Close Vote Makes Swoopes the First Three-Time MVP

Houston Comet forward Sheryl Swoopes became the WNBA’s first three-time most valuable player with the closest vote in the nine-year history of the women’s pro basketball league.

Swoopes edged Seattle’s Lauren Jackson in the voting announced Sunday, gaining 327 points from a national panel of sportswriters and broadcasters. Jackson had 325 points and four more first-place votes than Swoopes, who had 16. Swoopes, who also won the award in 2000 and 2002, led the WNBA in scoring with 18.6 points per game for the Comets (19-15), who finished third in the Western Conference.

“This one is probably the most special to me, for the simple fact that no one really expected the Comets to do what we did this year,” said Swoopes, who says she has no plans to retire.

Swoopes, who earned a $15,000 bonus for being MVP, also earned her fifth spot on the All-WNBA team, along with Jackson, Sacramento’s Yolanda Griffith, Seattle’s Sue Bird and Detroit’s Deanna Nolan.