A’ja on Stewie: A Rivalry Built on Respect and Friendship

Breanna Stewart delivered 34 points and 12 rebounds in the Liberty’s 91-75 upset of top-seeded Minnesota. PHOTO: Courtesy New York Liberty

By WG RAMIREZ

LAS VEGAS — A’ja Wilson and Breanna Stewart have competed for championships, MVP awards and a place among the greatest players of their generation. Wilson sees something deeper in their years as opponents.

“It’s been so much fun to navigate eras and generations with Stewie,” Wilson told during 1-on-1 interview with WGRamirez.com. “I think that’s what keeps us, and the way that we view women’s basketball, alive.”

Their rivalry has remained fierce without becoming personal. Wilson values the challenge Stewart presents and the friendship that survives every matchup.

“We view it as just a healthy rivalry of great basketball, a respectful basketball that we always play,” Wilson said. “I’m going to have the utmost respect for Stewie no matter what, no matter what team she’s on, no matter where we are.”

The completed regular season showed why each still sets a standard for the league. Wilson averaged 26.2 points and 9.4 rebounds for Las Vegas. Stewart averaged 20.8 points and 8.3 rebounds for New York. Their first playoff games raised that standard again: Wilson scored 38 points as the Aces beat Indiana 102-85, while Stewart delivered 34 points and 12 rebounds in the Liberty’s 91-75 upset of top-seeded Minnesota.

A Rival Who Demands Her Best

Wilson admires the work behind Stewart’s sustained excellence.

“There’s really no funny business when it comes to Stewie,” Wilson said. “She gets better every single year.”

That improvement gives Wilson a reason to keep sharpening her own game. Stewart can punish a lapse in concentration on any possession, whether they meet in the regular season or with a title at stake.

“Stewie has always been a competitor that makes sure that I’m on my game every single possession,” Wilson said. “She doesn’t let me take any possessions off, and I’m grateful for that.”

Their connection began before either became a professional champion. They played together in USA Basketball’s junior program, then faced each other while Wilson starred at South Carolina and Stewart led UConn. Wilson remembers recognizing a familiar competitive drive.

“We were always the first ones that were just like, ‘No, let’s go out here and compete at a high level,’” she said. “I’m grateful that I had someone that was on the same level as me.”

Years later, both remain at the center of the championship conversation. Wilson credits their attention to the work required to stay there.

“You can’t really ever get rid of us because we pay that much attention to our craft, and we respect the game,” she said.

Sunday supplied the latest evidence. Wilson controlled the Aces’ playoff opener against Indiana; Stewart led an eighth seed past the No. 1 Lynx on the road. Their teams have separate first-round series to finish, but both stars made clear what they can still do when the stakes rise.

The Friendship Behind the Competition

When they represent the United States, Wilson and Stewart share a locker room instead of scouting each other from opposite benches. Those experiences have helped them understand the demands each faces as a franchise leader and a prominent voice in women’s basketball.

“We understand the weight that we carry, not just within our teams, but the weight that we carry of helping women’s basketball continue to thrive,” Wilson said.

That shared responsibility matters to Wilson. So does the relationship away from the court.

“It’s just great to call her my friend,” she said. “It’s always nothing but laughs, just good times when we’re together, whether it’s as teammates or just as opponents.”

Wilson also appreciates Stewart’s warmth toward her family. Their bond has room for the intensity of competition and the ease of a friendship built over years.

“I’m grateful that I had someone that was on the same level as me, able to kind of go to the mountaintop together and understand how hard it is for us to get to this point,” Wilson said.

Another playoff meeting is possible if both teams advance. Wilson knows Stewart would demand her best once more. She also knows that, whatever happens on the court, their respect will endure.

“It’s a joy to be able to share the basketball court with her every single year at a high level,” Wilson said.