Minnesota Lynx Forward Maya Moore Named 2011 WNBA Rookie of the Year
Published on September 16, 2011 under Women's National Basketball Association (WNBA) News Release
NEW YORK, Sept. 16, 2011 - Minnesota Lynx forward Maya Moore earned the 2011 Rookie of the Year award, the WNBA announced today. A national panel of 40 sportswriters and broadcasters awarded Moore the honor.
Moore, the University of Connecticut product and two-time NCAA National Champion, topped all rookies in points (13.2 ppg), minutes (28.0 mpg) and steals (1.4 spg). She was second overall amongst rookies in rebounds (4.6 rpg) and third in assists (2.7 apg).
The No. 1 overall pick in the 2011 WNBA Draft presented by adidas finished the season winning two out of the three WNBA Rookie of the Month honors. Moore becomes the fourth straight No. 1 selection to win Rookie of the Year, joining Tina Charles (2010), Angel McCoughtry (2009), and Candace parker (2008).
The 6-0 forward collected 21 points, four assists and four rebounds in her professional debut, an 82-72 loss June 3 at Los Angeles. Perhaps Moore's best game came on Aug. 9 in an 85-80 loss to the Phoenix Mercury, as she recorded a career-best 28 points, on 6-of-6 shooting from the three-point range, and five steals; the six three-pointers tied a record for the most threes made without a miss in a single game. In another notable performance, Moore amassed 26 points on 6-for-9 shooting from three point range in a 90-67 win over the Connecticut Sun July 9. Moore recorded double-digit points 24 times, and helped the Lynx finish a league best 27-7 and clinch home court throughout the playoffs.
Moore was named a western conference All-Star starter; she was the first rookie to be voted to start since Sue Bird and Tamika Catchings in 2002. Moore averaged double digits in scoring in every month. She averaged 13.2 points for June and finished her rookie season by averaging 16.5 points, 5.0 rebounds and 2.3 assists for the month of September.
In honor of being named the 2011 Rookie of the Year, Moore will receive $5,000 and a specially designed trophy by Tiffany & Co.
Below are the complete results of the 2011 Rookie of the Year voting, followed by a list of previous winners:
2011 ROOKIE OF THE YEAR RESULTS
38 Maya Moore Minnesota Lynx
2 Danielle Adams San Antonio Silver Stars
ROOKIE OF THE YEAR WINNERS
2011 Maya Moore Minnesota Lynx
2010 Tina Charles Connecticut Sun
2009 Angel McCoughtry Atlanta Dream
2008 Candace Parker Los Angeles Sparks
2007 Armintie Price Chicago Sky
2006 Seimone Augustus Minnesota Lynx
2005 Temeka Johnson Washington Mystics
2004 Diana Taurasi Phoenix Mercury
2003 Cheryl Ford Detroit Shock
2002 Tamika Catchings Indiana Fever
2001 Jackie Stiles Portland Fire
2000 Betty Lennox Minnesota Lynx
1999 Chamique Holdsclaw Washington Mystics
1998 Tracy Reid Charlotte Sting
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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