Stephanie Mavunga has been named the regular-season MVP in the Polish basketball league. The PF (Power Forward) who moved to Europe last season after having spent several years in the WNBA has been quick to adapt to the pace of European basketball and in this her first season with Polkowice she has won the most valuable player honor. This comes after a switch from the Russian league where she featured for Dynamo Kursk. In a statement posted on her Instagram she wrote:
I keep thinking about just what it is I wanna say, but then I change my mind. I think again... & change my mind again. Truth is, I probably won’t ever be able to put it all into words, but let’s start with one thought: “BLESSED !” I’ll never, ever stop thanking God for all He’s done for me & His constant blessings. Thank you to my team, Polkowice, my coaches & management for taking a chance on me after a tough, rocky season last year. Thank you a million times for believing in me & allowing me to come here & play my game. Thank you to my teammates, because without them, this isn’t even possible. Thank you to all the fans who night in & night out stick by our side cheering us on & keeping our spirits high. Thank you to the coaches in EBLK for voting for me & giving me something so special in a league full of talented women.
Stephanie made history when she first started her professional basketball career as she was the first Zimbabwean-born player to be drafted in the WNBA. Her statement went on to that her coaches, family, friends and she called on the team to complete a special season as they head into the playoffs.
Tbh, I still get emotional thinking about it. I cried when I first got the news. But they were tears of joy. All of the hours with @rbfor3 & @coachgregmoore this summer paid off. I’m soo glad I have such loving family & friends who never let me fold no matter how much I started doubting myself last year & this past summer. It worked out, it did. & I can’t thank everyone around me enough, because I never, EVER could’ve done this by myself.
Alright, my eyes are watering again... But I wanna finish by saying I’m so happy I came here & I'm soo proud of all we’ve accomplished thus far, but we still have the rest of the playoffs ahead of us. So thank you, everyone. Truly. I wish I could name you all one by one, but it would be impossible. Now let’s go finish a special season Polkowice! & Lord, thank you... Again.