Minnesota's Napheesa Collier Named 2019 WNBA Rookie of the Year
September 16, 2019 - Women's National Basketball Association (WNBA) News Release
NEW YORK - Minnesota Lynx forward Napheesa Collier has been named the 2019 WNBA Rookie of the Year, the WNBA announced today. She is the first Lynx player to earn the honor since Maya Moore in 2011.
Collier received 29 votes from a national panel of 43 sportswriters and broadcasters. Dallas Wings guard Arike Ogunbowale received the other 14 votes.
Collier averaged 13.1 points, 6.6 rebounds, 2.6 assists, 1.91 steals and 0.94 blocked shots while starting all 34 regular-season games and logging a WNBA-high 33.3 minutes per game. She shot 49.0 percent from the field, 36.1 percent from three-point range and 79.2 percent from the free throw line.
Among WNBA rookies, Collier ranked second in scoring, rebounding, blocks and field goal percentage and finished third in assists and three-point field goal percentage. She led rookies in steals and ranked fourth in that category among all WNBA players.
Collier became the fourth player in WNBA history to record at least 400 points, 200 rebounds, 75 assists, 50 steals, 25 blocks and 25 three-pointers made in a season. The other three players to reach those totals in a season are Moore, Tamika Catchings and Sheryl Swoopes.
This season, Collier became the first Minnesota rookie selected to the WNBA All-Star Game since Moore in 2011. The 6-1 Collier was named the Western Conference Rookie of the Month for July and the WNBA Western Conference Player of the Week for Aug. 19-25.
Collier began the season by scoring 27 points against the Chicago Sky on May 25, the second-highest total by any player in her WNBA debut. She scored in double figures in 25 of 34 regular-season games, including 10 or more points in each of her final 15 games. Collier also posted five point-rebound double-doubles in the regular season.
With Collier playing a leading role, the Lynx finished with an 18-16 record and earned the seventh seed in the WNBA Playoffs. In an 84-74 first-round playoff loss to the Seattle Storm on Sept. 11, Collier posted a double-double with 19 points and 10 rebounds.
The Lynx selected Collier with the sixth overall pick of WNBA Draft 2019 presented by State Farm after her standout career at the University of Connecticut. A two-time AP All-America First Team selection, Collier ranks third in UConn history in points and fourth in rebounds.
In honor of being named the 2019 WNBA Rookie of the Year, Collier will receive $5,000 and a specially designed trophy by Tiffany & Co.
Below are the voting results for the 2019 WNBA Rookie of the Year Award and a list of past recipients.
2019 WNBA ROOKIE OF THE YEAR VOTING RESULTS
Player Team Votes
Napheesa Collier Minnesota Lynx 29
Arike Ogunbowale Dallas Wings 14
WNBA ROOKIE OF THE YEAR WINNERS
2019 Napheesa Collier Minnesota Lynx
2018 A'ja Wilson Las Vegas Aces
2017 Allisha Gray Dallas Wings
2016 Breanna Stewart Seattle Storm
2015 Jewell Loyd Seattle Storm
2014 Chiney Ogwumike Connecticut Sun
2013 Elena Delle Donne Chicago Sky
2012 Nneka Ogwumike Los Angeles Sparks
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
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- Indiana's McCowan Named to WNBA All-Rookie Team - Indiana Fever
- Rookie of the Year Napheesa Collier Headlines 2019 WNBA All-Rookie Team - WNBA
- Napheesa Collier Named 2019 WNBA Rookie of the Year - Minnesota Lynx
- Minnesota's Napheesa Collier Named 2019 WNBA Rookie of the Year - WNBA
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