Noon today was the deadline for submitting ballots for most of the WNBA's postseason awards.
I submitted mine about 2:30 a.m. this morning -- wanted to beat the rush.
Seriously, this should be a good year for the league award-wise. It already has been record-wise. They have the best overall record -- by far -- at 27-7. Only five teams in the first 14 years of the WNBA have won 27 or 28 games (although in fairness, the WNBA played two fewer games in the early years).
Rookie Maya Moore should be a lot for Rookie of the Year. Danielle Adams of San Antonio would have given her a lot of competition, but she got hurt and missed a lot of time in the middle of the season with a sprained foot. So Moore wins this.
Coach of the Year? Hard to see anyone besides Cheryl Reeve winning this. Sure, she had a lot of talent to work with. But she blended the talent together. Players seemed to get along. Team improved by 14 wins, more than doubling 13 win total last year. And Lynx tied WNBA record with 13 road wins. Next most was nine.
MVP? The favorite here is probably center Tina Charles of Connecticut with her 23 double-doubles. wnba.com lists her No. 1 in their Race to the MVP feature.
But the best player on the best team is Lynx point guard Lindsay Whalen. She has had a career year and should finish in the top three. Watching her a lot, you see what she means to the team. The Lynx committed the second fewest turnovers in the league, were one of the best fastbreak teams, and she is amazing in transition.
She also can score a lot of points when her scoring is needed. Oh, she led the league in assists, too, with just under 6.0 assists per game. Her and Moore especially click well on the fastbreak.
Others who will be in the top five in the MVP voting are Sylvia Fowles of Chicago and Tamika Catchings of Indiana and maybe Sue Bird of Seattle for holding the Storm together with Lauren Jackson being injured so much.
Here is a look at my ballot:
MVP
1. Lindsay Whalen, Lynx
2. Tina Charles, Conn
3. Sylvia Fowles, Chicago
4. Tamika Catchings, Indiana
5. Seimone Augustus, Lynx
Coach of the Year: Cheryl Reeve, Lynx
Rookie of the Year: Maya Moore, Lynx
Defensive Player of the Year: Catchings, Indiana
Most Improved Player: Kia Vaughn, NY Liberty
Sixth Woman of the Year: DeWanna Bonner, Phoenix
all-WNBA first team
Forwards: Tamika Catchings, Indiana; Angel McCoughtry, Atlanta
Guards: Lindsay Whalen, Lynx; Sue Bird, Seattle
Center: Tina Charles, Conn
Second team
Forwards: Penny Taylor, Phoenix; Sophia Young, San Antonio
Guards: Seimone Augustus, Lynx; Diana Taurasi, Phoenix
Center: Sylvia Fowles, Chicago
WHO VOTES?
There are 17 national voters, many connected with ESPN, and 24 regional voters, two in each WNBA city. That's 41 total.
Award winners are announced periodically throughout the playoffs. Have not seen a schedule of announcement dates yet. Have asked the league.