Minnesota Lynx coach Cheryl Reeve wears a “Trans Kids Belong” T-shirt in protest of Sophie Cunningham during the Lynx vs. Fever game as she is booed whenever she touches the ball.
Where's all the Clark Clans and Sophie's Clans that was speaking out about last week in Seattle. Here we have a Fever fans last night at the Portland Fire game spitting on a person because of @sophaller.
It's only happened twice in WNBA history that the player who received the most first-place MVP votes did not end up winning the award ⤵️
✨Lauren Jackson (2005 MVP voting): A'ja Wilson became the first player in WNBA history to win four MVP awards, but Lauren Jackson came remarkably close to reaching that milestone first. In the 2005 MVP race, Jackson actually received more first-place votes than Sheryl Swoopes, 20 to 16. However, the MVP is decided by total points, and Swoopes edged her out by just two points, 327-325.
Jackson averaged (17.6) points, (9.2) rebounds, (1.1) steals, and (2.0) blocks that season. She would go on to win three MVP awards during her career, taking home the honor in 2003, 2007, and 2010.
✨Alyssa Thomas (2023 MVP voting): The 2023 MVP race was the closest three-player battle in league history, with just 13 points separating first and third place in the final voting. Thomas received 23 first-place votes, three more than eventual MVP Breanna Stewart, but finished second in total points, 446-439.
Thomas put together one of the most complete seasons the league has ever seen, averaging (15.5) points, (9.9) rebounds, and (7.9) assists. She set the WNBA single-season record for double-doubles, recorded six triple-doubles, led the league in rebounds, and finished among the top three in both assists and steals.
If Thomas had averaged more points while producing everything else she did, would that have been enough to swing the MVP vote in her favor?
Deanna Nolan accomplished all of this in just nine WNBA seasons:
✨3× WNBA champion
✨WNBA Finals MVP
✨4× WNBA Finals appearances
✨5× WNBA All-Star
✨5× All-WNBA selection
✨5× All-Defensive selection
✨Career playoff averages of (18.1) points, (4.4) rebounds, and (3.4) assists per game
Deanna Nolan accomplished all of this in just nine WNBA seasons:
✨3× WNBA champion
✨WNBA Finals MVP
✨4× WNBA Finals appearances
✨5× WNBA All-Star
✨5× All-WNBA selection
✨5× All-Defensive selection
✨Career playoff averages of (18.1) points, (4.4) rebounds, and (3.4) assists per game