McCoughtry and Lyttle Named to 2009 WNBA All-Defensive Second Team
Published on September 25, 2009 under Women's National Basketball Association (WNBA)
Atlanta Dream News Release
ATLANTA, September 25, 2009 - Dream guard/forward Angel McCoughtry and forward Sancho Lyttle were named to the 2009 WNBA All-Defensive Second Team, the league announced today. Indiana Fever forward Tamika Catchings was named the WNBA Defensive Player of the Year presented by Kia Motors.
Catchings, a three-time WNBA Defensive Player of the Year (2005, 2006 and 2009), also headlines the 2009 WNBA All-Defensive Team. Catchings collected 24 points from the league's 13 coaches while Minnesota center/forward Nicky Anosike finished second with 13 points and Seattle Storm forward/center Lauren Jackson, the 2007 Defensive Player of the Year, garnered 12 points. Storm guard Tanisha Wright (10 points) and Fever guard Tully Bevilaqua (nine points) round out the All-Defensive First Team.
The WNBA All-Defensive Second Team comprises Los Angeles Sparks center Lisa Leslie (10 points), Atlanta Dream forwards Sancho Lyttle and Angel McCoughtry (nine points each), Detroit Shock guard Deanna Nolan, Washington Mystics guard Alana Beard and Sparks guard/forward Candace Parker (eight points each).
Lyttle and McCoughtry, the only rookie on either team, each were named to their first All-Defensive Team. Dream center Erika de Souza finished second in voting (tied with Sparks forward Candace Parker) for Defensive Player of the Year.
A panel of the WNBA's 13 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 two points for each First Team vote and one point for a Second Team vote.
Below are the top finishers in the vote for the 2009 WNBA All-Defensive Teams:
2009 WNBA ALL-DEFENSIVE FIRST TEAM
Player Team Position Points
Tamika Catchings Indiana Fever Forward 24
Lauren Jackson Seattle Storm Forward/Center 12
Nicky Anosike Minnesota Lynx Center/Forward 13
Tanisha Wright Seattle Storm Guard 10
Tully Bevilaqua Indiana Fever Guard 9
2009 WNBA ALL-DEFENSIVE SECOND TEAM
Player Team Position Points
Sancho Lyttle Atlanta Dream Forward 9
Angel McCoughtry Atlanta Dream Forward 9
Lisa Leslie Los Angeles Sparks Center 10
Candace Parker Los Angeles Sparks Guard/Forward 8
Alana Beard Washington Mystics Guard 8
Deanna Nolan Detroit Shock Guard 8
Women's National Basketball Association Stories from September 25, 2009
- Bird Buys Balcony - Pack The House Saturday - Indiana Fever
- McCoughtry and Lyttle Named to 2009 WNBA All-Defensive Second Team - Atlanta Dream
- Catchings Earns Third Defensive Player of the Year Award - Indiana Fever
- Catchings & Bevilaqua named First Team All-Defense - Indiana Fever
- Chicago Sky Sign General Manager, Head Coach Steven Key To New Contract - Chicago Sky
- WNBA All-Defensive Selections Announced - WNBA
- Tamika Catchings Named Defensive Player Of The Year - WNBA
- Lynx Center Nicky Anosike Named to 2009 WNBA All-Defensive First Team - Minnesota Lynx
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