For the second time in league history, the WNBA will allow its fans to participate in its annual MVP award voting process.
The following is an excerpt from the WNBA's release describing the process:
The winner will be determined by a panel of 42 voters consisting of sportswriters and broadcasters as well as an MVP fan vote online and via mobile devices.
Fans can help decide the 2012 WNBA MVP by casting their votes online and via their mobile devices at WNBA.com/mvpvote. WNBA MVP Vote and Sweepstakes Presented by Boost Mobile begins at noon EST on Monday, Sept. 10, and continues through Sunday, Sept. 23. Fans may vote once per day online during the voting period on both their mobile device and their computers. The recipient of the 2012 WNBA Most Valuable Player Award will be announced during the WNBA Playoffs Presented by Boost Mobile...The fan vote will count as one vote and will be compiled with the 41 media votes to determine the winner. In addition, the sweepstakes will run during the voting period on WNBA.com/mvpvote. Fans who vote can enter into a contest for a chance to win a three-day, two-night trip, including round-trip airfare and hotel for two with two tickets to one game of the 2012 WNBA Finals that will be presented by Boost Mobile.
The last time the league implemented fan voting (2008), Los Angeles Sparks forward Candace Parker won the award with then-Connecticut Sun point guard Lindsay Whalen finishing second.
Do you like the idea? Do you think this skews the voting too far in the direction of big market players and/or teams? Leave your thoughts in the comments.