In a Thrilling WNBA Finals, Sheryl Swoopes Spills on Why Her Heart Almost Voted Elsewhere for MVP
The New York Liberty have finally snatched the elusive WNBA championship title, leaving the Minnesota Lynx and their fans in despair after a nerve-wracking, nail-biting five-game Finals series. The hero of the series was clear to most — Jonquel Jones, the Liberty’s powerhouse forward, scooped the Finals MVP after delivering monstrous numbers with 89 points, 38 rebounds, and 11 assists across five intense games. But Sheryl Swoopes, the legend herself, couldn’t help but keep everyone on their toes by suggesting a wild twist in her MVP vote.
For Swoopes, it wasn’t Jones’ consistency that caught her eye in the final showdown but rather Nyara Sabally’s sizzling Game 5 performance. Sabally, the Liberty’s other formidable forward, turned the championship decider into her personal highlight reel. At 6’5”, she threw down a solid 13 points and snagged seven rebounds in just 17 minutes, and then topped it off by swiping the ball from none other than Kayla McBride to score a pivotal two-pointer. She even squashed a clutch Napheesa Collier attempt that might’ve sent the Lynx into yet another tie.
“If MVP voting was based solely on that game,” Swoopes teased, “I’d be giving it to Nyara. No contest.” (Cue gasps from the crowd and a few raised eyebrows from die-hard Jones fans).
Swoopes’ playful but profound statement has fans buzzing. Would it have been sacrilege to hand over the MVP title to a one-game wonder? Probably. But when Sabally made the court look like her personal playground in those final moments, Swoopes couldn’t resist imagining an alternative MVP storyline. While most players have to show up for the entire Finals to get MVP consideration, Sabally’s Game 5 cameos were nothing short of iconic.
But, of course, it wasn’t all Game 5 for Jonquel Jones. She was the Liberty’s bedrock, the constant during a rollercoaster Finals series. She shined under pressure, ensuring that her team never fell behind in the series. And when she finally got her hands on the WNBA’s golden prize after a series of heartbreakingly close calls with previous teams, she made sure to let everyone know she’d been waiting for this moment.
“Y’all know my story, y’all know how many times I’ve been denied,” Jones said, her voice cracking with pride. “But it was delayed, that’s all it was.”
Swoopes’ close call on the MVP vote is a testament to the Liberty’s team depth this year. It wasn’t just about the superstars but about key plays in critical moments — Sabally’s Game 5 being a perfect example.
So, there it is: a Finals MVP run that had fans, players, and even WNBA royalty this close to breaking tradition.