View source for WNBA Most Valuable Player

{{Short description|American women's basketball award}}
[[File:WNBA Most Valuable Player Award.jpg|thumb|upright|]]
{{WNBA Awards}}
The '''Women's National Basketball Association Most Valuable Player (MVP)''' is an annual [[Women's National Basketball Association]] (WNBA) award given since the league's [[1997 WNBA season|inaugural season in 1997]]. MVP voting takes place immediately following the [[WNBA#Regular season|regular season]]. The award recipient is decided by a panel of sportswriters and broadcasters throughout the United States. Panel members were asked to select their top five choices for the award, with 10 points being awarded for a first place vote, seven for second, five for third, three for fourth and one for fifth.

In [[2008 WNBA season|2008]], fans could also have a say in who won the award. Fans were able to vote online for their top five MVP picks. These selections accounted for 25% of the total vote, while the media panel's selections accounted for the other 75%.

[[Sheryl Swoopes]], [[Lisa Leslie]], [[Lauren Jackson]] and [[A'ja Wilson]] have won the award the most times, with three selections each. Two players have won the award with different franchises—[[Elena Delle Donne]] in 2015 with the Chicago Sky and 2019 with the Washington Mystics, and [[Breanna Stewart]] in 2018 with the Seattle Storm and 2023 with the New York Liberty. Cynthia Cooper and Candace Parker and  have also won the award twice.

[[Candace Parker]] is the only player to win Rookie of the Year and MVP in the same season—2008.

Jackson, both born and trained in Australia, is the only award winner trained outside the United States. 

The sculptor of the WNBA MVP Award is Marc Mellon, who is also the sculptor of the [[NBA Most Valuable Player Award|NBA MVP Trophy]].

==Winners==
[[File:Maya Moore with her 2014 MVP trophy.jpg|thumb|[[Maya Moore]] with her 2014 WNBA MVP trophy]]
;Legend
{| class="wikitable"
|-
| style="background-color:#CFECEC; border:1px solid #aaaaaa; width:6em"|
|Denotes player who is still active in the WNBA
|-
| style="background-color:#FFFF99; border:1px solid #aaaaaa; width:6em"| *
|Inducted into the [[Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame]]
|-
| style="background-color:#FFE6BD; border:1px solid #aaaaaa; width:6em"| {{dagger}}
|Inducted into the [[Women's Basketball Hall of Fame]]
|-
| style="background-color:#FFCC00; border:1px solid #aaaaaa; width:6em"| 
|Denotes player whose team won championship that year
|-
|Player (X)
|Denotes the number of times the player has been named MVP
|-
|Team (X)
|Denotes the number of times a player from this team has won
|}
{| class="wikitable sortable" style="text-align:center;"
|-
!scope="col" width="5%"| Season
!scope="col"| Player
!scope="col"| Position
!scope="col"| Nationality
!scope="col"| Team
!scope="col"| First-Place Votes
!scope="col" width="1%" class="unsortable" | Ref.
|-
| style="background-color:#FFCC00;| [[1997 WNBA season|1997]]
| style="background-color:#FFFF99"| {{sortname|Cynthia|Cooper|Cynthia Cooper-Dyke}} * {{dagger}}
| rowspan=2|[[Guard (basketball)|Guard]]
| rowspan=6| {{USA}}
| [[1997 Houston Comets season|Houston Comets]]
| '''37 out of 37'''
| <ref>{{cite news |title=Comets’ Cooper Wins Wnba’s 1st Mvp Award |url=https://www.spokesman.com/stories/1997/aug/28/comets-cooper-wins-wnbas-1st-mvp-award/ |work=The Spokesman-Review |date=August 28, 1997 |access-date=September 22, 2024}}</ref>
|-
| style="background-color:#FFCC00;| [[1998 WNBA season|1998]] 
| style="background-color:#FFFF99"| {{sortname|Cynthia|Cooper|Cynthia Cooper-Dyke}} * {{dagger}} (2)
| [[1998 Houston Comets season|Houston Comets]] (2)
| 37 out of 45
| <ref>{{cite news |title=Cooper Again MVP |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/archive/sports/1998/08/25/cooper-again-mvp/78838f9f-636f-4425-a7e7-2e72c6bed45e/ |work=[[Washington Post]] |date=August 24, 1998 |access-date=September 22, 2024}}</ref>
|-
| [[1999 WNBA season|1999]]
| style="background-color:#FFFF99"| {{sortname|Yolanda|Griffith}} * {{dagger}}
| [[Center (basketball)|Center]]
| [[1999 Sacramento Monarchs season|Sacramento Monarchs]]
| 23 out of 51
| <ref>{{cite news |title=Griffith garners MVP honors |url=https://www.espn.com/wnba/news/1999/0901/41472.html |work=[[ESPN]] |date=September 15, 1999 |access-date=September 22, 2024}}</ref>
|-
| style="background-color:#FFCC00;| [[2000 WNBA season|2000]] 
| style="background-color:#FFFF99"| {{sortname|Sheryl|Swoopes}} * {{dagger}}
| [[Swingman|Guard / Forward]]
| [[2000 Houston Comets season|Houston Comets]] (3)
| 38 out of 62
| <ref>{{cite news |title=Swoopes Chosen WNBA MVP |url=https://www.cbsnews.com/news/swoopes-chosen-wnba-mvp/ |work=CBS |date=August 17, 2000 |access-date=September 22, 2024}}</ref>
|-
| style="background-color:#FFCC00;| [[2001 WNBA season|2001]] 
| style="background-color:#FFFF99"| {{sortname|Lisa|Leslie}} * {{dagger}}
| [[Center (basketball)|Center]]
| [[2001 Los Angeles Sparks season|Los Angeles Sparks]]
| 51 out of 60
| <ref>{{cite web |title=Sparks' Leslie Wins 2001 WNBA MVP |url=https://www.wnba.com/news/sparks-leslie-wins-2001-wnba-mvp |website=[[WNBA]] |date=August 26, 2001 |access-date=September 22, 2024}}</ref>
|-
| [[2002 WNBA season|2002]]
| style="background-color:#FFFF99"| {{sortname|Sheryl|Swoopes}} * {{dagger}} (2)
| [[Swingman|Guard / Forward]]
| [[2002 Houston Comets season|Houston Comets]] (4)
| 29 out of 60
| <ref>{{cite web |title=Sheryl Swoopes Named 2002 WNBA MVP |url=https://www.wnba.com/news/sheryl-swoopes-named-2002-wnba-mvp |website=[[WNBA]] |date=August 20, 2002 |access-date=September 22, 2024}}</ref>
|-
| [[2003 WNBA season|2003]]
| style="background-color:#FFFF99"| {{sortname|Lauren|Jackson}} * {{dagger}}
| [[Forward-center|Forward / Center]]
| {{AUS}}
| [[2003 Seattle Storm season|Seattle Storm]]
| 23 out of 54
| <ref>{{cite web |title=Lauren Jackson of The Seattle Storm Is Named 2003 WNBA MVP Presented By Chevy |url=https://www.wnba.com/news/lauren-jackson-of-the-seattle-storm-is-named-2003-wnba-mvp-presented-by-chevy |website=[[WNBA]] |date=September 14, 2003 |access-date=September 22, 2024}}</ref>
|-
| [[2004 WNBA season|2004]]
| style="background-color:#FFFF99"| {{sortname|Lisa|Leslie}} * {{dagger}} (2)
| [[Center (basketball)|Center]]
| rowspan=3|{{USA}}
| [[2004 Los Angeles Sparks season|Los Angeles Sparks]] (2)
| 33 out of 48
| <ref>{{cite web |title=Lisa Leslie of the Los Angeles Sparks Named the 2004 WNBA Most Valuable Player Presented by General Motors |url=https://www.wnba.com/news/lisa-leslie-of-the-los-angeles-sparkes-named-the-2004-wnba-most-valuable-player-presented-by-general-motors |website=[[WNBA]] |date=October 8, 2004 |access-date=September 22, 2024}}</ref>
|-
| [[2005 WNBA season|2005]]
| style="background-color:#FFFF99"| {{sortname|Sheryl|Swoopes}} * {{dagger}} (3)
| [[Swingman|Guard / Forward]]
| [[2005 Houston Comets season|Houston Comets]] (5)
| 16 out of 50{{efn|Second-place finisher, [[Lauren Jackson]], received more first-place votes (20 to Swoopes' 16), but Swoopes earned 327 total points to Jackson's 325.}}
| <ref>{{cite web |title=Houston’s Sheryl Swoopes Named 2005 WNBA Most Valuable Player |url=https://www.wnba.com/archive/wnba/comets/news/Swoopes_Named_MVP-151188-222.html#:~:text=18%20%C3%AF%C2%BF%C2%BD%20Comets%20forward,two%20points%2C%20327%20to%20325. |website=[[WNBA]] |date=September 18, 2005 |access-date=September 22, 2024}}</ref>
|-
| [[2006 WNBA season|2006]]
| style="background-color:#FFFF99"| {{sortname|Lisa|Leslie}} * {{dagger}} (3)
| [[Center (basketball)|Center]]
| [[2006 Los Angeles Sparks season|Los Angeles Sparks]] (3)
| 40 out of 55
| <ref>{{cite web |title=Lisa Leslie Wins 2006 WNBA Most Valuable Player Award |url=https://www.wnba.com/archive/wnba/news/awards06_leslie_mvp.html |website=[[WNBA]] |date=September 3, 2006 |access-date=September 22, 2024}}</ref>
|-
| [[2007 WNBA season|2007]]
| style="background-color:#FFFF99"| {{sortname|Lauren|Jackson}} * {{dagger}} (2)
| [[Forward-center|Forward / Center]]
| {{AUS}}
| [[2007 Seattle Storm season|Seattle Storm]] (2)
| 42 out of 48
| <ref>{{cite web |title=Seattle Storm Lauren Jackson Wins Second WNBA MVP Award |url=https://www.wnba.com/news/storm-star-jackson-wins-her-second-wnba-most-valuable-player-award |website=[[WNBA]] |date=September 5, 2007 |access-date=September 22, 2024}}</ref>
|-
| [[2008 WNBA season|2008]]
| {{sortname|Candace|Parker}} 
| [[Forward (basketball)|Forward]]
| rowspan=2| {{USA}}
| [[2008 Los Angeles Sparks season|Los Angeles Sparks]] (4)
| 276.79 out of 300 pts{{efn|First-place vote counts were not released by the WNBA. For the first time, an online fan vote was included in post-season award voting, accounting for 25% of the vote. The other 75% came from a panel of 45 national sportswriters and broadcasters.}}
| <ref>{{cite news |title=Sparks' Parker wins MVP, rookie of year honors |url=https://www.espn.com/wnba/news/story?id=3623772 |work=[[ESPN]] |date=October 3, 2008 |access-date=September 22, 2024}}</ref>
|-
| style="background-color:#FFCC00;| [[2009 WNBA season|2009]] 
|{{sortname|Diana|Taurasi}}
| [[Guard (basketball)|Guard]]
| [[2009 Phoenix Mercury season|Phoenix Mercury]]
| 27 out of 39
| <ref>{{cite web |title=Diana Taurasi Named 2009 WNBA Most Valuable Player presented by Kia Motors |url=https://www.wnba.com/archive/wnba/news/awards09_mvp.html |website=[[WNBA]] |date=September 29, 2009 |access-date=September 22, 2024}}</ref>
|-
| style="background-color:#FFCC00;| [[2010 WNBA season|2010]] 
| style="background-color:#FFFF99"| {{sortname|Lauren|Jackson}} * {{dagger}} (3)
| [[Forward-center|Forward / Center]]
| {{AUS}}
| [[2010 Seattle Storm season|Seattle Storm]] (3)
| 22 out of 39
| <ref>{{cite web |title=Seattle Storm's Lauren Jackson Named 2010 WNBA Most Valuable Player Presented by Kia Motors |url=https://www.wnba.com/news/seattle-storms-lauren-jackson-named-2010-wnba-most-valuable-player-presented-by-kia-motors |website=[[WNBA]] |date=September 2, 2010 |access-date=September 22, 2024}}</ref>
|-
| [[2011 WNBA season|2011]]
| style="background-color:#FFFF99"|{{sortname|Tamika|Catchings}} * {{dagger}}
| [[Forward (basketball)|Forward]] 
| rowspan=10|{{USA}}
| [[2011 Indiana Fever season|Indiana Fever]]
| 21 out of 40
| <ref>{{cite web |title=Fever's Tamika Catchings named 2011 WNBA MVP |url=https://www.wthr.com/article/sports/fevers-tamika-catchings-named-2011-wnba-mvp/531-38bb2968-1fb7-400c-8e2f-5fe6a7b4300a |website=[[WTHR]] |date=September 22, 2011 |access-date=September 22, 2024}}</ref>
|-
| [[2012 WNBA season|2012]]
| style="background-color:#CFECEC"| {{sortname|Tina|Charles|dab=basketball}}
| [[Center (basketball)|Center]]
| [[2012 Connecticut Sun season|Connecticut Sun]]
| 25 out of 41 
| <ref>{{cite web |title=Tina Charles Named 2012 WNBA Most Valuable Player of the Year|url=https://www.wnba.com/news/tina-charles-named-2012-wnba-most-valuable-player-of-the-year-presented-by-boost-mobile |website=[[WNBA]] |date=September 27, 2012 |access-date=September 22, 2024}}</ref>
|-
| [[2013 WNBA season|2013]]
| {{sortname|Candace|Parker}} (2)
| rowspan=2| [[Forward (basketball)|Forward]]
| [[2013 Los Angeles Sparks season|Los Angeles Sparks]] (5)
| 10 out of 39{{efn|Parker and [[Maya Moore]] tied in first-place voting with 10 votes each. However in the overall vote tally, Parker earned 234 total points to Moore's 218.}}
| <ref>{{cite web |title=Sparks' Candace Parker Named 2013 WNBA Most Valuable Player |url=https://www.wnba.com/news/sparks-candace-parker-named-2013-wnba-most-valuable-player |website=[[WNBA]] |date=September 20, 2013 |access-date=September 22, 2024}}</ref>
|-
| [[2014 WNBA season|2014]]
| style="background-color:#FFFF99"| {{sortname|Maya|Moore}}* {{dagger}}
| [[2014 Minnesota Lynx season|Minnesota Lynx]]
| 35 out of 38
| <ref>{{cite news |title=Lynx's Moore Named M.V.P. |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2014/08/22/sports/basketball/lynxs-moore-named-mvp.html |work=[[The New York Times]] |date=August 22, 2014 |access-date=September 22, 2024}}</ref>
|-
| [[2015 WNBA season|2015]]
| {{sortname|Elena|Delle Donne}}
| [[Swingman|Guard / Forward]]
| [[2015 Chicago Sky season|Chicago Sky]]
| 38 out of 39
| <ref>{{cite web |title=Sky’s Elena Delle Donne Named 2015 WNBA Most Valuable Player Presented By Samsung |url=https://www.wnba.com/news/elena-delle-donne-named-2015-wnba-mvp |website=[[WNBA]] |date=September 15, 2015 |access-date=September 22, 2024}}</ref>
|-
| style="background-color:#FFCC00;| [[2016 WNBA season|2016]] 
| style="background-color:#CFECEC"| {{sortname|Nneka|Ogwumike}}
|[[Forward (basketball)|Forward]]
|[[2016 Los Angeles Sparks season|Los Angeles Sparks]] (6)
|31 out of 39
| <ref>{{cite news |title=Sparks forward Nneka Ogwumike named WNBA MVP for 2016 season |url=https://www.espn.com/wnba/story/_/id/17654462/nneka-ogwumike-los-angeles-sparks-named-wnba-mvp-2016-season |work=[[ESPN]] |date=September 27, 2016 |access-date=September 22, 2024}}</ref>
|-
| style="background-color:#FFCC00;| [[2017 WNBA season|2017]] 
| style="background-color:#FFFF99"| {{sortname|Sylvia|Fowles}}*
| [[Center (basketball)|Center]]
| [[2017 Minnesota Lynx season|Minnesota Lynx]] (2)
| 35 out of 40
| <ref>{{cite news |first=Pat |last=Borzi |title=Sylvia Fowles wins 1st MVP award after lifting Lynx with big year |url=https://www.espn.com/wnba/story/_/id/20705574/minnesota-lynx-center-sylvia-fowles-named-wnba-mvp-2017-season |work=[[ESPN]] |date=September 14, 2017 |access-date=September 22, 2024}}</ref>
|-
| style="background-color:#FFCC00;| [[2018 WNBA season|2018]]
| style="background-color:#CFECEC"| {{sortname|Breanna|Stewart}}
| [[Forward (basketball)|Forward]]
| [[2018 Seattle Storm season|Seattle Storm]] (4)
| 33 out of 39
|<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.wnba.com/news/seattles-breanna-stewart-named-2018-most-valuable-player/|title=Seattle's Breanna Stewart Named 2018 Most Valuable Player|website=wnba.com|publisher=WNBA|date=August 26, 2018}}</ref>
|-
| style="background-color:#FFCC00;| [[2019 WNBA season|2019]]
| {{sortname|Elena|Delle Donne}} (2)
| [[Swingman|Guard / Forward]]
| [[2019 Washington Mystics season|Washington Mystics]]
| 41 out of 43
| <ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.wnba.com/news/washingtons-elena-delle-donne-named-2019-wnba-basketball-most-valuable-player/|title=Washington's Elena Delle Donne Named 2019 WNBA Basketball Most Valuable Player|website=wnba.com|publisher=WNBA|date=September 19, 2019}}</ref>
|-
| [[2020 WNBA season|2020]]
| style="background-color:#CFECEC"| {{sortname|A'ja|Wilson}}
| [[Forward (basketball)|Forward]] 
| [[2020 Las Vegas Aces season|Las Vegas Aces]]
| 43 out of 47
|<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.wnba.com/news/aja-wilson-named-wnba-most-valuable-player/|title=A'ja Wilson Named WNBA Most Valuable Player|website=wnba.com|publisher=WNBA|date=September 17, 2020}}</ref>
|-
| [[2021 WNBA season|2021]]
| style="background-color:#CFECEC"| {{sortname|Jonquel|Jones}}
| [[Forward (basketball)|Forward]] / [[Center (basketball)|Center]]
| {{BHS}} / {{BIH}}
| [[2021 Connecticut Sun season|Connecticut Sun]] (2)
| 48 out of 49
| <ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.wnba.com/news/connecticut-suns-jonquel-jones-named-2021-kia-most-valuable-player/|title=Connecticut Sun's Jonquel Jones Named 2021 Kia Most Valuable Player|website=wnba.com|publisher=WNBA|date=September 28, 2021}}</ref>
|-
| style="background-color:#FFCC00;| [[2022 WNBA season|2022]]
| style="background-color:#CFECEC"| {{sortname|A'ja|Wilson}} (2)
| rowspan=3| [[Forward (basketball)|Forward]] 
| rowspan=3| {{USA}}
| [[2022 Las Vegas Aces season|Las Vegas Aces]] (2)
| 31 out of 56 
| <ref>{{cite press release|url=https://www.wnba.com/news/las-vegas-aces-aja-wilson-wins-2022-kia-wnba-most-valuable-player-award/|title=Las Vegas Aces' A'ja Wilson Wins 2022 KIA WNBA Most Valuable Player Award|location=New York, NY|website=wnba.com|publisher=WNBA|date=September 7, 2022}}</ref>
|-
| [[2023 WNBA season|2023]]
| style="background-color:#CFECEC"| {{Sortname|Breanna|Stewart}} (2)
| [[2023 New York Liberty season|New York Liberty]]
| 20 out of 60{{efn|group=award|Second-place finisher, [[Alyssa Thomas]], received more first-place votes (23 to Stewart's 20), but Stewart earned 446 total points to Thomas' 439.}}
| <ref>{{cite press release |url=https://www.wnba.com/news/2023-kia-wnba-poty |title=New York Liberty's Breanna Stewart Wins 2023 Kia WNBA Most Valuable Player Award |publisher=WNBA |date=September 26, 2023}}</ref>
|-
| [[2024 WNBA season|2024]]
| style="background-color:#CFECEC"| {{sortname|A'ja|Wilson}} (3)
| [[2024 Las Vegas Aces season|Las Vegas Aces]] (3)
| '''67 out of 67'''
|<ref>{{cite news |first=Michael |last=Voepel |author-link=Michael Voepel |title=Aces' A'ja Wilson becomes second unanimous MVP in WNBA history |url=https://www.espn.com/wnba/story/_/id/41375494/aces-aja-wilson-becomes-second-unanimous-mvp-wnba-history |work=[[ESPN]] |date=September 22, 2024 |access-date=September 22, 2024}}</ref>
|}
{{notelist}}

== Multi-time winners ==
{| class="wikitable sortable" style="text-align:center;"
|-
! Awards!!Player!!Team(s)!!Years
|-
| rowspan=4 | 3 ||[[Sheryl Swoopes]]|||[[Houston Comets]]||[[2000 WNBA season|2000]], [[2002 WNBA season|2002]], [[2005 WNBA season|2005]]
|-
| [[Lisa Leslie]] || [[Los Angeles Sparks]] || [[2001 WNBA season|2001]], [[2004 WNBA season|2004]], [[2006 WNBA season|2006]]
|-
| [[Lauren Jackson]] || [[Seattle Storm]] || [[2003 WNBA season|2003]], [[2007 WNBA season|2007]], [[2010 WNBA season|2010]]
|- 
| [[A'ja Wilson]] || [[Las Vegas Aces]] || [[2020 WNBA season|2020]], [[2022 WNBA season|2022]], [[2024 WNBA season|2024]]
|-
| rowspan=4 | 2 || [[Cynthia Cooper-Dyke|Cynthia Cooper]] || [[Houston Comets]] || [[1997 WNBA season|1997]], [[1998 WNBA season|1998]]
|-
|[[Candace Parker]] || [[Los Angeles Sparks]] || [[2008 WNBA season|2008]], [[2013 WNBA season|2013]]
|-
| [[Elena Delle Donne]] || [[Chicago Sky]] / [[Washington Mystics]] || [[2015 WNBA season|2015]], [[2019 WNBA season|2019]]
|- 
| [[Breanna Stewart]] || [[Seattle Storm]] / [[New York Liberty]] || [[2018 WNBA season|2018]], [[2023 WNBA season|2023]]
|}

== Teams ==
{| class="wikitable sortable" 
|-
!Awards 
!Teams 
!Years
|-
|align=center|6
|[[Los Angeles Sparks]]
|{{wnbay|2001}}, {{wnbay|2004}}, {{wnbay|2006}}, {{wnbay|2008}}, {{wnbay|2013}}, {{wnbay|2016}}
|-
|align=center|5
|[[Houston Comets]]
|{{wnbay|1997}}, {{wnbay|1998}}, {{wnbay|2000}}, {{wnbay|2002}}, {{wnbay|2005}}
|-
|align=center|4
|[[Seattle Storm]]
|{{Wnbay|2003}}, {{Wnbay|2007}}, {{Wnbay|2010}}, {{Wnbay|2018}}
|-
|align=center|3
|[[Las Vegas Aces]]
|{{Wnbay|2020}}, {{Wnbay|2022}}, {{Wnbay|2024}}
|-
|align=center rowspan=2|2
|[[Minnesota Lynx]]
|{{Wnbay|2014}}, {{Wnbay|2017}}
|-
|[[Connecticut Sun]]
|{{Wnbay|2012}}, {{Wnbay|2021}}
|-
| align=center rowspan=6|1
|[[Sacramento Monarchs]]
|{{Wnbay|1999}}
|-
|[[Phoenix Mercury]]
|{{Wnbay|2009}}
|-
|[[Indiana Fever]]
|{{Wnbay|2011}}
|-
|[[Chicago Sky]]
|{{Wnbay|2015}}
|-
|[[Washington Mystics]]
|{{Wnbay|2019}}
|-
|[[New York Liberty]]
|{{WNBA Year|2023}}
|-
| align=center rowspan=2 |0
|[[Dallas Wings]]
| rowspan=2 |None
|-
|[[Atlanta Dream]]
|-
|}

==See also==

* [[List of sports awards honoring women]]

==References==
{{reflist}}

==External links==
*{{cite web |url=https://www.marcmellon.com/blog/wnba-mvp-trophy |title=WNBA MVP Award - Marc Mellon Sculpture Studio |access-date=January 18, 2022}}
*{{cite web |url=http://www.wnba.com/history/mvp.html |title=WNBA MVP |access-date=January 19, 2009}}
{{WNBA MVP}}
{{WNBA}}

[[Category:Awards established in 1997]]
[[Category:WNBA awards|Most Valuable]]
[[Category:Basketball most valuable player awards|Wnba]]