Fans and media may call it the WNBA’s premier rivalry, but Breanna Stewart and A’ja Wilson see it differently. For them, it’s not about beef or animosity, it’s about elite competition built on respect. That’s exactly the tone Stewart reaffirmed on the April 21 episode of the Game Recognize Game podcast.

“A’ja and I have the most respect for each other,” Stewart said. That doesn’t take away from the intensity when they share the court. “We know that it’s going to be a movie every time that we are together… we are going up against each other and really just trying to give each other our best shot. I’m gonna try and put things out of my bag and I know she’s gonna try and pull things out of her bag.”

Their playoff battles tell the story. In the 2020 WNBA Finals, Stewart led the Seattle Storm to a 3-0 sweep over Wilson’s Las Vegas Aces, earning Finals MVP while averaging over 28 points per game. Three years later, Wilson flipped the script, guiding the Aces to a 3-1 win over Stewart’s New York Liberty in the 2023 Finals and claiming Finals MVP honors herself. It’s been a true back-and-forth at the highest level.

Beyond the scoring, their matchups are just as intense defensively. During the 2023 Finals, Wilson anchored a Las Vegas defense that limited Stewart’s efficiency, something Stewart openly acknowledged. “When we’re matched up defensively, it’s hard for both sides,” she said, later describing it simply as “a respected rivalry.”

That respect doesn’t take away from the intensity between the teams. “The Vegas-Liberty is definitely a rivalry and I think that will just stay the way it is,” Stewart added. The two teams will meet for the first time this season on June 23 at Michelob ULTRA Arena in Las Vegas, one of the most anticipated matchups on the schedule.

Breanna Stewart Expresses Deep Respect for A’ja Wilson Amid Record-Breaking Contract

The Stewart-Wilson rivalry often draws comparisons to Magic Johnson and Larry Bird, a matchup defined by fierce competition and deep respect. Like that iconic pairing, both stars continue to push each other while maintaining genuine admiration.

Stewart also praised Wilson’s growth and dominance. “The way that she carries herself, the way that she’s grown on and off the court since coming into the league, she’s developed year after year with her skill set,” Stewart said. “She’s a four-time MVP, three-time champion, there’s a lot that she’s done.”

Pointing to Wilson’s recent deal, she also said, “And for her to have a three-year supermax, that’s stability. She’s showing that Vegas is her home, that’s where she wants to be and continue to fight for championships.”

Wilson signed the largest contract in WNBA history, a three-year, $5 million supermax to remain with the Aces. Stewart also re-signed with the Liberty on a three-year deal worth roughly $3.75 million, opting not to take the full supermax so the team could retain its core. The result is simple: at least three more years of this rivalry at its peak.