WNBA: Breanna Stewart, now second-best, leads Liberty in playoffs

Breanna Stewart and A’ja Wilson have been in a best-player-in-the-world race for some time now, with many people believing that they might one day pass Diana Taurasi and become the first- and second-greatest players of all time.

The reality is that Wilson is now clearly ahead of Stewart, although most would have given the title of world’s best to Stewart over the previous six years, going back to when Stewie won her first MVP award in 2018. A big turning point toward Wilson was Game 4 of the 2023 WNBA Finals. Stewart’s New York Liberty had just avoided elimination by winning Game 3 and were again on their home court for a Game 4, when Wilson’s Las Vegas Aces were without 2022 Finals MVP Chelsea Gray and another starter in Kiah Stokes. Wilson put the Aces on her back to secure the championship with 24 points and 16 boards. Meanwhile, Stewart may have had 14 rebounds and five assists, but shot 3-for-17 from the field and scored just 10 points.

When their careers are said and done, we will inevitably look back at that game—an elimination game in the Finals—and point to Stewart’s lack of clutchness and how Wilson took it upon herself to make up for the absences of teammates with a heroic performance on the road. Stewart can’t undo that, though she can add more data points in her favor.

A’ja’s ascent into all-time territory

After that game, Wilson and Stewart stood at two championships and two regular-season MVPs apiece. Stewart held the edge over Wilson with two Finals MVPs to one, but the tide seemed to be shifting towards Wilson. Then, the 2024 regular season happened. And A’ja unquestionably ascended to the throne of the best player in the world.