Washington Mystics' versatile forward Elena Delle Donne named WNBA MVP
Washington Mystics forward Elena Delle Donne (11) blocks a shot by New York Liberty center Amanda Zahui B. (17) during the first half of the game between the Washington Mystics and the New York Liberty on Sunday, August 25, 2019. (Photo by Toni L. Sandys/The Washington Post via Getty Images / Getty Images)
WASHINGTON (AP) - Mystics forward Elena Delle Donne has been named 2019 WNBA MVP in a near-unanimous vote.
Delle Donne received 41 of 43 first-place votes after leading Washington to a league-best 26-8 record. She is the first player in WNBA history to win MVP honors with two different teams after doing so in 2015 with Chicago.
The Mystics went 26-5 with Delle Donne in the starting lineup and lead the Las Vegas Aces 1-0 in their semifinal series. Delle Donne averaged 19.5 points, 8.3 rebounds and 2.2 assists and shot a league-high 97.4% from the free throw line.
Delle Done became the first player in WNBA history to shoot over 50% from the field, over 40% from 3-point territory and over 90% from the free throw line.
Washington hosts Las Vegas in Game 2 on Thursday night.