Breanna Stewart Named AP Player of the Year
Published on August 16, 2022 under Women's National Basketball Association (WNBA)
Seattle Storm News Release
SEATTLE - Seattle Storm forward Breanna Stewart has been named the 2022 Associated Press Player of the Year, earning the award for the second time in her career after leading the league and matching a career-high with 21.8 points per game.
Stewart also earned AP First-Team recognition for the third-straight season earning, earning first-team recognition in her last four eligible seasons after earning second-team honors as a rookie in 2016. It is also the second time Stewart has earned AP WNBA Player of the Year honors, also receiving the award in 2018 prior to being named the 2018 WNBA MVP. She won the AP College Basketball Player of the Year award three straight years at UConn (2014-16) and has earned the AP's top award five times in eight eligible seasons between college and the WNBA.
Stewart led the WNBA in scoring for the first time in her career, pouring in 21.8 points per game in 34 games this season. She scored in double-figures in all 34 games she played this season, a streak which is also the longest active streak in the WNBA (34).
Stewart ended the season strong, averaging 26.0 points and 10.4 rebounds per game over her final five games, hitting 53.2% from the field, recording three double-doubles over her last four games. She had the most 25+ point games in the league with 11 and her 19 games with 20+ points were the second-most despite playing two fewer games than the leader.
Stewart's season averages of 21.8 ppg, 7.6 rpg, 2.9 apg, 1.6 spg, and 0.9 bpg marked just the second season a player averaged 21.0+ ppg, 6.0+ rpg, 2.0+ apg, 1.0+ spg, and 0.9+ bpg. The only other player was Stewart during her 2018 WNBA MVP season.
The 2022 Seattle Storm Playoffs Presented by Symetra begin next week with Seattle hosting the Washington Mystics in game one of a three-game series on Thursday, Aug. 18, at 7:00 p.m. at Climate Pledge Arena.
2022 Associated Press WNBA Award Winners
Player of the Year: Breanna Stewart
Coach of the Year: Tanisha Wright
Rookie of the Year: Rhyne Howard
Most Improved Player: Jackie Young
Comeback Player: Alyssa Thomas
Defensive Player of Year: A'ja Wilson
Sixth Woman of the Year: Brionna Jones
AP All Rookie Team: Howard, NaLyssa Smith, Shakira Austin, Rebekah Gardner, Sam Thomas.
AP All WNBA teams:
First - Stewart, Wilson, Candace Parker, Kelsey Plum, Sabrina Ionescu
Second - Jonquel Jones, Nneka Ogwumike, Alyssa Thomas, Courtney Vandersloot, Skylar Diggins-Smith.
Women's National Basketball Association Stories from August 16, 2022
- Storm Falls to Aces in Sue Bird's Regular-Season Home Finale - Seattle Storm
- Parker, Vandersloot Named to AP All-WNBA Teams; Gardner Named to AP All-Rookie Team - Chicago Sky
- 2022 WNT Training Camp Participants Announced - Connecticut Sun
- WNBA on ESPN Presented by Google Scores Its Most-Viewed Regular Season Since 2008 - WNBA
- Two Lynx Players Expected to Attend 2022 USA Basketball Women's National Team Training Camp - Minnesota Lynx
- 2022 WNT Training Camp Participants Announced - Minnesota Lynx
- Breanna Stewart Named AP Player of the Year - Seattle Storm
- Dallas Wings Center Teaira McCowan Named Western Conference Player of the Month - Dallas Wings
- Sabrina Ionescu Named Kia WNBA Eastern Conference Player of the Month for August - New York Liberty
- Driving Change Together, Southern Nevada Toyota Dealers Partners with the Las Vegas Aces to Steer Them Towards a Championship - Las Vegas Aces
- Connecticut Sun Forwards Alyssa Thomas and Brionna Jones Pick up Associated Press WNBA Awards - Connecticut Sun
- Dallas Wings Vickie Johnson Named Coach of the Month - Dallas Wings
- Last Week around the Leagues - OSC Original by Fran Stuchbury
The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.
