" she recalled thinking. "I was like, ‘Holy s---, what are they gonna say about me?'"

"I thought I was going to be banned from America," she continued. "That’s what they tell you: Don’t come back if not gold. Gold or bust. Don’t come back."

Widely regarded as the greatest gymnast of all time, Biles has hinted at a desire to join her third Olympic team in Paris, though her participation won't be confirmed until after the gymnastics trials in late June. She holds over 30 medals from the Olympic Games and World Artistic Gymnastics Championships combined, and if qualified, would be a sure favorite heading into this summer’s games.

Caitlin Clark is reportedly close to cementing a hefty endorsement deal with Nike.

The Athletic was the first to break the news Wednesday evening, commenting that the deal would be worth "eight figures" and include her own signature shoe. On Thursday afternoon, the publication tweeted that the deal would top $20 million, according to lead NBA Insider Shams Charania. Both Under Armour and Adidas are said to have also made sizable offers to the college phenom and expected future WNBA star.

The new agreement comes after Clark's previous Nike partnership ended with the conclusion of the college basketball season. She was one of five NCAA athletes to sign an NIL deal with the brand back in October, 2022. 

Considering Clark's overwhelming popularity and Nike's deep pockets, the signing's purported value doesn't exactly come as a shock. New York Liberty guard Sabrina Ionescu’s deal with the brand is reportedly worth $24 million, while NBA rookie and No. 1 overall pick Victor Wembanyama’s deal is rumored to weigh in at $100 million. And in 2003, LeBron James famously earned $90 million off his own Nike deal. 

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Clark’s star power continues to skyrocket, with the NCAA championship averaging 18.9 million viewers and the 2024 WNBA Draft more than doubling its previous viewership record. Following the draft, Fanatics stated that Clark's Indiana Fever jersey — which sold out within an hour — was the top seller for any draft night pick in the company’s history, with droves of unlucky fans now being forced to wait until August to get their hands on some official No. 22 gear.

In Wednesday's Indiana Fever introductory press conference, the unfailingly cool, calm, and collected Clark said that turning pro hasn’t made a huge impact on how she’s conducting her deals.

"If I’m being completely honest, I feel like it doesn’t change a ton from how I lived my life over the course of the last year," she said. "Sponsorships stay the same. The people around me, agents and whatnot, have been able to help me and guide me through the course of the last year. I don’t know if I would be in this moment if it wasn’t for a lot of them."

Former Oklahoma slugger Jocelyn Alo has signed on with Athletes Unlimited and will compete in the AU Pro Softball AUX this June.

The NCAA record holder in career home runs (122), total bases (761), and slugging percentage (.987), Alo was originally drafted by the league in 2022 but opted instead to join the newly debuted Women’s Professional Fastpitch. 

Alo currently plays for independent pro softball team Oklahoma City Spark, with team owner Tina Floyd reportedly on board with her recent AUX signing. AUX games are scheduled for June 10-25, while the Spark's season will kick off June 19th. Alo will play for both. 

Among those joining Alo on the AUX roster are former James Madison ace pitcher Odicci Alexander and former Wichita State standout middle infielder Sydney McKinney.

According to Alo, the decision to play in the Athletes Unlimited league was fueled by her desire to propel women's sports forward as well as provide more exposure to a sport that's given her "so many opportunities."

"Not only to challenge myself more, but just for the growth of the game," Alo said, explaining her reasoning to The Oklahoman. "I genuinely believe that professional softball can be a career for girls."

Joining AUX is also one more step in her plan toward representing Team USA at the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics.

"I’m constantly thinking about how can I do these little things right in these four years to prepare me for the biggest stage of softball," she told The Oklahoman. "I definitely want to play in the Olympics, for sure."

Alo further expressed enthusiasm in the hope that the rise of other women’s sports, like women’s basketball and the NWSL, will push softball’s professional viability even higher.

"We’re seeing the NWSL (National Women’s Soccer League) get their stuff going, I see the WNBA starting to get hot," she continued. "I feel like the softball community is like, 'All right, it’s our turn and it’s our turn to just demand more.'"