A’ja Wilson is a four-time MVP, three-time Defensive Player of the Year, and a three-time champion. She is the best player in the WNBA right now and on track to become the W GOAT. When you’re that good, going up against a big part of the league isn’t much of a challenge. However, one star keeps Wilson on her toes.
When Wilson appeared on Kylie Kelce’s podcast, she revealed who she thinks is the toughest player to go up against, and her response really isn’t that surprising. “Toughest player to go up against; I’m going to always say Breanna Stewart,” Wilson said.
She went on to explain, “Stewie is just a 3-level scorer, and the way that she plays the game is so tough to read because she is that skillful. And so, sometimes, when I’m thinking about how to guard her, how to make it hard for her—because some players are like, ‘Okay, force it to their bad hand. You can live with it’—but Stewie is 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. But I love it. I really love competing against Stewie because every time we play against each other, it’s like blockbuster, it’s some elite basketball that you’re watching, and she makes me think every possession, and I love that because sometimes I get bored mid-game just because of the person I am. I just get bored easily.”
Breanna Stewart has been a star in the WNBA for years
Breanna Stewart entered the league after winning four consecutive NCAA titles at UConn. Since then, she has won three WNBA championships, two with the Storm and one with the Liberty, two Finals MVPs, and two league MVPs. She also led the league in scoring in 2022, made seven All-Star teams, and was named to seven All-WNBA and All-Defensive teams.
Stewart’s size, mobility, and guard-like skills make her a unique challenge on both ends of the floor. Many bigs aren’t fast or mobile enough to keep up with her, and quicker wings or guards are usually too small to truly challenge her. It is not very surprising that she can challenge even the best defender in the league.
2025 wasn’t Stewart’s best season. She averaged the fewest points per game since her rookie season in 2016 as well as the fewest rebounds and the worst 3-point shooting percentage of her career. Despite a down year, Stewart is still one of the best and most proven veterans in the W.
Wilson and Stewart have had some great battles
Wilson and Stewart have faced off countless times in the regular season, but also had some big matchups in the playoffs. When the Aces repeated in 2023, they beat New York 3-1 in the finals. Wilson recorded three double-doubles in the series, including 24 points and 16 rebounds in a one-point win to seal the championship. Stewart also recorded three double-doubles in the series and put up 20 points, 12 rebounds, 4 assists, and 2 blocks in New York’s lone win.
Stewart got her revenge in 2024, leading the Liberty to a series win over the Aces in the semifinals. The highlight of the series was her 34-point performance in Game 1. Wilson never recorded fewer than 19 points in that series and got five blocks in Game 4.
2025 marked the first season in a while that the two teams didn’t meet in the playoffs.