I think this debate is going to rage on for quite a while. All 3 have passionate advocates for why they should've won it.
You don't want a player who doesn't want to be the best.Let it be... of course it 'hurt (A'ja) like hell,' which is surely did for AT, and would've for Stewie if just a few votes had been different.
Congrats to all three on a great season, and to Stewie on earning the MVP!
Stewart is now tied for third with most Top 3 finishes in MVP voting with 5.
Alyssa Thomas becomes the 29th player to finish in the Top 3 in MVP voting (she finished fourth last season).
Historically your chances of winning an MVP drop after age 31 (shown in red for active players), even though 4 MVP's have be won after this age (Leslie age 33, Swoopes age 33 and Cooper age 33 & 34).
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I agree with @MilfordHusky. Thanks for this chart. Very impressive. I was just checking out the names. What a list! Yolanda Griffith. Jennifer Gillom. Andrea Stinson. Some WNBA legends on that list along with future WNBA legends.Stewart is now tied for third with most Top 3 finishes in MVP voting with 5.
Alyssa Thomas becomes the 29th player to finish in the Top 3 in MVP voting (she finished fourth last season).
Historically your chances of winning an MVP drop after age 31 (shown in red for active players), even though 4 MVP's have be won after this age (Leslie age 33, Swoopes age 33 and Cooper age 33 & 34).
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Stewie had quite a few games in which her shooting percentage was low.Not sure if Coach Brondello is utilizing her players strengths correctly.Good thing this award is for the regular season. Breana's last 4 four games (season-ending game and 3 playoff games) have her in the midst of possibly the worst shooting slump of her career (23 of 83).
Anybody know if she is concealing or hindered by an injury? If it is a shooting slump, I'd expect her to come out guns blazing in game 2 versus the Sun, especially after losing the opener.
Agreed. It's interesting to see how some perceive certain players responses over others.Let it be... of course it 'hurt (A'ja) like hell,' which is surely did for AT, and would've for Stewie if just a few votes had been different.
Congrats to all three on a great season, and to Stewie on earning the MVP!
While I think Wilson is a fine person, and have no real objections to her response, there is a difference when comparing her to Thomas.Agreed. It's interesting to see how some perceive certain players responses over others.
For contrast Alyssa Thomas also talked about how she was disappointed she didn't win and felt she has been overlooked over the years. Haven't seen much chatter about those comments.
These players want to be the best at their craft. Why are they being slammed for being honest about their feelings?
I have no problem with players expressing disappointment. What I DO have a problem with is them not congratulating Stewie for winning. That's just low class and poor sportsmanship. From the time little girls can bounce a ball, win or lose, the coaches and team line up for the hand-shake line.Agreed. It's interesting to see how some perceive certain players responses over others.
For contrast Alyssa Thomas also talked about how she was disappointed she didn't win and felt she has been overlooked over the years. Haven't seen much chatter about those comments.
These players want to be the best at their craft. Why are they being slammed for being honest about their feelings?
I have no problem with players expressing disappointment. What I DO have a problem with is them not congratulating Stewie for winning. That's just low class and poor sportsmanship. From the time little girls can bounce a ball, win or lose, the coaches and team line up for the hand-shake line.
We constantly criticize coaches or teammates who don't give kudos to the other team when they lose. Even if your team played terribly, players/coaches almost always give credit to the other team. When they don't, they are called out. Why is this any different?
I certainly don't expect Wilson or Thomas to be thrilled Stewie won the award. I haven't seen all the Thomas quotes so I'm not sure if she congratulated Breanna, but I've seen zero quotes from Wilson congratulating her. That's the issue, and both of them should be criticized for it. Zero tolerance for poor losers.
I agree with everything you mentioned. I think the reality is, if everything was exactly the same but it was another UConn player instead of A'ja - we don't hear a peep from these people.If Stewart has done this publicly when she's lost MVP, I hear you. I say "if" because I don't remember seeing quotes of her doing the same in the past and will not claim she hasn't. It would be nice if the favour was returned.
At the same time, for all we know, this may have been done privately. Just because it wasn't public doesn't mean she didn't.
The scrutiny over a sentence when I'm sure there are plenty of examples of athletes in professional sports doing the same doesn't sit well with me.
Doesn't matter if it was done "privately". These players are icons for youngsters and looked up to by millions. Poor sportsmanship is poor sportsmanship. Context matters, but so does what people actually see. Why do these players get a pass when we have seen hundreds of posts in the past calling out others for poor sportsmanship? It is what it is. Low class quotes, maybe in the heat of the moment raw with emotion, but it is what it is.If Stewart has done this publicly when she's lost MVP, I hear you. I say "if" because I don't remember seeing quotes of her doing the same in the past and will not claim she hasn't. It would be nice if the favour was returned.
At the same time, for all we know, this may have been done privately. Just because it wasn't public doesn't mean she didn't.
The scrutiny over a sentence when I'm sure there are plenty of examples of athletes in professional sports doing the same doesn't sit well with me.
That is completely untrue. Geno has been a favorite for people picking at what he says. His famous comment at Arike not choosing UCONN as her top 5 was a perfect example "I'll put out a list of 5 players I have no interest in recruiting" or something like that. He got raked over the coals by many, including UCONN fans.I agree with everything you mentioned. I think the reality is, if everything was exactly the same but it was another UConn player instead of A'ja - we don't hear a peep from these people.
Ohhhhhhh of course not. Those perfect UConn players would NEVER do something so awful like what you see from one of those Dawn Staley coached players. The comment wasn't even low class and that's the whole point. You wouldn't say anything if Stewie said it because it's not a big deal. BUT because Stewie won and it was A'ja - it's a problem. Some of y'all are gross.That is completely untrue. Geno has been a favorite for people picking at what he says. His famous comment at Arike not choosing UCONN as her top 5 was a perfect example "I'll put out a list of 5 players I have no interest in recruiting" or something like that. He got raked over the coals by many, including UCONN fans.
And by the way, I think part of the reason you don't see UCONN fans complaining about UCONN players is because they just don't do it. I'd be the first in line to say it is poor sportsmanship if the tables were turned and Stewie was the one with the low class comments.
My only question is who is the voter who gave A'Ja a fourth place vote?I think this debate is going to rage on for quite a while. All 3 have passionate advocates for why they should've won it.
The WNBA should develop a system that if more then one player comes within a certain percentage point of the top vote getter you could have multiple MVP's. Clearly there were three players so equal they should share the award. Nobody clearly earned it over the others no matter how partial a fan you are.Stewart wins WNBA MVP; Wilson: 'Hurt like hell'
Liberty star Breanna Stewart, who set career highs in points and assists per game, edged Alyssa Thomas and A'ja Wilson to win WNBA MVP honors.www.espn.com
Stewie, Thomas, and Wilson in that order. Maybe Dawn can hang a banner or something.
My only question is who is the voter who gave A'Ja a fourth place vote?
Somebody other than these three deserved a 1-3 vote?
if i understand correctly... Phee had 45 total votes, so 15 media members did not think she was a top 5 player?
Um, the comment by @EricLA that you responded to gave an example of UConn fans criticizing Auriemma, a more revered fan target than any player. That contradicts your assertion.Ohhhhhhh of course not. Those perfect UConn players would NEVER do something so awful like what you see from one of those Dawn Staley coached players. The comment wasn't even low class and that's the whole point. You wouldn't say anything if Stewie said it because it's not a big deal. BUT because Stewie won and it was A'ja - it's a problem. Some of y'all are gross.
All 3 led their teams to highest win total in franchise history, since it was a longer season. That statement definitely needs an asterisk.Thomas deserved it. She led a team with a ton of question marks coming into the year to the highest win total in franchise history. The other two are part of superteams.