60% of the last 20 WNBA Finals MVPs have been LGBTQ. Will Gabby Williams be next?
Over the last 2 decades, 10 different out LGBTQ players have won 12 of the WNBA Finals MVP Awards. Will Gabby Williams add her name?
Mark
The WNBA Finals stretch is upon us now, with the Golden State Valkyries playing the Atlanta Dream in Game 6 on Thursday, up 3-2, in just their second year in existence.
That’s wild.
Valkyries point guard Gabby Williams is the current favorite to win the MVP Award for the 2026 WNBA Finals. Williams, who was the No. 4 pick in the 2018 WNBA Draft, is one of at least five out LGBTQ players in these Finals.
If Williams wins the Finals MVP Award, she would join an amazing list of women who are gay and bi and have won the award in the last 20 years.
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With the Valkyries needing to win either Thursday or Saturday (if needed), it’s no surprise the leading contender is a Golden State starter. Williams is right now -160 to win the award, which means you have to bet $160 to win $100.
Atlanta Dream player Angel Reese, who is not gay, is considered the player with the second-best chance for this WNBA Finals MVP Award. She’s listed at +280, meaning you bet $100 to win $280.
That is a substantial difference in odds between these two leading candidates.
Tiffany Hayes of the Valkyries and Jordin Canada of the Dream are also in the conversation, currently as long shots. They are both out.
Regardless, it’s amazing that, in a country in which single-digit percentages are LGBTQ, the majority of WNBA Finals MVP players over the last two decades — 60% — is LGBTQ and out.
Most WNBA Finals MVPs have been LGBTQ and out
Of the last 20 players to win the MVP Award for the WNBA Finals, here are the gays…
- Deanna Nolan, Detroit Shock, 2006
- Cappie Pondexter, Phoenix Mercury, 2007
- Katie Smith, Detroit Shock, 2008
- Diana Taurasi, Phoenix Mercury, 2009 & 2014
- Seimone Augustus, Minnesota Lynx, 2011
- Candace Parker, Los Angeles Sparks, 2016
- Breanna Stewart, Seattle Storm, 2018 & 2020
- Kahleah Copper, Chicago Sky, 2021
- Chelsea Gray, Las Vegas Aces, 2022
- Jonquel Jones, New York Liberty, 2024
There are a couple other WNBA Finals MVPs who have said very little or nothing about their personal lives. So they are not, according to Outsports’ standards, “publicly out.”
So that 60% number for the last two decades might be too low. But we would rather make no declaration when it’s unconfirmed.
There have been only a handful of major pro sports team in America that have won a league title in their second year of existence — What the Valkyries are attempting to accomplish.
Most of them are the nascent years of a league. The Chicago Staleys (became the Chicago Bears) in 1921. The NHL’s New York Rangers in 1928.
Related
At least 5 out LGBTQ players are chasing a WNBA championship. Here’s who they are.
The Atlanta Dream and Golden State Valkyries will tip off the 30th WNBA Finals on Saturday in San Francisco.
Atlanta United in 2018, winning the MLS Cup that year, might be the most recent and significant example.
The Valkyries winning the WNBA Finals in their second year, and almost the 30th season of the WNBA, would be a significant note to these historic year for the league.
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