2019 Her Hoop Stats Media Awards
The WNBA awards haven’t been announced yet, but with the regular season in the books we created our own set of awards: the Her Hoop Stats Media Awards (HMAs). Elena Delle Donne looks primed to take home her second MVP, while the race for Rookie of the Year between Napheesa Collier and Arike Ogunbowale has been one of the hottest storylines of the season. But you won’t find any awards for on-court performance here. Instead, we anonymously polled members of the WNBA media on various aspects of players’ and coaches’ personalities. Want to know who the media thinks is the most accessible player? The funniest coach? The hardest worker? We’ve got you covered!
Our voters come from many different markets. All four time zones are represented, although with a hint of East Coast bias (40% live in the Eastern time zone, 27% Mountain or Pacific time zones). Some voters make a living in the media (40%), while others do it as a side hustle or a hobby (60%). The one thing they all have in common? A love for the WNBA!
Now let’s hand out some awards. Without further ado, the 2019 HMAs:
Player Accessibility Award
A’ja Wilson, Las Vegas Aces
Honorable mentions: Sue Bird, Kayla McBride, Natasha Cloud, Sylvia Fowles
This award goes to the player who has been the most accessible to the media throughout the season, whether it be for pregame, postgame or even phone interviews. A’ja Wilson takes this one in a landslide, garnering at least double the vote total of any other player. Congratulations, A’ja! This will look good next to that 2018 Rookie of the Year trophy!
Coach Accessibility Award
Cheryl Reeve, Minnesota Lynx
Honorable mentions: Brian Agler, Mike Thibault, James Wade
Like the Player Accessibility Award, this one is given to the most accessible head coach. This race was much closer than the players’ award, with just one vote separating Cheryl Reeve from second place. If Reeve somehow hasn’t done enough winning already, she can add this win to her résumé.
Signature Award
Elena Delle Donne, Washington Mystics and Liz Cambage, Las Vegas Aces
Honorable mentions: Han Xu, Imani McGee-Stafford, Alysha Clark, Kaela Davis
The Signature Award is given to the player who interacts the most with fans. Signing autographs, snapping selfies, you name it — every fan loves the opportunity to rub elbows with superstars. If you listen to our podcast, you know that our John Liddle would split this year’s Rookie of the Year if he were in charge. Unfortunately, that’s not how that award works, but when it comes to the HMAs, we make the rules! This year’s Signature Award resulted in a tie, so we’re going with co-winners: Liz Cambage and Elena Delle Donne.
Player Comedian of the Year
Diana Taurasi, Phoenix Mercury
Honorable mentions: Liz Cambage, A’ja Wilson
One question we asked our voters was, “Who is the funniest player?” The response was overwhelming, with Diana Taurasi receiving more votes than any other award winner. The GOAT generates laughs like she generates buckets. Taurasi’s trophy case might be running out of room, but she’ll have to find a spot for one more piece of hardware.
Coach Comedian of the Year
Bill Laimbeer, Las Vegas Aces
Honorable mentions: Cheryl Reeve, Mike Thibault
The second-winningest coach in postseason history can now also lay claim to the title of league’s funniest. Bill Laimbeer joins his twin towers Cambage and Wilson as HMA winners from the Aces. His own laughter is stored somewhere with Bigfoot and the Loch Ness Monster, but his chuckle-inducing sense of humor makes him the inaugural Coach Comedian of the Year.
Grinder Award
Kia Nurse, New York Liberty
Honorable mentions: Kelsey Plum, Tina Charles
The HMA for hardest-working player, the Grinder Award, is given to someone who is the first on the court and the last one to leave. We can see who gets after it in games, when the lights and cameras are on, but it takes true dedication to pour blood, sweat and tears into one’s craft when few are watching. In her second season, Kia Nurse has already earned a reputation as a bona fide gym rat. Leave room on the shelf, Kia — your first HMA might not be your last.
Moment of the Year
Erica Wheeler’s All-Star Performance
Our last HMA recognizes the most special moment of the season — the one that our voters will never forget. This scintillating season has given us countless moments to choose from, but one stood out among the rest. Undrafted Indiana Fever guard Erica Wheeler put on a Vegas-worthy show in the All-Star Game with 25 points and a record-tying seven three-pointers. With the dazzling performance, she became the first-ever undrafted All-Star MVP, and her emotional speech left even the most stoic among us in tears. No one award could do justice to Wheeler’s brilliance, so we’re giving her the HMA for Moment of the Year to go with her MVP.
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