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WNBA Chicago Sky

Jia Perkins Named WNBA Eastern Conference Player of the Week

July 2, 2007 - Women's National Basketball Association (WNBA)
Chicago Sky News Release


New York, July 2, 2007 - Jia Perkins of the Chicago Sky and Lauren Jackson of the Seattle Storm were named the Eastern and Western Conference Players of the Week, respectively, for games played Monday, June 25 through Sunday, July 1.

This is the first Player of the Week honor for Perkins, who averaged 24.3 points, 6.3 rebounds, five assists and two steals while shooting 60 percent from the field (30-for-50), 61 percent from beyond the arc (8- for-13) and 83 percent (5-for-6) from the free throw line as she led the Sky to a 2-1 record on the week.

On June 29, Perkins made WNBA history when she tallied 39 points, 10 assists, four rebounds and three steals, becoming the first player to tally 30+ points and 10+ assists in a single game as the Sky defeated the Sacramento Monarchs in double overtime, 92-84. Her career and franchise-high 39 points marked the most points scored by a WNBA player this season, and her 17 field goals tied the league's all-time record (with Seattle's Lauren Jackson and Phoenix's Diana Taurasi).

Two days later, on July 1, Perkins led the Sky to their second consecutive overtime win, 74-71, over the Los Angeles Sparks, as she recorded 15 points, eight rebounds, five assists, three steals, two blocks and converted 5-of-13 field goals, 2-of-4 three pointers and 3-of-4 free throws. Perkins currently ranks third in the league in three-point field goal percentage at 52 percent.

Jackson receives the weekly honor for the ninth time in her career and the second this season, after averaging 23.3 points and 10.3 assists while shooting 54 percent from the floor (23-for-43) and 92 percent from the free-throw line (22-for-24) as the Storm posted a 2-1 record on the week.

The week included Jackson's sixth and seventh double-doubles of the season. On June 26, Jackson scored 33 points (her fifth 30+ game this season), grabbed 12 rebounds and made 11-of-20 field goals, 2- of-4 three-pointers and 9-of-10 free throws in a 94-76 victory over the Chicago Sky. On July 1, she tallied 12 points and 11 rebounds while also recording three blocks, two steals and an assist as her team defeated the New York Liberty, 84-53.

Jackson currently ranks first in points per game (22.7), rebounds per game (9.1), blocks per game (1.93) and third in field goals made (112).

Other candidates for WNBA Eastern and Western Conference Players of the Week were Indiana's Tamika Whitmore, Phoenix's Penny Taylor, Sacramento's Rebekkah Brunson, San Antonio's Erin Buescher and Washington's Alana Beard.

The WNBA tipped off its second decade of play on May 19, 2007, featuring comprehensive national television coverage. ESPN2 and ABC will combine to televise up to 36 games nationally during the regular season and playoffs. The second straight year of "WNBA Tuesdays" on ESPN2 includes five doubleheaders and WNBA action on 11 of 14 Tuesday nights in-season. NBA TV will complement ABC and ESPN2's coverage by televising 70 regular-season and up to nine playoff games. The WNBA All- Star Game will be played at Verizon Center in Washington, D.C. on July 15 at 3:30 pm ET with live coverage on ABC.

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