Even amongst the WNBA’s elite, certain players demand respect every time they step on the court. Las Vegas Aces superstar A’ja Wilson is perhaps the best player in the league, and recently, during an appearance on Kylie Kelce’s podcast Not Gonna Lie, she spoke about her most difficult cover, and the answer might surprise some fans.

The reigning MVP, when asked who her toughest matchup was, said, “I’m going to always say Breanna Stewart… Only because Stewie’s just… she’s a three-level scorer. And the way that she plays the game is so tough to read because she’s that skillful. Sometimes when I’m thinking about just how to guard her, how to make it hard for her… she’s completely different. You really have to be able to know how and when she’s going to score the basketball, and that’s super, super tough.” Indeed, the answer was not Caitlin Clark or top young player, but the veteran forward, who has had multiple high-profile matchups with Wilson.

Wilson continued, admitting she enjoys the competitive intensity Stewart brings. “I love competing against Stewie because every time we play each other, it’s like a blockbuster, elite basketball that you’re watching… She makes me think every possession, and I love that because sometimes, I get bored mid-game just because of the person that I am.” Her comments highlight both the respect and drive that Wilson feels in facing such a formidable opponent.

Wilson credited Stewart’s unique combination of abilities for making her a matchup nightmare, explaining, “Sometimes when you’re guarding Stewie, you have to keep your head on a swivel because she’s very guard-like. But then also she’s tall. So, yeah, you get the best of both worlds.” That dual-threat, combined with her ability to score on all three levels, keeps defenders on edge and forces them to constantly adapt with every possession.

This isn’t the first time Wilson has spoken about their rivalry, though. Back in 2024, on the Draymond Green Show, she talked about the nature of their competition, saying, “Stewie and I have been playing against each other for a long, long time… At the same time, we’re still cool and I feel like that’s what makes it that much better… It’s not beef. Media can make it a beef. Anybody can make it a beef. It’s like when you see us, we’re making each other better every single possession. I think that’s kind of what our game and our league needs.”

Clearly, for A’ja Wilson, Stewart represents the perfect blend of challenge, competition, and skill, a blend that every champion relishes facing.

Tracking A’ja Wilson’s Biggest Battles with Breanna Stewart, From Finals to Semifinals

Breanna Stewart and A’ja Wilson first faced off against each other in the playoffs during the 2020 Finals, back when Stewart was on the Seattle Storm, with Wilson and her Aces falling in a sweep, marking Stewart’s second championship. Stewart was dominant in the series, averaging a monstrous 28.3 points per game on elite efficiency. This early finals matchup was just a glimpse into the future of the WNBA, with multiple other matchups defining their future encounters.

One of their most intense head-to-head matches took place in the 2022 Semifinals, a four-game series, where the Aces came out on top, 3-1. Wilson posted superhuman numbers, including a 33-point, 13-rebound performance in game 2, and Stewart logged a 42-point outing in game 4. Every possession felt like a chess match between the two, with the series reinforcing the challenge that the two faced in each other.

Their rivalry carried into 2023 and 2024, with Stewart, now with the Liberty, playing at a lower level than in her previous outings, particularly in 2023, when she dipped below 37% from the field as the Wilson-led Aces beat them in four games to take the championship. In 2024, Stewart and the Liberty got their revenge, beating the Aces in 4 games, despite Wilson’s best efforts, including a 24-point performance in Game 2.

Over the years, it has become clear that the back-and-forth contests have captivated fans, and both players have pushed each other to elevate their games, cementing these series as some of the most compelling in league history.