Lauren Jackson wins WNBA MVP. Brian Agler is the Best Coach Seattle Storm center/forward Lauren Jackson (196-F/C-81) on Thursday will be named the WNBA's most valuable player for the third time and Seattle coach Brian Agler will also be honored as the league's coach of the year. The pair will be honored before Game 1 of the Western Conference finals Thursday when the Storm host the Phoenix Mercury. 'The award itself, I never would have got it if we hadn't achieved what we had,' Jackson told the Seattle Times. 'And I know for a fact that if Sue [Bird] wasn't my point guard, I would have never got the award. Everybody played such a huge part and I'm really fortunate I got to play with these guys this year and that everyone is so focused on winning.' Jackson, who also won the MVP in 2003 and 2007, has helped lead the Storm to the Western Conference finals. She averaged 20.5 points and 8.3 rebounds a game this season. The Storm finished with a 28-6 record, the best in the league. They were 17-0 at home. Agler also credited Bird for helping him win his award. 'It's the one individual award that's impacted by multiple people [and not] just the person who receives it,' Agler told the Times. 'What are we going to do without Lauren? What are we going to do without Swin Cash? But when all of this shakes out, the one person that has impacted this all the most, especially coach of the year, is Sue Bird. Sue makes your team operate at an extremely high level.' Finally healthy, Jackson again showed why she is considered one of the top players in the world. After battling ankle and back problems that cost her parts of the previous two seasons, Jackson managed her health in 2010 and the Storm benefited. Jackson scored 20 or more points in 16 of her 32 games this season, sitting out twice simply for rest as the Storm raced to a 22-3 start and coasted to the finish. Jackson finished fourth in the league in scoring. Jackson was previously league MVP in 2007 when she averaged a career-best 23.8 points, and in 2003 when Jackson was the first international player and youngest player to ever receive the award. Jackson is the youngest player, and fastest, in WNBA history to score 3,000 and 4,000 career points and was voted to the WNBA's All-Decade Team. She has averaged 19.5 points and 7.9 rebounds over her nine-year career. Jackson, a native of Albury, Australia, was the No. 1 pick of the Storm in 2001. Agler is in his second head coaching job in the WNBA after being the first coach of the Minnesota Lynx from 1999-2002. After marginal success with the Lynx, Agler has found greater success in Seattle. In three seasons with the Storm, Agler has led Seattle to 68 victories in the regular season. Seattle finally shook its five-year playoff curse and advanced out of the first-round of the playoffs with a sweep of Los Angeles last week. All-WNBA Awards 2010 Seattle Storm forward-center Lauren Jackson (6'5''-F/C-81) and New York Liberty guard Cappie Pondexter (5'9''-G-83, college: Rutgers) headline the 2010 All-WNBA First Team, the league announced today. Jackson led all vote-getters with 195 points while Pondexter received 193 points. Indiana Fever forward Tamika Catchings (6'1''-F-79, college: Tennessee) finished third with 191 points. Phoenix Mercury guard Diana Taurasi (6'0''-F/G-82, college: Connecticut) and Chicago Sky center Sylvia Fowles (6'6''-C-85, college: LSU) round out the First Team with 185 and 125 points, respectively. Voting for the All-WNBA First and Second Teams was conducted by a panel of national and local sportswriters and broadcasters. Players were selected by position and received five points for each First Team vote and three points for each Second Team designation. Jackson, named the 2010 WNBA Most Valuable Player of the Year presented by Kia Motors, averaged 20.5 points and 8.3 rebounds this season, while leading the Storm to the best record in the WNBA (28-6). Pondexter ranked second in scoring (21.4 ppg) and sixth in assists (4.9 apg), and helped the Liberty to a franchise-record 10-game winning streak and second playoff seed in the Eastern Conference. Catchings, the 2010 WNBA Defensive Player of the Year presented by Kia Motors, led the league in steals (2.3 spg) for a record sixth time, and along with Jackson, was only one of two players in the WNBA to rank in the top ten in four different categories. Taurasi, paced the league in scoring (22.6 ppg) for a third consecutive season, and averaged a career high in assists (4.7 apg). Fowles led the league in blocked shots (2.6 bpg). For Jackson, this is her seventh First Team selection, while this marks Taurasi's fifth consecutive First Team honor. Catchings has been selected to eight All-WNBA teams, including five First Teams. Pondexter and Fowles each earned their first appearance on the First Team. Storm guard Sue Bird (5'9''-G-80, college: Connecticut) (123 points) and Atlanta Dream forward Angel McCoughtry (6'1''-F-86, college: Louisville) (119 points) highlight the 2010 All-WNBA Second Team. Bird, who along with Jackson, spearheaded the Storm to one of the greatest regular season records in WNBA history, finished second in the league in assists (5.8). McCoughtry, the WNBA Rookie of the Year last season, blossomed into a WNBA All-Star in her second season and led the Dream to its second consecutive playoff berth after averaging 21.1 points, 4.9 rebounds, 3.1 assists and 1.9 steals. Washington Mystics forward-center Crystal Langhorne (6'2''-F/C-86, college: Maryland) (111 points), Connecticut Sun center Tina Charles (6'4''-C-88, agency: LBM Management, college: Connecticut) (86 points) and Fever guard Katie Douglas (6'1''-G/F-79, college: Purdue) (30 points) round out the Second Team. In honor of being named to the All-WNBA First and Second Teams, each player will receive a Tiffany & Co. designed trophy. In addition, $10,000 will be awarded to each member of the First Team, while each member of the Second Team will receive $5,000. Below are the complete results of the 2010 All-WNBA Team voting: 2010 ALL-WNBA FIRST TEAM Lauren Jackson Seattle Storm Forward-Center Tamika Catchings Indiana Fever Forward Sylvia Fowles Chicago Sky Center Cappie Pondexter New York Liberty Guard Diana Taurasi Phoenix Mercury Guard 2010 ALL-WNBA SECOND TEAM Crystal Langhorne Washington Mystics Forward-Center Angel McCoughtry Atlanta Dream Forward Tina Charles Connecticut Sun Center Sue Bird Seattle Storm Guard Katie Douglas Indiana Fever Guard Seattle Storm hold off Atlanta Dream, 87-84, to capture second WNBA Championship The Seattle Storm are champions again. Seattle completed its undefeated march through the postseason, beating the Atlanta Dream 87-84 on Thursday night for a three-game sweep in the WNBA finals. The Storm won each of its seven postseason games for its second WNBA title. The Storm also won the 2004 championship. Swin Cash (6'2''-F-79, college: Connecticut) scored 18 points to lead a balanced offense as Seattle overcame 35 points by Atlanta's Angel McCoughtry (6'1''-F-86, college: Louisville). Lauren Jackson (6'5''-F/C-81), who had 26 points in each of the Storm's first two wins in the series, had 15 points and nine rebounds and was selected MVP of the finals. McCoughtry, who set a WNBA playoff record with 42 points in the Dream's Eastern Conference finals clinching win over the New York Liberty, tried to rally Atlanta with nine points in the final 2:30. But McCoughtry and Coco Miller (5'9''-G-78, college: Georgia) missed 3-pointers in the final 6 seconds, setting off a celebration by Seattle's players. McCoughtry's three-point play with 46 seconds remaining cut Seattle's lead to 85-80. Seattle's Tanisha Wright missed two free throws and McCoughtry was fouled by Cash while missing a 3. McCoughtry made two of three free throws to cut the lead to three points with 31 seconds remaining. Seattle's Sue Bird (5'9''-G-80, college: Connecticut) dribbled away the shot clock before missing a shot to set up a basket by Atlanta's Iziane Castro Marques (6'0''-G/F-82) with 6.9 seconds left. McCoughtry immediately fouled Camille Little (6'2''-F/G-85, college: N.Carolina), who made two free throws to give Seattle an 87-84 lead. McCoughtry missed a 3-pointer but the rebound went to Atlanta before Coco Miller also missed a last-second 3. Each of Seattle's starters scored in double figures. Bird, who along with Jackson are the only players remaining from the Storm's 2004 title team, had 14 points and seven assists. Little had 15 and Wright had 13. The Storm became the first team to win the championship without a postseason loss since the Los Angeles Sparks went 6-0 in 2002, when the finals were a best-of-three series. The sweep wasn't easy. The Storm won the first two games in Seattle by a combined margin of five points and struggled at times against Atlanta's relentless defense in the decisive Game 3. The Dream led 59-53 late in the third quarter before Seattle took control with a 16-1 run, including the first basket of the fourth. Castro Marques scored 21 points for Atlanta, Coco Miller had 12 and Erika de Souza added 10 points and 14 rebounds. A fastbreak basket by McCoughtry gave the Dream the six-point lead before the Storm scored 14 of the last 15 points of the third quarter. Wright's 3-pointer sparked Seattle's 10-0 run to open the game. The Storm kept the lead until Kelly Miller's 3-pointer with 2:02 remaining in the first half gave Atlanta a 41-39 lead. The Dream made 6 of 9 3-pointers in the half, including a long jumper by McCoughtry that gave the Dream a 44-43 halftime lead. Assistant coach Carol Ross and McCoughtry drew technical fouls for separate incidents in the first period. The finals attracted attention from Atlanta's other professional team. The NBA Atlanta Hawks had a large turnout for the game, including Joe Johnson, Al Horford, Marvin Williams, Jeff Teague and Jordan Crawford. Also attending the game were John Abraham of the Atlanta Falcons and former Falcons coach Dan Reeves.  Fowles
scores 23 in USAs 99-72 win over WNBA -
Jul 11, 2010Sylvia Fowles (6'6''-C-85, college: LSU) stole the spotlight from the UConn reunion at the WNBA All-Star game. Fowles scored 13 of her 23 points in the third quarter and the U.S. national team beat the WNBA All-Stars 99-72 on Saturday in this years version of the leagues midseason showcase. Fowles shot 9 for 11 from the field and grabbed eight rebounds, earning the MVP award in a game that had six former or current Huskies players on a U.S. team led by Connecticut coach Geno Auriemma and played about 30 miles south of the schools campus. Theyre on this team for a reason, said Fowles, a former LSU standout. Theyre great players. They play well together. They have that chemistry. They know what they want and they know how to win. Just to be a part of that crew, it makes you feel good. Candice Dupree (6'2''-F/C-84, agency: LBM Management, college: Temple) and Swin Cash (6'2''-F-79, college: Connecticut) had 13 points apiece, UConn senior Maya Moore (6'0''-F-89) added 12 and Angel McCoughtry (6'1''-F-86, college: Louisville) 11 for the U.S. Katie Douglas had 15 points, Penny Taylor scored 12 and Sophia Young added 10 for the All-Stars. Fowles was dominant over the first 6 1/2 minutes of the second half, shooting 5 for 6 from the field, 3 for 4 from the free-throw line and grabbing five rebounds. The Chicago Sky center converted a layup with 3:38 to go in the third to make it 68-37, the U.S.s biggest of the game. Syl did a great job, U.S. and Seattle Storm guard Sue Bird said. Shes such a dominant player, you saw it. She can get every rebound if she wants. She can score 20 points a night if she wants. Its a matter if she wants to that night. Thats what were trying to do, thats what coach Auriemma is trying to do, trying to get her to be like that every game. The All-Stars tried to make a run in the fourth quarter. Young scored six points, Taylor had five and Lindsay Whalen (5'8''-G-82, college: Minnesota) four as the WNBA used a 17-6 run to pull to 81-61 with 6:12 remaining. But that was as close as it got down the stretch. Obviously the game was well over at that point, Douglas said. We just tried to put a little bit of energy and fun into the game. Moore, the first college player to appear in such a game, scored six points in the final 4 1/2 minutes as the U.S. pulled away again. She finished 6 for 13 from the fieldtaking the most shots on her teamand also had eight rebounds in 22 minutes. She also drew some of the loudest cheers from the crowd. I think this is a good little preview for her, Bird said. Pretty soon shes going to be in the WNBA. If anything, it gives you an idea to see what its like, being on the court, kind of getting used to it. The U.S. shot 56 percent from the field (42 for 75), outrebounded the All-Stars 39-30 and had 32 assists. The WNBA shot 37 percent (26 for 70) and finished with 11 assists. The fact we had 32 assists is just an incredible number, Auriemma said. To be able to spread the ball around like that, share, make the extra pass, all the things you would want to see a team do. Young made two free throws, Michelle Snow (6'5''-C-80, agency: LBM Management, college: Tennessee) had a layup and Monique Currie (6'0''-G/F-83, college: Duke) made one free throw to help the All-Stars close to 33-26 with 6:18 left in the second quarter. The U.S. then closed out the half with a 16-2 run. McCoughtry hit a 3-pointer to cap an eight-point surge that gave the U.S. a 41-26 lead with 3:27 remaining. Obviously (we) played against the best team in the world today, All-Stars coach Brian Agler said. The game got away from us there a couple of times. We did our mission of getting out of here with no injuries, get these players back to their teams. The game was part of a four-day training camp for the U.S., which is preparing for the world championships in the Czech Republic in September. A potential Game 5 in the WNBA finals would take place Sept. 21, two days before the opener of the worlds. It was the second time for this format. The first was in 2004 at the start of the leagues monthlong Olympic break. The U.S. won that game, 74-58, at Radio City Music Hall in New York. The U.S. concludes the camp with an exhibition against Taylor and the Australian national team on Sunday. Courtesy of AP WNBA Team Jayne Appel (6'4''-F/C-88) of San Antonio Silver Stars Rebekkah Brunson (6'3''-F/C-81) of Minnesota Lynx Becky Hammon (5'6''-G-77) of San Antonio Silver Stars Iziane Castro Marques (6'0''-G/F-82) of Atlanta Dream Katie Douglas (6'1''-G/F-79) of Indiana Fever Lauren Jackson (6'5''-F/C-81) of Seattle Storm Crystal Langhorne (6'2''-F/C-86) of Washington Mystics Sancho Lyttle (6'4''-C-83) of Atlanta Dream Michelle Snow (6'5''-C-80) of San Antonio Silver Stars Penelope Taylor (6'1''-F-81) of Phoenix Mercury Sophia Young (6'1''-F-83) of San Antonio Silver Stars Head Coach: Brian Agler of Seattle Storm Assistant: Nancy Darsch of Seattle Storm USA BASKETBALL Team Sue Bird (5'9''-G-80) of Seattle Storm Swin Cash (6'2''-F-79) of Seattle Storm Tamika Catchings (6'1''-F-79) of Indiana Fever Tina Charles (6'4''-C-88) of Connecticut Sun Candice Dupree (6'2''-F/C-84) of Phoenix Mercury Sylvia Fowles (6'6''-C-85) of Chicago Sky Angel McCoughtry (6'1''-F-86) of Atlanta Dream Maya Moore (6'0''-F-89) of University of Connecticut Renee Montgomery (5'7''-G-86) of Connecticut Sun Cappie Pondexter (5'9''-G-83) of New York Liberty Diana Taurasi (6'0''-F/G-82) of Phoenix Mercury Head Coach: Geno Auriemma of Univ.of Connecticut Assistants: Doug Bruno of DePaul, Jennifer Gillom of Los Angeles Sparks, Marynell Meadors of Atlanta Dream | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
