Stewy Gets MVP, Liberty Get Back on Track

09/27/2023

By: Jeff Yoder

Breanna Stewart Wins 2023 WNBA MVP on Night Liberty Even Series; Aces Take 2-0 Lead

On a night when Breanna Stewart was named WNBA MVP, her Liberty scored a crucial Game 2 win to even the semifinals against the Sun. Stewart claimed the second MVP award of her career in the closest WNBA MVP race ever recorded, narrowly beating out Alyssa Thomas and reigning MVP, A’ja Wilson. All three were in action on Tuesday (we’ll get to that in a moment), but Stewart’s MVP comes after averaging 23 points, 9.3 rebounds and 3.8 assists per game, and breaking the WNBA’s all-time single-season scoring record. Here’s the voting breakdown:

2023 WNBA MVP Voting

1. B. Stewart (NYL): 446 points (20 1st-Place Votes)

2. A. Thomas (CON): 439 points (23 1st-Place Votes)

3. A. Wilson (LV): 433 points (17 1st-Place Votes)

Doesn’t get much closer than that! Now, the games…

Gm 2: #2 Liberty def. #3 Sun (84-77)

On the court, following Stewy’s MVP ceremony, the Liberty got off to a slow start and looked dangerously close to falling down 0-2 to the Sun. Connecticut’s Tiffany Hayes (30 points, five 3s) caught fire, but New York rallied to outscore the Sun by 11 in the second half. Stewy finished with 11-11-5 to cap off her special night, but Sabrina Ionescu led the way with 21 points. It’s all square in the best-of-5. Series Tied (1-1)

Gm 2: #1 Aces def. #4 Wings (91-84)

Game 2 in Las Vegas may have been the backbreaker for the Dallas Wings. Vegas held Dallas at arm’s length throughout Game 2 before a furious 4th-quarter comeback that saw the Wings pull within five. Aces star A’ja Wilson (30 points, 11 rebounds) scored 30 for her second straight game in the series. No one has ever scored 30 in three straight games in WNBA Playoffs history. She can set that mark on Friday when the Aces go for the closeout in Dallas. LV Leads Series (2-0)

Game 3s (Friday)

#2 Liberty at #3 Sun (7:30 pm ET)

#1 Aces at #4 Wings (9:30 pm ET)

Yahoo! Sports: Breanna Stewart Wins 2023 WNBA MVP Award in 3-Way Battle With Thomas & Wilson

Photo: Sarah Stier / Getty Images