Sugar:
2015 NYL 33 5 18.7 34.0 32.0 88.1 0.7 1.5 2.2 1.5 0.7 0.2 1.0 2.1 8.1
2016 NYL 33 33 30.5 40.5 41.3 84.2 0.4 3.2 3.7 2.4 1.0 0.4 1.7 2.6 14.5
Williams raised her scoring average from 3.3 points last season to 11.9 this season and increased her rebounding average from 3.2 to 8.1 (fifth in the WNBA). She ranked second in the league in blocks with 2.3 per game, up from 0.9 as a rookie with the Sun in 2015.
Now, both played more minutes than they did last year, which does account for some increase in the numbers. Looking deeper, Sugar has an edge in three point shooting, as that was a tremendous area of improvement, going from 32.0 percent to 41.3 percent in 2016, while making 2.6 threes per game this year. Williams improved at the free throw line, going from 56 percent to 70 percent and attempting four free throws per game.
Whereas this was Sugar's fourth year, this was Williams' second. Sugar had started only five games last year, but was at least a solid "sixth woman" off the bench. But Williams went from a "ninth woman" off the bench who missed many games because of injuries to becoming one of the leaders in the WNBA in minutes and anchoring the entire Atlanta frontcourt. For that reason, I would have given the award to Williams.
My second choice would have been Jewell Loyd, who only played 6 more minutes per game, but whose scoring went up by six points and who doubled her assists. Yes, having Breanna Stewart there helped. But she also upped her shooting percentages and became a much better player on both ends of the floor.
I would have had Sugar Rodger third. But it is not like Sugar would not have been a worthy candidate had she won, IMHO. Williams, Loyd, and Rodgers could all have won, and each would have been deserving in my opinion.