DeWanna Bonner Named 2011 WNBA Sixth Woman of the Year
Published on September 16, 2011 under Women's National Basketball Association (WNBA) News Release
NEW YORK, Sept. 16, 2011 - Phoenix Mercury guard-forward DeWanna Bonner has been named the 2011 WNBA Sixth Woman of the Year, the league announced today. Bonner received 20 votes from a national panel of 40 sportswriters and broadcasters to earn the award. New York Liberty guard-forward Essence Carson and Connecticut Sun guard Kara Lawson received eight votes each, while Indiana Fever center Jessica Davenport garnered three votes and San Antonio Silver Stars guard Jia Perkins garnered one vote.
In honor of being named the Sixth Woman of the Year, Bonner will receive $5,000 and a specially-designed trophy from Tiffany & Co.
In 34 games this season, including 29 off the bench, Bonner averaged 10.7 points and a career-high 7.0 rebounds. Bonner also shot a career-best .909 from the free throw line. Her 7.0 rpg ranked second on the Mercury behind Candace Dupree's 8.2 rpg.
Bonner recorded five 20-point games this season and scored at least 10 points off the bench 12 times; she scored a career-high 25 points on two occasions. Bonner had a three-game stretch (Aug. 7-11) in which she outscored the opposing team's bench each time. She recorded five double-doubles and posted double-digit rebounds nine times, leading the team in boards 11 times. .
On Sept. 6, she earned the first WNBA Player of the Week Award of her career for games played Aug. 29-Sept. 4, as she ranked third in the WNBA and second in the West in rebounding (9.3 rpg) while her 19.0 points per game placed her fourth overall and third in the Conference in scoring.
A standout at Auburn, Bonner was drafted fifth overall by the Mercury in the 2009 WNBA Draft. As a senior, she was named the Southeastern Conference Player of the Year and led the SEC in scoring, becoming the first Auburn player to do so. Bonner was a three-time All-SEC First Team member during her four-year stint as a Tiger.
Below are the results of the 2011 WNBA Sixth Woman of the Year voting and a list of previous winners:
2011 WNBA SIXTH WOMAN OF THE YEAR RESULTS
20 DeWanna Bonner Phoenix Mercury
8 Essence Carson New York Liberty
8 Kara Lawson Connecticut Sun
3 Jessica Davenport Indiana Fever
1 Jia Perkins San Antonio Silver Stars
WNBA SIXTH WOMAN OF THE YEAR WINNERS
2011 DeWanna Bonner Phoenix Mercury
2010 DeWanna Bonner Phoenix Mercury
2009 DeWanna Bonner Phoenix Mercury
2008 Candice Wiggins Minnesota Lynx
2007
* Plenette Pierson Detroit Shock
* Inaugural award
Women's National Basketball Association Stories from September 16, 2011
- Lawson Donates to Fallen Patriot Fund - Connecticut Sun
- DeWanna Bonner Named WNBA Sixth Woman of the Year - Phoenix Mercury
- DeWanna Bonner Named 2011 WNBA Sixth Woman of the Year - WNBA
- New York Liberty's Kia Vaughn Named 2011 WNBA Most Improved Player - WNBA
- New York Liberty's Kia Vaughn Named Most Improved Player - New York Liberty
- Sancho Lyttle Re-Signs with Atlanta Dream - Atlanta Dream
- Robinson and Adams Named to WNBA All-Rookie Team - San Antonio Stars
- Vandersloot Named to All-Rookie Team - Chicago Sky
- Lynx Head Coach Cheryl Reeve Named 2011 WNBA Coach of the Year - Minnesota Lynx
- Minnesota's Cheryl Reeve Named 2011 WNBA Coach of the Year - WNBA
- Lynx Forward Maya Moore Named 2011 WNBA Rookie of the Year - Minnesota Lynx
- Minnesota Lynx Forward Maya Moore Named 2011 WNBA Rookie of the Year - WNBA
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