The “two-women tandem” continues! It has always been A’ja Wilson vs Breanna Stewart when MVP races are concerned. But for Team USA, this is a very lethal duo. Bringing their form from the WNBA into the Olympics, these two basketball stars have proven that neither the stage nor the opponent matters to them. In fact, they did not just bring an 87-74 win for the USA but also achieved a huge feat in the USA’s Olympics history.

With tonight’s win, Team USA clinched their spot for the Quarter Finals. Soon, the 12-player roster will fly to Paris for the knockout rounds. And what could be better than the boasting rights of having started their 2024 campaign with 20+ points display consecutively? Well, joining the WNBA legend, 4-time Olympic gold medalist Teresa Edwards surely comes to mind. Moreover, it was her 36-year-old Olympic record that these two WNBA superstars joined Edwards for.

The official X account of I talk hoops shared a tweet with their followers updating them on A’ja Wilson and Stewart’s achievements. They wrote, “A’ja Wilson and Breanna Stewart are the first USA women’s players since Teresa Edwards in 1988 to start an Olympics with consecutive 20-point games! #Paris2024”

In tonight’s game, A’ja Wilson dropped 23 points and 13 rebounds. She even made 3 steals against Belgium. As for the New York Liberty captain, she grabbed 26 points and 7 rebounds and capped off the game with 3 blocks. Interestingly, she again aided the team with her 3-point luck as she shot 1 of 4 from beyond the arc. Team USA continues to reign over Group C as they now travel from Villeneuve d’Ascq to Paris for their final few games. Other than the gold, they are also going against each other for a very tight MVP race.

A’ja Wilson or Breanna Stewart? Looking closer at the MVP race

The Olympic voting polls are in action and interestingly, Breanna Stewart and A’ja Wilson are already in the top five favorites. According to FIBA fan voting, the Aces star has accumulated 833 votes in the two wins. She currently sits in the fifth position in the MVP race. On the other hand, her 2023 WNBA Finals rival is in the third spot with 998 votes. With such a close fan voting difference, let us take their numbers into account.

There is no denying that these two ladies are holding down the USA’s flag. But only one can be the MVP. Wilson, just like for Las Vegas, is doing a great job in the paint. In the last two games, she has a combined total of 26 rebounds. Adding to her defense are her 4 blocks so far. She is also pulling the offense and has bagged 47 points already with 3 steals. The 2023 Commissioner’s Cup MVP is also not behind when it comes to adding value to the team. In two games vs Japan and Belgium, she has 48 points and 15 rebounds. The 2016 first-overall pick also has 6 blocks and a steal so far.

Certainly, they are bringing heat to France with their tough versatility. Still, what these seasoned veterans make sure is to play their hardest in clutch times. Something that separates them from the rest. Hence, while the MVP race will only screw in harder, it is certainly lucky to have these two representing the USA.

Stay tuned for more such updates and join us for the exciting pilot episode of the “Dual Threat Show” as our host BG12 sits down with Georgia Bulldogs star and SEC All-Freshman Team Selection, Silas Demary Jr.