Detroit Shock's Deanna Nolan and Katie Smith Named to All-Defensive Second Team
September 19, 2008 - Women's National Basketball Association (WNBA)
Detroit Shock News Release
Auburn Hills, MI - Detroit Shock guards Deanna Nolan and Katie Smith were named to the 2008 All-Defensive Second Team the WNBA announced today. Nolan's selection marks the fourth time she has received All-Defensive honors, she was also selected to the First Team in 2007 and the Second Team in 2005 and 2006. Katie Smith receives the All-Defensive honors for the first time in her nine-year WNBA tenure.
Headlined by Los Angeles Sparks center Lisa Leslie, the 2004 and 2008 Defensive Player of the Year. Leslie garnered 21 points while two-time Defensive Player of the Year Tamika Catchings finished second with 16 points.
Rounding out the All-Defensive First Team are San Antonio Silver Stars forward Sophia Young (12 points), Sacramento Monarchs guard Ticha Penicheiro (11 points) and Indiana Fever guard Tully Bevilaqua (11 points).
For Leslie, this marks her second selection to the All-Defensive First Team (2006) after being selected to the Second Team in 2005. Catchings is the only player to be named to the First Team in each of the four years the team has been named (2005-2008). Bevilaqua makes her third appearance on the All-Defensive First Team (2005 and 2006; Second Team, 2007). Both Young and Penicheiro were selected to the first All-Defensive Team of their respective careers.
The WNBA All-Defensive Second Team consists of Chicago Sky center Sylvia Fowles (12 points), Detroit Shock guard Deanna Nolan (10 points), Seattle Storm forward Lauren Jackson (nine points), Sacramento Monarchs forward Rebekkah Brunson (eight points) and Detroit Shock guard Katie Smith (eight points).
Jackson was named the 2007 Defensive Player of the Year and was a member of the 2007 All-Defensive First Team. Brunson was a member of the 2007 Second Team. Fowles, a rookie, was voted to the Second Team for the first time.
The fourth annual WNBA All-Defensive Team was voted on by a panel of the WNBA's 14 head coaches, who selected First and Second Teams by position. Coaches were not permitted to vote for players from their own team. Two points were awarded for a First Team vote and one point was awarded for a Second Team vote.
Below are the results for the 2008 WNBA All-Defensive Teams:
2008 WNBA ALL-DEFENSIVE FIRST TEAM
Player Team Position Points
Lisa Leslie Los Angeles Sparks Center 22
Tamika Catchings Indiana Fever Forward 16
Sophia Young San Antonio Silver Stars Forward 12
Ticha Penicheiro Sacramento Monarchs Guard 11
Tully Bevilaqua Indiana Fever Guard 11
2008 WNBA ALL-DEFENSIVE SECOND TEAM
Player Team Position Points
Sylvia Fowles Chicago Sky Center 12
Deanna Nolan Detroit Shock Guard 10
Lauren Jackson Seattle Storm Forward 9
Rebekkah Brunson Sacramento Monarchs Forward 8
Katie Smith Detroit Shock Guard 8
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Women's National Basketball Association Stories from September 19, 2008
- WNBA Western Conference Semi-Final Game 3 Matchup Between Storm and Sparks on Sale - Seattle Storm
- Penicheiro And Brunson Receive All-Defensive Team Honors - Sacramento Monarchs
- Jackson named to WNBA All-Defensive Second Team - Seattle Storm
- Detroit Shock's Deanna Nolan and Katie Smith Named to All-Defensive Second Team - Detroit Shock
- San Antonio's Sophia Young Tabbed For All-Defensive First Team - San Antonio Stars
- Los Angeles' Lisa Leslie Named 2008 Defensive Player Of The Year - WNBA
- Indiana's Ebony Hoffman Named 2008 Most Improved Player Of The Year - WNBA
- Hoffman's Most Unique Double - Indiana Fever
- Health Department and Fever to Unveil Vaccination Awareness Program - Indiana Fever
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