UConn’s Breanna Stewart is the first draft pick of the WNBA draft on April 14 after breaking several college basketball records, yet not many people have heard of her.

Stewart is a senior at the University of Connecticut where she just finished her final college season with a national championship in the March Madness Women’s basketball tournament. This championship marks UConn’s fourth straight national championship meaning Stewart was a national champion all four years of her college career.

In addition to her team accomplishments, the 6-foot-4-inch tall power forward and center also broke several records and achieved many high honors.

Stewart was named the Final Four’s most outstanding player every year of her college career.

As stated by the NCAA, no other player in history has ever achieved this.

Stewart also received her second Wooden Award which is given to the top male and female players, the Wade Trophy as the Women’s Basketball Coaches Association’s player of the year, and was selected as the Associated Press player of the year.

Then, during the WNBA draft on April 14, Stewart was drafted first onto the Seattle Storm.

It’s no secret that WNBA basketball and women’s basketball in general is not as popular, financially strong, nor as widely known about as the men’s leagues.

According to Vice Sports, the WNBA maximum salary for players is $107,500 while the minimum salary for NBA players is $490,180.  

Some may prefer watching the men’s college and professional levels because the men are bigger and are physically stronger than the women or they may enjoy the popularity of the NBA or the fact that the men’s games are more easily accessible on television and online.

Whatever the reason that an individual may prefer watching men’s basketball, it is important to recognize that women’s basketball is highly competitive and contains incredibly talented players too.

The women’s games are often harder to find on television, but are worth watching.

Stewart and her recent accomplishments are a testament to this fact. With all of these accomplishments, awards, and honors, Stewart deserves more recognition from the public than what she has received.