Katie Smith WNBA Finals MVP

“I congratulate Katie Smith,” said Laimbeer. “I don't give her all the credit that she deserves throughout the course of the year, and she really showed it.

“Katie decided that I’m going to make my mark on this series and she did.”

"There’s no more deserving MVP; that was a no brainer,” said Taj McWilliams-Franklin. “If I look at all three games and had to choose a MVP, I would say Katie Smith, Katie Smith, Katie Smith. There was no contest.”

“She’s beasty,” said assistant coach Rick Mahorn. “Katie Smith said get on her shoulders and ride it and that’s what we did. We know what our bread and butter is.”

“She’s a monster, she’s our horse,” said Plenette Pierson. “We ride her and Deanna all night. When shots are falling for her, it's great for the rest of us and she just played big tonight.”

“Katie Smith is a competitor,” said McWilliams-Franklin. “If she’s in water polo she’s going to want to win. It’s just in her being to want to do the best she possibly can for as long as she possibly can no matter what it is she’s doing. That’s just her bottom line.”

Smith was also quick to point out the contributions that her teammates made during their championship run through the postseason.

“Winning the MVP trophy, it is awesome, but I’ll tell you what, Tweety was the MVP probably of the last round,” said Smith. “You’ve got people that have been doing work and even people that don’t put points on the board. With Plenette every minute she gave us was huge. This MVP is for our squad. And for Laura Ramus, our trainer, for keeping us out there.”

The Shock was not the only good basketball team Smith was a part of this year. Along with becoming a two-time WNBA champion in 2008, she also became a three-time Olympic gold medalist after winning gold with USA Basketball in Beijing.

“They’re different but you know what they’re both very, very special,” she said. “I’m glad I got them this year and I can sit back and relax