Breanna Stewart Wins Second WNBA MVP: A Look at Her Stellar Season
New York Liberty superstar Breanna Stewart has been named the WNBA MVP for the second time in her career, the league announced on Tuesday. Stewart’s exceptional performance throughout the season solidified her as the most valuable player in the league. Here’s everything you need to know about her remarkable season and why she deserved this prestigious award.
Stewart’s Impressive Stats and Achievements
Stewart had a career-best season, averaging 23 points per game, along with 9.3 rebounds and 3.8 assists per game. In her first season with the New York Liberty, she led the team to an outstanding 32-8 regular-season record and helped them secure the Commissioner’s Cup championship.
The voting results revealed Stewart’s dominance, as she received 20 out of 60 first-place votes and a total of 446 points (including 23 second-place and 17 third-place votes). Connecticut Sun forward Alyssa Thomas finished second in the voting, while Las Vegas Aces center A’ja Wilson, a two-time WNBA MVP, came in third.
Stewart’s MVP Case
Stewart’s MVP-worthy season started gaining attention early on when she scored a franchise and personal career-high of 45 points against the Indiana Fever in just her second game with the New York Liberty on May 21. She continued to impress throughout the season, becoming the first-ever WNBA player to record three 40-point games in a single season in mid-August. Additionally, she set a Liberty franchise record with six games scoring over 30 points on August 26. Stewart also set single-season franchise records for total points (919) and rebounds (371), finishing with the second-most points in a season by a WNBA player.
Stewart’s impact extended beyond her individual performance. She led the league in offensive win-shares and ranked second in scoring. Her defensive versatility played a crucial role in the New York Liberty having the second-best defense in the league during the second half of the season. As a result of her outstanding defensive efforts, she was named to the first-team All-Defense.
The Close MVP Voting Race
The MVP voting race was highly competitive, with Stewart, Thomas, and Wilson finishing within 13 points of each other (446 for Stewart, 439 for Thomas, and 433 for Wilson). The next closest player, Napheesa Collier, received only 109 points. This season’s MVP vote was the second-closest in history, with the 2005 vote being the closest when Sheryl Swoopes won by just two points over Lauren Jackson.
Stewart’s Journey and Previous Achievements
Stewart joined the New York Liberty as a free agent in February after spending the first six seasons of her career with the Seattle Storm. She won her first MVP award in 2018 after averaging a then-career best of 21.8 points per game and helping the Storm win a championship. Stewart also earned the Finals MVP title that year. In 2020, she led the Storm to another championship victory and secured her second Finals MVP award.
This season, Stewart made history by setting the WNBA single-season points record with 919 points. The previous record of 860 points was held by Diana Taurasi of the Phoenix Mercury in 2006 when the regular season consisted of 34 games.
In conclusion, Breanna Stewart’s exceptional performance throughout the season, leading the New York Liberty to an impressive record and breaking multiple franchise and league records, made her a deserving recipient of the WNBA MVP award. Her offensive prowess, defensive versatility, and impact on both ends of the court solidify her as one of the league’s most dominant players. Congratulations to Breanna Stewart on her well-deserved recognition as the WNBA MVP for the second time in her career.