NEW YORK – The Associated Press announced Tuesday that New York Liberty forward Breanna Stewart has been named the 2023 AP Player of the Year. Additionally, Stewart was selected to the All-AP First Team for the sixth time in her career.

In her first season in New York, where she led the Liberty to a franchise-best 32-8 (.800) finish, Stewart posted career-bests of 23.0 points per game and 3.8 assists per game, along with 9.3 rebounds, 1.6 blocks and 1.5 steals per game on 46.5% from the field, 35.5% from three and 85.1% from the line.

Stewart’s unprecedented four 40-point games in 2023 set a WNBA single-season record, while tying the all-time WNBA record for career 40-point games. On September 5, Breanna also tied the WNBA single-season 35-plus point game record with five.

Since the award was instituted in 2016, Stewart has now earned three AP Player of the Year honors—the most all-time. She is now the first back-to-back winner as well as the first Liberty player to garner the award.