Sports stats



WNBA Women's National Basketball Association

WNBA News

September 29, 2016 - Women's National Basketball Association (WNBA) News Release


WNBA News, a weekly newsletter produced by WNBA Communications, highlights the latest storylines, key statistics, upcoming events and more from the league's landmark 20th season.

MERCURY VS. LYNX: The top-seeded Minnesota Lynx looked sharp in its 2016 postseason debut. Maya Moore led all scorers with 31 points and the Lynx set a WNBA record for points in a regulation playoff game as the defending champion defeated Diana Taurasi (25 points) and the Phoenix Mercury 113-95 on Wednesday in Game 1 of the WNBA Semifinals. Minnesota, now 14-2 dating to July 9 of the regular season, improved to a combined 4-0 against Phoenix in the 2016 regular season and playoffs. Game 2 of the best-of-five series is Friday, Sept. 30 in St. Paul, Minn. (8 p.m. ET, ESPNEWS). Both teams are pursuing a record-tying fourth WNBA title.

SKY VS. SPARKS: Like Minnesota, the second-seeded Los Angeles Sparks tipped off their postseason in convincing fashion on Wednesday. Candace Parker scored 30 points and newly crowned 2016 WNBA MVP presented by Samsung Nneka Ogwumike recorded a playoff-career-high 27 points to go with 10 rebounds in a 95-75 victory over the Chicago Sky in Game 1 of the WNBA Semifinals. Los Angeles outscored Chicago 30-15 in the second quarter en route to its fourth victory in four games against the Sky this season. The teams square off in Game 2 on Friday at Staples Center (10 p.m. ET, ESPNEWS).

AND THE AWARD GOES TO ... : The WNBA has revealed the following 2016 regular-season award winners so far:

- Most Valuable Player presented by Samsung : Nneka Ogwumike earned her first MVP award after finishing with the second-highest field goal percentage in WNBA history (66.5) and ranking third in the league in scoring (career-high 19.7 ppg) and rebounding (career-high 9.1 rpg).

- Rookie of the Year presented by Samsung : Forward Breanna Stewart, who led all first-year players in scoring (18.3 ppg), rebounding (9.3 rpg) and blocked shots (1.9 bpg), gives the Seattle Storm back-to-back winners following Jewell Loyd's selection as Rookie of the Year last season.

- Sixth Woman of the Year presented by Samsung : Sparks center Jantel Lavender earned the award for the first time in her six-year career. She averaged 9.6 points and was one of two players among the top 40 scorers to average fewer than 20 minutes (19.4 mpg).

- Most Improved Player presented by Samsung : Second-year center/forward Elizabeth Williams became the first Atlanta Dream player to win the award. She averaged 11.9 points, 8.1 rebounds (fifth in the league) and 2.3 blocks (second in the league), up from 3.3 points, 3.2 rebounds and 0.9 blocks last season.

- Peak Performer Awards : New York Liberty center Tina Charles was honored for leading the WNBA in scoring (21.5 ppg) and rebounding (9.9 rpg), and Seattle's Sue Bird won the award as the league leader in assists (5.8 apg).

- Kim Perrot Sportsmanship Award : Indiana Fever legend Tamika Catchings became the first three-time winner since the award's inception in 1997.

- All-Rookie Team : Breanna Stewart was joined by guard Moriah Jefferson of the San Antonio Stars, forward Aerial Powers of the Dallas Wings, center Imani Boyette of the Sky and guard Tiffany Mitchell of the Fever.

The Stars won the 2017 WNBA Draft Lottery on Wednesday and will pick first in the 2017 WNBA Draft presented by State Farm. The Washington Mystics will pick second, the Dallas Wings will select third and the Sparks (via the Connecticut Sun) will choose fourth. Watch the lottery drawing here .

No. 1 overall draft picks have had a big impact on the WNBA. Ten of the last 13 No. 1 overall picks have been named Rookie of the Year. Seven of the 20 players who went first in the draft have won a title with the team that drafted them. Six of 20 have become WNBA MVPs.

Lynx guard Lindsay Whalen, who scored 19 points in Minnesota's Game 1 win over Phoenix, is one point shy of becoming the fifth player in WNBA history to reach 800 career postseason points. She is also the WNBA's career playoff leader in assists (273).

Phoenix guard Diana Taurasi (952) is 48 points from 1,000 for her postseason career. She is the No. 2 playoff scorer in WNBA history, behind Tamika Catchings (1,141).

Minnesota forward Rebekkah Brunson (469) needs three rebounds to pass Lisa Leslie for second place on the league's all-time postseason list. Tamika Catchings holds the record with 598.

The New York Times highlighted the longtime friendship of the Liberty's Tina Charles and Epiphanny Prince and recounted a legendary matchup between the two in high school.

The WNBA recently introduced a spot called "Pass the Ball," another installment of its seasonlong "Watch Me Work" campaign.

Liberty forward Swin Cash will be honored by the National Civil Rights Museum next month.

Excelle Sports did a Q&A with former WNBA star Yolanda Griffith, who in June was honored as one of the 20 greatest and most influential players in league history.

Rosie Rios, who served as the 43rd Treasurer of the United States, received the 2016 WNBA Inspiration Award .

Jack Moore, GQ : "Take, for instance, the quality of the league, which is at an all-time high. Names like Maya Moore, Nneka Ogwumike, and Elena Delle Donne bring star power, but top to bottom the level of play is incredible. ... If you like basketball, it's impossible to go to a game and not be won over by this league."

Bill Plaschke, Los Angeles Times : "[Nneka Ogwumike] performed like a combination of the Sparks' two other former league MVPs, Lisa Leslie and Candace Parker."

Chip Scoggins, Minneapolis Star Tribune : "The WNBA made a smart, strategic move in expanding its playoff semifinals from three to five games under a new format. A longer series allows story lines to develop and shifts in momentum."

Check out the Women's National Basketball Association Statistics

• Discuss this story on the Women's National Basketball Association message board...

Women's National Basketball Association Stories from September 29, 2016


The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.


Sports Statistics from the Stats Crew
OurSports Central