WNBA announces five MVP candidates: A'ja Wilson, Napheesa Collier, and three others, set to reveal winner this coming Sunday
In a thrilling turn of events, the Women's National Basketball Association (WNBA) has announced its annual awards, with several standout players receiving well-deserved recognition.
The Defensive Player of the Year (DPOY) award has been shared by A'ja Wilson and Alanna Smith. Wilson, a three-time DPOY winner, and Smith, who earned the honour for the first time, each received 29 votes to share the prestigious award. Wilson's defensive prowess was instrumental in ensuring the Las Vegas Aces remained competent defensively, while Smith served as the stabilizing presence for the Minnesota Lynx's league-leading defense. Notably, Wilson led the league in blocks with 2.3 per game, while Smith was third in the league with 1.9 blocks.
Meanwhile, Paige Bueckers has made a significant impact in her rookie season, earning the Rookie of the Year award not once, but twice. Bueckers, who was named Rookie of the Year for both the Dallas Wings and the Golden State Valkyries, averaged an impressive 19.2 points, 3.9 rebounds, 5.4 assists, and 1.6 steals per game. Her performances earned her fifth place in the league in scoring, ninth in assists, and sixth in steals. Veronica Burton, another promising rookie, was named Most Improved Player for the Golden State Valkyries. Burton started all 44 games and averaged career-highs across the board.
The MVP award will be revealed on Sunday morning at 11:30 a.m. ET. A'ja Wilson is one of the five finalists for the award, alongside Napheesa Collier (Minnesota Lynx), Alyssa Thomas (Phoenix Mercury), Allisha Gray (Atlanta Dream), and Kelsey Mitchell (Indiana Fever).
The WNBA awards season is far from over. The schedule for future award announcements includes the Sixth Player of the Year, Most Valuable Player, Sportsmanship Award, Executive of the Year, All-Rookie Team, All-Defensive Teams, and All-WNBA Teams.
In a historic moment, Wilson finds herself in an elite group with Sheryl Swoopes, Sylvia Fowles, and Tamika Catchings as multiple-time DPOY winners. The season has been filled with exciting performances and memorable moments, and the awards are a testament to the talent and dedication of these exceptional athletes.
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