Connecticut's Charles wins 2012 WNBA MVP

Connecticut Sun center Tina Charles has been named the 2012 WNBA Most Valuable Player, after receiving 345 points (25 first place votes) from a national panel of 41 sportswriters and broadcasters.

Los Angeles Sparks’ forward Candace Parker finished second with 253 points (seven first-place votes) and Indiana Fever forward Tamika Catchings finished third with 210 points (seven).

In her third season, Charles finished 2012 with her third consecutive WNBA rebounding title (10.5 rpg).  She also set a new Connecticut Sun single-season scoring record, averaging 18 points. In the process, Charles guided the Sun to the top seed in the Eastern Conference with a 25-9 record, the league’s second best mark behind the defending champion Lynx (27-7).

A prolific scorer and rebounder, Charles ranked atop the WNBA in double-doubles for the third straight season, sharing the 2012 lead with the Sparks’ Parker.

For the year, Charles shot a career-best .499 percent from the field (250-of-501), and a career-best .802 from the free throw line (93-of-116).  In addition to leading Connecticut in scoring and total rebounds, she paced Connecticut in defensive rebounds (6.7 drpg), offensive rebounds (3.7 orpg), blocks (1.42 bpg), and minutes (33.2 mpg).

Players were awarded 10 points for each first-place vote, seven points for each second-place vote, five for third, three for fourth and one for each fifth-place vote received. Additionally, for the second time in league history, fans were able to vote online and via mobile devices. The fan vote counted as one vote and was compiled with the 41 media votes to determine the winner.
                   
Below are the complete voting results for the 2012 WNBA Most Valuable Player of the Year:

345        Tina Charles                Connecticut Sun
253        Candace Parker           Los Angeles Sparks
210        Tamika Catchings       Indiana Fever
128        Maya Moore               Minnesota Lynx
42         Seimone Augustus      Minnesota Lynx
27         Angel McCoughtry     Atlanta Dream
23         Cappie Pondexter       New York Liberty
18         Sophia Young             San Antonio Silver Stars
10         Sue Bird                      Seattle Storm
10         Sylvia Fowles             Chicago Sky
7          Lindsey Harding          Atlanta Dream
7          Kristi Toliver                Los Angeles Sparks
2          Kara Lawson               Connecticut Sun
1          DeWanna Bonner       Phoenix Mercury
1          Epiphanny Prince       Chicago Sky
1          Lindsay Whalen          Minnesota Lynx
     
By Staff of The Daily Sports Herald