Taj McWilliams-Franklin of the Connecticut Sun Named WNBA Player of the Week
Published on June 13, 2005 under Women's National Basketball Association (WNBA) News Release
NEW YORK, JUNE 13 â Taj McWilliams-Franklin of the Connecticut Sun was named the WNBA Player of the Week for her play in Connecticut's three victories this week. It is the first WNBA Player of the Week honor for McWilliams-Franklin.
McWilliams-Franklin, a three-time WNBA All-Star, started the week by posting 19 points, grabbing four rebounds and dishing out four assists in Connecticut's 81-69 victory over the defending WNBA Champion Seattle Storm last Tuesday. McWilliams-Franklin had big games in Connecticut's 2-0 swing through Texas over the weekend. In the Sun's 77-57 win at Houston on Friday, she finished with 13 points and five rebounds. The next night, McWilliams-Franklin led the Sun with 17 points, nine rebounds, four assists and collected three steals in Connecticut's 78-69 victory at San Antonio.
McWilliams-Franklin has helped Connecticut win a franchise-record six in a row for the best start in team history. Connecticut is 6-1 so far this season and is in sole possession of first place in the Eastern Conference.
McWilliams-Franklin leads the league in field goal percentage (.615), is ranked fifth in scoring (17.7), eighth in rebounding (6.8) and 14th in free-throw percentage (.862).
Other candidates for WNBA Player of the Week were Charlotte's Dawn Staley, Detroit's Cheryl Ford, Houston's Michelle Snow, Indiana's Kelly Miller, Los Angeles' Chamique Holdsclaw, Phoenix's Anna DeForge, Minnesota's Katie Smith, New York's Vickie Johnson, Sacramento's Yolanda Griffith, San Antonio's Wendy Palmer-Daniel, Seattle's Lauren Jackson and Washington's Alana Beard.
The WNBA tipped off its ninth season on Saturday, May 21, 2005 under the leadership of new President Donna Orender. In 2004, for the sixth consecutive season, more than two million fans attended WNBA games. Also in 2004, three consecutive WNBA Finals sellout crowds witnessed the Seattle Storm defeat the Connecticut Sun to capture its first WNBA Championship. WNBA programming is broadcast on ABC, ESPN, ESPN2 and NBA-TV. For more information, visit WNBA.com.
Women's National Basketball Association Stories from June 13, 2005
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- Charlotte Sting Weekly Update - Charlotte Sting
- Taj McWilliams-Franklin of the Connecticut Sun Named WNBA Player of the Week - WNBA
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