Sims Is Sensational; Earns Her First Rookie of the Month
August 5, 2014 - Women's National Basketball Association (WNBA)
Tulsa Shock News Release
NEW YORK, August 5, 2014 - Odyssey Sims of the Tulsa Shock was named the WNBA's Rookie of the Month presented by Samsung for games played in July. This is her first Rookie of the Month presented by Samsung honor.
The Eastern and Western Conference Player of the Month awards, as well as the WNBA Rookie of the Month, are presented by Samsung and part of the larger WNBA Performance Awards presented by Samsung program. This marks the first season that Samsung, an official WNBA marketing partner, will present the WNBA's highest individual honors, including the WNBA Most Valuable Player, WNBA Most Improved Player, WNBA Sixth Woman of the Year, and WNBA Defensive Player of the Year.
For the month of July, the second overall selection in the 2014 WNBA Draft led all rookies in points (18.3 ppg) and minutes played (35.7 mpg), while placing third in assists (4.0 apg) and free throw percentage (54-of-62, .871). Overall, she ranked second in the league in minutes played behind teammate Skylar Diggins, placed sixth in scoring, and finished in the top 15 in assists. Sims scored 15-plus points in eight of 13 games, including five contests of 21 or more points.
In a 96-83 win over the Connecticut Sun on July 3, Sims scored 30 points, added five assists, and was 6-of-6 from the free throw line. On July 22, Sims collected a career-high 39 points on 15-of-20 shooting from the field in a 95-93 loss to the San Antonio Stars. In defeat, Sims and Diggins (34 points) became the eighth pair of teammates in WNBA history to each score at least 30 points in the same game.
For the season, the University of Baylor product is tied for fifth in the league in assists (4.2 apg) and 10th in scoring (15.6 ppg).
Highlights of Sims' month included:
- July 3 vs. Connecticut: 30 points and five assists in a 96-83 win.
- July 22 vs. San Antonio: Recorded a career-high 39 points on 15-of-20 shooting from the field and added four assists in a 95-93 loss.
- July 27 vs. Chicago: Collected 24 points, eight assists and six rebounds in a 79-69 win.
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Women's National Basketball Association Stories from August 5, 2014
- New York Liberty Tina Charles Named Player of the Month - New York Liberty
- Maya Moore Named Western Conference Player of the Month for July - Minnesota Lynx
- Pair of Former No. 1 Overall Picks Named WNBA Players of the Month - WNBA
- Spurs Name Becky Hammon Assistant Coach - San Antonio Stars
- Sims Is Sensational; Earns Her First Rookie of the Month - Tulsa Shock
- Sims Is Sensational; Earns Her First Rookie of the Month - WNBA
- Lynx to Host Janel McCarville Bobblehead Night on August 7 - Minnesota Lynx
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