A two-time MVP, a two-time Defensive Player of the Year, and the reigning Finals MVP.

That was the welcoming committee assigned to introduce top pick Breanna Stewart to the WNBA.

In her first three career games, Stewart squared off with Candace Parker, Brittney Griner and Sylvia Fowles as the Storm opened the season with games against the Sparks, Mercury and defending champion Lynx.

Stewart escaped that tornado of talent not only unscathed, but having put up some impressive numbers – 17.0 points, 10.7 rebounds, 2.7 assists, 1.3 blocks and 1.0 steals in 35.1 minutes per game.

“It’s been fun watching Stewie. She goes from Candace Parker, to Brittney Griner, to now Sylvia Fowles and Rebekkah Brunson,” Seattle coach Jenny Boucek recently told StormBasketball.com. “She’s really attacking every challenge, excited about every challenge. Whether it’s an individual or a team challenge, you’re seeing why she’s so great, and why she will be so great. She’s got talent, but she is extremely hungry and unafraid. She wants to go against the best.”

As Stewart continues her much-anticipated rookie season, let’s look back at Stewart’s welcome to the WNBA.

Professional Debut

It’s usually difficult to find silver linings in a 30-point loss, but Stewart showed flashes of brilliance as she finished with 23 points on 9-of-13 shooting, to go with six rebounds, three assists, two steals and a block in 34 minutes. Coming out of that game, two things were abundantly clear:

1. The Storm may still need to some time for their young roster to grow and compete with the league’s top teams every night.
2. Stewart can hold her own against the top competition in the world.

Plays like this definitely show that her game – which propelled UConn to four straight national titles and earned her four straight Most Outstanding Player awards – translates seamlessly to the professional level.

Rebounds her own miss, drives the lane for the layup to score her first WNBA basket

Executes the give and go with Jewell Loyd and finishes the layup against Candace Parker

Gets the steal, runs a one woman fast break for the layup

First Win

Stewart had her best offensive performance in her debut, but got her first win and first double-double in her second game, a one-point win over the preseason title-favorite Phoenix Mercury. While Stewart shot just 4-of-15 from the field, she did hit her first two WNBA 3-pointers – showing off the shooting range that, among other things, makes her so dangerous. She finished with 14 points, 13 rebounds, two assists and a block.

Thanks to Jewell Loyd’s career-high 30 points and a 12-foot bank shot in the closing seconds, the Storm picked up their first (and as of now, only) win of the season. Winning is something Stewart is obviously familiar with since she lost just four games in her entire collegiate career. Plays like these will make winning at the pro level much more commonplace as well.

Stretching the defense with 3-point range

Cutting through the lane, grabbing the pass and finishing with a reverse layup

Rebounds her own miss and gives a touch pass to Jewell Loyd for the jumper

Competing with the Champs

There’s no better test for both Stewart and the Storm than taking on the defending champion Lynx early in the season. What better way to see how you stand against the measuring stick of the WNBA for the past five seasons?

Stewart and the Storm got off to a strong start, taking a 24-19 lead at the end of the first quarter with Stewart leading the way with nine points and five rebounds. The Lynx bounced back to take a 46-41 lead at the half, with Stewart up to 14 points on 5-of-9 shooting from the field, one 3-pointer and a trio of free throws.

The crossover, the lefty layup, and one!

Recovering on defense for the block

Grabbing the rebound, starting the fast break and dropping off a dime for a layup

Getting into the post and hitting a smooth hook shot

The second half was a different story, as Stewart was held scoreless on 0-of-10 shooting and the Storm taking a 78-71 loss in their home opener to drop to 1-2 early this season.

She may have been thrown to the wolves to begin her professional career – facing some of the league’s top players and teams from the jump – but she not only survived the test, she should emerge stronger for her efforts.