2011 WNBA season

The 2011 WNBA season was the 15th season of the Women's National Basketball Association.[1] The regular season began on June 3 with the Los Angeles Sparks hosting the Minnesota Lynx, featuring 2011 WNBA Draft top pick Maya Moore, in a game televised on NBA TV. Four games followed the next day, with the marquee matchup, televised on ABC, featuring the defending champion Seattle Storm and the Phoenix Mercury in Seattle.

2011 WNBA season
LeagueWomen's National Basketball Association
SportBasketball
DurationJune 3 – October 7
Number of games34
Number of teams12
Total attendance1,622,685
Average attendance7,954
TV partner(s)ABC, ESPN, NBA TV
Top draft pick Maya Moore
Picked byMinnesota Lynx
Season MVP Tamika Catchings (Indiana)
Eastern championsAtlanta Dream
  Eastern runners-upIndiana Fever
Western championsMinnesota Lynx
  Western runners-upPhoenix Mercury
Finals championsMinnesota Lynx
  Runners-upAtlanta Dream
Finals MVP Seimone Augustus (Minnesota)

The Minnesota Lynx finished the regular season with the best record in the league at 27-7, and were the top seed in the Western Conference. The Indiana Fever were the top seed in the Eastern Conference. The Lynx ultimately advanced to face the Atlanta Dream in the 2011 WNBA Finals.[2]

2010/2011 WNBA offseason
  • The new television deal with ESPN continued during the 2011 season (runs 2009–2016). For the first time ever, teams will be paid rights fees as part of this deal.
  • As of the 2009 season, the maximum roster size per team was reduced from 13 to 11. Any team that falls below nine players able to play due to injury, pregnancy or any other factor outside of the control of the team will, upon request, be granted a roster hardship exception allowing the team to sign an additional player or players so that the team will have nine players able to play in an upcoming game or games. As soon as the injured (or otherwise sidelined) player(s) is able to play, the roster hardship player(s) – not any other player on the roster—must be waived.
  • On October 12, 2010, the New York Liberty named former Monarchs coach John Whisenant head coach and general manager.
  • On October 29, 2010, Pokey Chatman was named head coach and general manager of the Chicago Sky.
  • On November 1, 2010, the Washington Mystics announced that Julie Plank (head coach) and Angela Taylor (GM) would not be returning to the team and that Trudi Lacey would take over head coach and GM positions.
  • On December 3, 2010, Donna Orender, six-year league president, announced her resignation effective December 31.
  • On January 11, 2011, The San Antonio Silver Stars announced that Dan Hughes would resume head coaching duties.
  • The Washington Mystics announced a marquee sponsorship with Inova Health System on April 7, 2011. This marked the fifth team in the league to allow a sponsor to brand their uniforms.
  • On draft day, Adidas introduced the Revolution 30 technology, to be used on all WNBA team uniforms. The uniforms are 30% lighter than before and also enable moisture management.[3] Unlike their NBA and NBA D-League counterparts, however, all WNBA uniforms underwent complete redesigns.
  • NBA Commissioner David Stern announced on April 21, 2011 that Laurel J. Richie would assume role as president of the WNBA on May 16.
  • The New York Liberty will play home games for the next three seasons at Prudential Center in Newark, New Jersey, due to summer renovations at Madison Square Garden.

Marquee sponsorship

On August 22, 2011, the WNBA announced a league-wide marquee sponsorship with Boost Mobile.[4] The deal would allow the Boost Mobile logo to be placed on ten of the 12 teams' jerseys (excluding Phoenix and San Antonio) in addition to branding on the courts and in arenas. A source said the deal is worth "roughly $10 million over its four years" and is the richest in league history.[5]

2011 WNBA Draft

The WNBA Draft lottery was held on November 2, 2010. The lottery teams were the Tulsa Shock, Minnesota Lynx, Chicago Sky and Minnesota Lynx (from Conn.). The top pick was awarded to Minnesota.

The 2011 WNBA Draft was held on April 11, 2011, in Bristol, Connecticut. Coverage of the first round was shown on ESPN (HD). Second and third round coverage was shown on ESPNU and NBA TV.

The top picks were:

  1. Maya Moore, Minnesota Lynx
  2. Elizabeth Cambage, Tulsa Shock
  3. Courtney Vandersloot, Chicago Sky
  4. Amber Harris, Minnesota Lynx (from Conn.)

Regular season

Standings
Eastern Conference W L PCT GB Home Road Conf.
Indiana Fever x2113.618–13–48–913–9
Connecticut Sun x2113.618–15–26–1114–8
Atlanta Dream x2014.5881.011–69–814–8
New York Liberty x1915.5592.012-57–1011–11
Chicago Sky o1420.4127.010–74–1310–12
Washington Mystics o628.17615.04–132–154–18
Western Conference W L PCT GB Home Road Conf.
Minnesota Lynx x277.794–14–313–418–4
Seattle Storm x2113.6186.015–26–1115–7
Phoenix Mercury x1915.5598.011–68–911–11
San Antonio Silver Stars x1816.5299.09–89–811–11
Los Angeles Sparks o1519.44112.010–75–1210–12
Tulsa Shock o331.08824.02–151–161–21

All-Star Game
Main article: 2011 WNBA All-Star Game

The 2011 WNBA All-Star Game was hosted by the San Antonio Silver Stars on July 23 at the AT&T Center. Coverage of the game began at 3:30pm (ET) on ABC. This marks the first time the Silver Stars have hosted the annual event. This is only the second time in league history that the showcase was played on the court of a Western Conference team.

ABC (HD)
July 23
3:30 pm EDT
East 118, West 113
Scoring by quarter: 33–36, 32–30, 27–26, 26–21
Pts: Cappie Pondexter (17)
Rebs: Angel McCoughtry (10)
Asts: Cappie Pondexter (7)		 Pts: Swin Cash (21)
Rebs: Swin Cash (12)
Asts: Diana Taurasi (7)
AT&T Center, San Antonio, Texas
Attendance: 12,540
Referees:
#4 Sue Blauch
#17 Scott Twardoski
#45 Tom Mauer

Statistic leaders

The following shows the leaders for each statistic during the 2011 regular season.

Category Player Team Statistic
Points per gameDiana TaurasiPhoenix Mercury21.6 PPG
Rebounds per gameTina CharlesConnecticut Sun11.0 RPG
Assists per gameLindsay WhalenMinnesota Lynx5.9 APG
Steals per gameSancho LyttleAtlanta Dream2.36 SPG
Blocks per gameSylvia FowlesChicago Sky2.00 BPG
Field goal percentageSylvia FowlesChicago Sky59.1% (263–445)
Three point FG percentageJeanette PohlenIndiana Fever46.8% (29–62)
Free throw percentageDeWanna BonnerPhoenix Mercury90.9% (90–99)
Points per gameTeam StatPhoenix Mercury88.97 PPG
Least points allowedTeam StatSeattle Storm69.85 PPG
Field goal percentageTeam StatPhoenix Mercury46.1%
Least FG% allowedTeam StatMinnesota Lynx41.3%

Schedule
2011 WNBA preseason
May
2011 WNBA regular season
June
July
August
September
2011 WNBA postseason
Conference Semifinals (September 15–20)
Conference Finals (September 22–27)
WNBA Finals (October 2–7)

Playoffs and Finals
Main article: 2011 WNBA Playoffs
See also: 2011 WNBA Finals
Conference Semi-Finals
Best-of-3 		Conference Finals
Best-of-3 		WNBA Finals
Best-of-5
         
E1 Indiana 2
E4 New York 1
E1 Indiana 1
Eastern Conference
E3 Atlanta 2
E2 Connecticut 0
E3 Atlanta 2
E3 Atlanta 0
W1 Minnesota 3
W1 Minnesota 2
W4 San Antonio 1
W1 Minnesota 2
Western Conference
W3 Phoenix 0
W2 Seattle 1
W3 Phoenix 2

Season award winners

Player of the Week award
For games
played beginning		 Eastern Conference Western Conference
Player Team Player Team
June 3, 2011Katie DouglasIndiana FeverRebekkah BrunsonMinnesota Lynx
June 13, 2011Tina CharlesConnecticut SunCandice DupreePhoenix Mercury
June 20, 2011Cappie PondexterNew York LibertyPenny TaylorPhoenix Mercury
June 27, 2011Tina CharlesConnecticut SunSwin CashSeattle Storm
July 4, 2011Cappie PondexterNew York LibertySue BirdSeattle Storm
July 11, 2011Sylvia FowlesChicago SkyRebekkah BrunsonMinnesota Lynx
July 18, 2011Angel McCoughtryAtlanta DreamSeimone AugustusMinnesota Lynx
July 25, 2011Angel McCoughtryAtlanta DreamBecky HammonSan Antonio Silver Stars
August 1, 2011Tina CharlesConnecticut SunSeimone AugustusMinnesota Lynx
August 8, 2011Sylvia FowlesChicago SkyDiana TaurasiPhoenix Mercury
August 15, 2011Angel McCoughtryAtlanta DreamCandace ParkerLos Angeles Sparks
August 22, 2011Sylvia FowlesChicago SkySeimone AugustusMinnesota Lynx
August 29, 2011Tina CharlesConnecticut SunDeWanna BonnerPhoenix Mercury
September 5, 2011Angel McCoughtryAtlanta DreamKatie SmithSeattle Storm

Player of the Month award
For games played Eastern Conference Western Conference
Player Team Player Team
June 2011Tina CharlesConnecticut SunRebekkah BrunsonMinnesota Lynx
July 2011Angel McCoughtryAtlanta DreamSeimone AugustusMinnesota Lynx
August 2011Sylvia FowlesChicago SkyLindsay WhalenMinnesota Lynx

Rookie of the Month award
For games played Player Team
June 2011Danielle AdamsSan Antonio Silver Stars
July 2011Maya MooreMinnesota Lynx
August 2011Maya MooreMinnesota Lynx

Postseason awards
Award Winner Position Team Votes/Statistic
Most Valuable Player Award Tamika Catchings Forward Indiana Fever 292 out of 1,071
Finals MVP Award Seimone Augustus Guard/Forward Minnesota Lynx Unanimous
Rookie of the Year Award Maya Moore Forward Minnesota Lynx 38 out of 40
Most Improved Player Award Kia Vaughn Center New York Liberty 15 out of 40
Defensive Player of the Year Award Sylvia Fowles Center Chicago Sky 19 out of 40
Sixth Woman of the Year Award DeWanna Bonner Forward Phoenix Mercury 20 out of 40
Kim Perrot Sportsmanship Award Sue Bird
Ruth Riley		 Guard
Center		 Seattle Storm
San Antonio Silver Stars		 8 out of 39
Peak Performer: Points Diana Taurasi Guard/Forward Phoenix Mercury 21.6 PPG
Peak Performer: Rebounds Tina Charles Center Connecticut Sun 11.0 RPG
Peak Performer: Assists Lindsay Whalen Guard Minnesota Lynx 5.9 APG
Coach of the Year Award Cheryl Reeve Coach Minnesota Lynx 36 out of 40
Team Guard Guard Forward Forward Center
All-WNBA First Team Lindsay Whalen Diana Taurasi Angel McCoughtry Tamika Catchings Tina Charles
All-WNBA Second Team Sue Bird Cappie Pondexter Penny Taylor Seimone Augustus Sylvia Fowles
All-Defensive First Team Tanisha Wright Angel McCoughtry Tamika Catchings Rebekkah Brunson Sylvia Fowles
All-Defensive Second Team Katie Douglas Armintie Price Swin Cash Sancho Lyttle Tina Charles
All-Rookie Team Courtney Vandersloot Danielle Robinson Maya Moore Danielle Adams Liz Cambage

Coaches

Eastern Conference

Western Conference

See also

References
  1. http://www.wnba.com/news/2011_wnba_schedule.html
  2. Playoffs 2011
  3. "Adidas to introduce lighter, more advanced NBA uniforms". NBA.com. September 22, 2010. Archived from the original on February 25, 2011. Retrieved March 7, 2011.
  4. "Boost Mobile and WNBA Form First-Ever Leaguewide Marquee Sponsorship". WNBA.com. August 22, 2011. Retrieved August 22, 2011.
  5. "WNBA lands Boost Mobile as top sponsor". Sports Business Journal. August 22, 2011. Retrieved August 22, 2011.


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