If there wasn’t already enough at stake in the WNBA semifinals between the Liberty and Sun, the league’s MVP announcement Tuesday — when Liberty star Breanna Stewart won the award despite fewer first-place votes than the Sun’s Alyssa Thomas — added another wrinkle to the remainder of the series.

Connecticut players didn’t mince their thoughts pregame or postgame Tuesday, with forward DeWanna Bonner calling it an “emotional time.”

She didn’t flat-out support a question asking whether the award should’ve been revealed on an off day instead of hours before the Liberty’s 84-77 Game 2 victory began, but her answer did include a “maybe.”

The lingering effects of the MVP vote might not fade — and might only grow more relevant — as the series shifts to Connecticut for Game 3 on Friday.

Sun fans could continue “MVP” cheers from the stands, because, as Bonner said, she’s their MVP.

Connecticut could try to relieve the sting by closing out the series at home with Thomas as its focal point, too.

“I think I’m used to it,” Thomas told WNBA reporter Howard Megdal on Tuesday when asked about not winning the award. “I think I’ve been snubbed so many times in my career that it’s a normal feeling for me.”

Stewart, the first MVP in Liberty history after averaging 23.0 points and 9.3 rebounds per game, earned 446 points and 20 first-place votes.

Thomas, who averaged 15.5 points, 9.9 rebounds and 7.9 assists per game, earned 439 points but had 23 votes for the top spot.

The Aces’ A’ja Wilson, the award’s recipient in 2022 and 2020, finished in third place.

Liberty head coach Sandy Brondello said Tuesday might have actually been more difficult for Stewart, since she handled the different celebratory interviews — on ESPN and a special pregame ceremony — and shifted her focus toward a must-win game.

Stewart finished with just 11 points, but she added 11 rebounds, five assists and five blocks.

“They’re all worthy of MVP,” Brondello said of Stewart, Thomas and Wilson, adding that the trio are “lifting up the whole standard of this league.”

That support likely didn’t erase the underlying storyline fueling the Sun, though.

Sun guard Rebecca Allen was disappointed pregame, when the news was still fresh.

The reality had started to sink in.

And by the time Game 2 ended — and by the time Bonner and Tiffany Hayes addressed reporters — it became clear the emotions had, in fact, been present that night.

It also became clear that they would be again this weekend at Mohegan Sun Arena, too.

“It’s just everybody was just so emotionally invested, especially her, especially [given] the season that she had,” Bonner said.