Catchings, Fowles Headline WNBA All-Defensive Team
September 29, 2011 - Women's National Basketball Association (WNBA) News Release
NEW YORK, Sept. 29, 2011 - Indiana Fever forward Tamika Catchings, the 2011 WNBA MVP, and Sylvia Fowles, the 2011 NBA Defensive Player of the Year, headline the 2011 WNBA All-Defensive Team, the league announced today. Seattle Storm guard Tanisha Wright, Atlanta Dream forward Angel McCoughtry (10 points), and Minnesota Lynx forward Rebekkah Brunson round out the All-Defensive First Team.
Catchings, who earned Defensive Player of the Year honors in 2005, 2006, 2009 and 2010, collected 55 points and was the only player to receive 11 First-Team votes (coaches were not allowed to vote for their own players). Catchings earns her seventh consecutive appearance on the All-Defensive First Team, the only player to be named to the First Team every year it has been selected (2005-2011). Fowles, who received 48 points (nine First-Team votes), led the league in blocks (2.0 bpg) for the second straight year. She also shared the league lead in defensive rebounds (7.3 drpg) and ranked second in overall rebounding (10.2 rpg) and double-doubles (22).
Wright finished with 35 points (seven First-Team votes), McCoughtry with 28 (five), and Brunson with 23 (four).
Catchings, Fowles, McCoughtry and Wright repeated as First Team members. For Brunson, it is her first time earning All-Defensive First Team honors.
The WNBA All-Defensive Second Team is comprised of Dream guard Armintie Price (27 points, three First Team votes), Connecticut Sun center Tina Charles (22, two), Dream forward Sancho Lyttle (20, one), Indiana Fever guard Katie Douglas (19, two), and Seattle Storm forward Swin Cash (16 points, two).
A panel of the WNBA's 12 head coaches voted on the WNBA All-Defensive Team, selecting First and Second Teams by position. Coaches were not permitted to vote for players from their own team. Players earned five points for each First Team vote and three points for a Second Team vote.
Below are the top finishers in the vote for the 2011 WNBA All-Defensive Teams:
2011 WNBA ALL-DEFENSIVE FIRST TEAM
Player Team Position Points
Tamika Catchings Indiana Fever Forward 55
Rebekkah Brunson Minnesota Lynx Forward 23
Sylvia Fowles Chicago Sky Center 48
Tanisha Wright Seattle Storm Guard 35
Angel McCoughtry Atlanta Dream Guard 28
2011 WNBA ALL-DEFENSIVE SECOND TEAM
Player Team Position Points
Sancho Lyttle Atlanta Dream Forward 20
Swin Cash Seattle Storm Forward 16
Tina Charles Connecticut Sun Center 22
Armintie Price Atlanta Dream Guard 27
Katie Douglas Indiana Fever Guard 19
Women's National Basketball Association Stories from September 29, 2011
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- Lawson to Run for Alzheimer's Association - Connecticut Sun
- Catchings, Fowles Headline WNBA All-Defensive Team - WNBA
- Chicago's Sylvia Fowles Named Defensive Player of the Year - WNBA
- Sylvia Fowles Named WNBA Defensive Player of the Year - Chicago Sky
- Hip Hop Music Legends "The Sugarhill Gang" to Perform at Halftime of Sunday's WNBA Finals Game 1 - Minnesota Lynx
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