WASHINGTON -- Now, before all you Tina Thompson fans -- and we're well aware you're out there -- get too ticked off at the media for double-T not getting the WNBA all-star MVP award ...

	Lisa Leslie won the award, but the ever-consistent Tina Thompson, rear left, was equally deserving.

Here's the deal. They wanted our ballots with about 2½ minutes left in the game. Lisa Leslie had been all over the place the latter portion of the second half. The game was tight. Tamika Catchings had played her heart out despite her recently broken nose and mild concussion.

So most folks were going back and forth trying to decide who to vote for between those two in this, by far the best-played and most entertaining of the four WNBA All-Star games, won 81-76 by the West.

Alas, Thompson came up big at the end.

She subbed in for Lauren Jackson -- by the way, is that kid talented or what? -- with just more than 4 minutes left and then did what Tina Thompson has done ever since the WNBA began: win games. In the last minute, she had two free throws, a critical steal and then two more free throws.

She finished with 20 points and seven rebounds, no MVP. Thompson just smiled. She didn't make a big deal about the award. She just talked about what a blast the game was and how cool it is any time she hears fans chanting her name.

"Oh gosh, it was exciting, a lot of fun,'' she said. "It was definitely a fan-friendly game, I think that everyone enjoyed the back-and-forth.''

She's right; it was fun. Yeah, it started with nobody being able to shoot, but that always happens in all-star games. But then what usually doesn't happen in such exhibitions did: the play improved because the players really cared.

They scrapped, dove for balls. They grinned at each other, but then still went at it.

"Those last couple of minutes were very competitive,'' Thompson said. "We looked at the scoreboard, and it was a little too close for comfort.''

Coming in, some people thought this would be the most competitive all-star game. I confess I did not. Considering the West's firepower and the absence of injured Chamique Holdsclaw from the East lineup, I kind of figured the West would win by double digits.

	“	It seems like she's always been overlooked because of somebody, either because of something I've done, or something Cynthia (Cooper) did or something Lisa Leslie did. ... She's always overshadowed, but she's one of the best players in the game today. Maybe I'm biased, but I think she's the best in the WNBA at her position. ”
		— Sheryl Swoopes on Comets teammate Tina Thompson

Instead, the East almost won the dang game, but didn't because the last minute was dominated by Thompson and fellow Comet Sheryl Swoopes. And when it was all over, I wished they'd let us keep our ballots 2 more minutes.

Nothing against Leslie at all; she's a tremendous player and was critical down the stretch. She had 18 points, 14 rebounds and four blocks. Heck, she absolutely deserved the MVP. Yet, it felt like Thompson did, too.

Not like she cares, really. Thompson's gotten so used to this, accustomed to being the Melanie Wilkes to somebody else's Scarlett O'Hara.

"It seems like she's always been overlooked because of somebody,'' Swoopes said. "It's either because of something I've done, or something Cynthia (Cooper) did or something Lisa Leslie did.

"It's tough, and sometimes I really feel bad about it. She's always overshadowed, but she's one of the best players in the game today. Maybe I'm biased, but I think she's the best in the WNBA at her position.''

Here's the goofy thing, though: Everybody DOES know how good she is. We've watched Thompson do everything: defense, blocks, screens, rebounds, steals, assists, baskets. Last year, with Cooper retired and Swoopes out all year injured, Thompson took the team on her back. Before then, she was often the glue that held the sometimes-stubborn pieces of the Comets together.

We know. And we say, "That Tina Thompson, you better not overlook her.'' And then, when we totally don't mean to overlook her, we appear to do it anyway.

It's like that commercial on the WNBA and NBA little leagues or whatever they're called. You have all these urchins saying, "I'm Milton Geektron, forward for the Orlando Magic,'' and such, and then No. 7 comes on and says, "I'm Tina Thompson, forward for the Houston Comets.''

And a kid looks askance at her.

"No, really,'' Thompson says, "I am.''

Don't worry, Tina. We are totally convinced.

Mechelle Voepel of the Kansas City Star is a regular contributor to ESPN.com. She can be reached at mvoepel@kcstar.com.