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Like many Americans, WNBA superstar Breanna Stewart watched the 2026 Milan Cortina Games from home, hoping that every time she turned on to watch athletes compete in any sport, a member of Team USA was on the podium at the end.
Team USA accumulated a record 12 gold medals at the Winter Olympics, and as a triple winner herself in women’s basketball during the Summer Games, Stewart couldn’t help but think about what’s in store in two years in Los Angeles.
“I’ve been talking a little bit more about LA28 these days. I think it’s going to be crazy,” Stewart told Pakinomist Digital while discussing her partnership with Throne Sport Coffee as the first female athlete to join the brand.
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Breanna Stewart of Team United States celebrates with her child during the women’s basketball medal ceremony on day sixteen of the Paris 2024 Olympic Games at Bercy Arena on August 11, 2024 in Paris, France. (Elsa/Getty Images)
Whether it was 20-year-old Alysa Liu smiling after a stunning gold medal in figure skating, or the men’s and women’s hockey teams both defeating Canada in overtime to clinch victory in Milan, Stewart knew exactly how they felt with that medal around their necks and watching as the American flag rose to the rafters.
It’s a feeling Stewart still gets “goosebumps” when he thinks about it.
“When you’re on the podium, you see the flag go up and the national anthem goes with the gold medal around your neck, it’s really just satisfaction and justification of why you’re doing it and why you’ve gone through the tough moments and times,” she explained. “To me, the Olympics are the highest of the high. You play your sport at the highest level against everyone else in the world and you see that. It’s just a goosebump feeling no matter how many times you do it. Just the pride and knowing that you’re representing something bigger than yourself always comes full circle.”
While American pride is on display, many back home also learned more about sports they rarely get to watch at the Games. Stewart felt the same way.
“I think there were so many events I really learned a lot about, whether it was bobsled, or curling, or watching hockey,” she said. “I just wanted to cheer for the USA in whatever event they were doing and see the pride and passion the athletes had every time they stepped up to compete in their sport.
“The Olympics are special every time I get to do them, and I know it’s the same for all those athletes. I thought it was a really cool moment for everybody, and I mean, women’s hockey, what an incredible finish. Men’s hockey, the same thing. Look, I’d never want to get my teeth knocked out by a hockey stick, I can tell you that much.”
Gold medalist Alysa Liu of Team United States poses for a photo during the women’s singles figure skating medal ceremony on day thirteen of the Milan Cortina 2026 Olympic Winter Games at the Milan Ice Skating Arena on February 19, 2026 in Milan, Italy. (Jamie Squire/Getty Images)
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Stewart, of course, is talking about the hit Jack Hughes took from an errant stick from Canada that knocked his front teeth. But he was the men’s hockey hero, scoring the overtime goal and wearing the American flag on his back, bloody mouth and all, as he smiled in celebration at the Milan rink.
Megan Keller was also a hero for the U.S. as she made a smart play on a Canadian defender and put a shot into the net to send the U.S. bench into a frenzy after her overtime goal sealed gold just days before the men accomplished the same feat.
Two years later, Stewart is hoping to win her fourth Olympic gold medal, and even more so considering this will be her first time staying home in the United States to compete against the best in the world.
“Even just fast-forwarding to two years from now, the fact that we’re finally going to be in our home country, I feel like, especially speaking from the women’s national basketball team, we’re always playing against other people in their host countries and we’re always rooted against,” she said. “Having that home crowd behind us will be something people haven’t felt in a long, long time, and I’m excited to say I’ll feel that too.”
HEALTHY BOOST WITH THRONE SPORT COFFEE
Between her hard work on the court as a WNBA superstar and her duties as a mother at home, Stewart needs some caffeine throughout the day to keep her going.
Breanna Stewart of Team United hugs assistant coach Kara Lawson of Team United States and celebrates after their team’s win against Team France during the women’s gold medal match between Team France and Team United States on day sixteen of the Paris 2024 Olympic Games at Bercy Arena on August 11, 2024 in Paris, France. (Gregory Shamus/Getty Images)
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But Stewart isn’t drinking just any coffee to get her fix—she’s partnered with a brand that’s perfect for the professional athlete that she is.
Stewart has joined Throne SPORT COFFEE, becoming the first female athlete to partner with the brand that prides itself on being much more than just a coffee provider.
It just seems really natural and fitting to me,” she told FOX Business in an exclusive interview about the partnership. “I think being an athlete, being a mom, there are so many reasons why we need caffeine constantly. But to have it in a healthy way, and also have the protein in it – every time I go to the gym, I have one. I tell everyone that not only do I drink coffee, but I also get such positive protein benefits.”
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