WNBA Awards Run-down

In case you missed it, here is the complete run-down on all the WNBA season award winners. Detroit and Phoenix kick off Game 2 of the WNBA Finals tonight, with the Shock up 1-0 in the best-of-five series.

Most Valuable Player:
Lauren Jackson (Seattle Storm forward/center)
Low-down: An obvious choice, Jackson led the league in scoring and rebounding, and was second in blocked shots per game.

Defensive Player of the Year:
Jackson
Low-down: Coupled with her MVP Award, Jackson is playing better than anyone in the world right now. Connecticut fans can check her out on Wednesday, Sept. 19, when she and the Australian National Team visit Mohegan Sun Arena to play the U.S. Senior National Team at 7 p.m.

Coach of the Year:
Dan Hughes (San Antonio Silver Stars)
Low-down: Hughes led San Antonio to the Western Conference Finals after finishing the regular season with its best record since it moved from Utah. Hughes was out during a portion of the season and returned wearing a protective boot after he tore his Achilles tendon.

Rookie of the Year:
Armintie Price (Chicago Sky guard)
Low-down: Price was the popular choice after Lindsey Harding went down with a torn ACL. She averaged 7.9 points and 6.0 rebounds per game.

Sixth Player of the Year:
Plenette Pierson (Detroit Shock forward)
Low-down: Pierson had a career year averaging 11.6 points and 5.8 rebounds in more than 25 minutes a game.

Most Improved Player:
Janel McCarville (New York Liberty center)
Low-down: The former University of Minnesota teammate of Sun guard Lindsay Whalen, McCarville finally showed the potential many saw in her when she was selected with the first overall pick in the 2005 draft.

Sportsmanship Award:
Tully Bevilaqua (Indiana Fever guard)
Low-down: For the media at least, this is usually the hardest award to vote on because frankly we don’t see every team enough to make a fair assessment of who the best sport is. But Bevilaqua, a gritty but clean defender and always a gamer, is a great choice here.

All-WNBA First Team:
Center – Jackson
Forward – Penny Taylor (Phoenix)
Guard – Diana Taurasi (Phoenix)
Guard – Deanna Nolan (Detroit)
Guard – Becky Hammon (San Antonio)

All-WNBA Second Team:
Forward – Tina Thompson (Houston)
Forward – Tamika Catchings (Indiana)
Forward – Sophia Young (San Antonio)
Guard – Katie Douglas (Connecticut)
Guard – Seimone Augustus (Minnesota)

All-Rookie Team:
Forward – Camille Little (San Antonio)
Guard – Harding
Guard – Marta Fernandez (Los Angeles)
Guard – Sidney Spencer (Los Angeles)
Guard – Price

All-Defensive First Team:
Center – Jackson
Forward – Catchings
Forward – Douglas
Guard – Alana Beard (Washington)
Guard – Nolan

All-Defensive Second Team:
Center – Margo Dydek (Connecticut)
Forward – Rebekkah Brunson (Sacramento)
Guard – Chelsea Newton (Sacramento)
Guard – Bevilaqua
Guard – Loree Moore (New York Liberty)

Peak Performers (given to league leaders in scoring, rebounding and assists):
Jackson (scoring and rebounding) and Hammon (assists).