2004 WNBA Award Winners
MVP
presented by General Motors
Lisa Leslie of the Los Angeles Sparks was named the 2004 WNBA MVP presented
by General Motors. Leslie led the Sparks to the best record in the WNBA as well as led
the league in rebounding en route to her second MVP Award.
Leslie MVP announcement transcript
All-WNBA
Team presented by Bud Light
Lisa Leslie of the Los Angeles Sparks makes her sixth appearance on the 2004
All-WNBA First Team presented by Bud
Light. Joining Leslie are Seattle's Lauren Jackson and Sue Bird, Houston's Tina Thompson and Rookie of the Year Diana Taurasi.
Rookie
of the Year
Diana Taurasi of the Phoenix
Mercury was named the 2004 WNBA Rookie
of the Year. Taurasi led all rookies in scoring with 17.0 points per game
and 3-pointers (62). She helped lead the Mercury out of the cellar and all the
way to the verge of a playoff berth in just one season.
Most
Improved Player
Wendy Palmer of the Connecticut
Sun and Kelly Miller of the
Indiana Fever were named the co-recipients of the 2004 WNBA Most
Improved Player of the Year award. On the season, Palmer averaged 9.0 points
and 5.5 rebounds -- up from 4.7 points and 3.3 rebounds a year ago. Miller averaged
10.2 points and 3.1 assists per game in her first season with the Fever -- up
from 5.6 points and 1.4 assists in 2003.
Cascade
Dish & Assist Award
Nikki Teasley of the Los
Angeles Sparks was named the 2004
Cascade Dish & Assist Award winner. After dethroning Sacramento's Ticha
Penicheiro, who had led the WNBA in assists in each of her six seasons, Teasley
finished the 2004 season dishing out 6.1 assists per game.
Defensive
Player of the YearPresented by Tampax
Los Angeles Sparks center Lisa
Leslie was named the 2004 WNBA Defensive
Player of the Year for the first time in her career. She was previously
honored as the league's top defender in 2000 and 2002. Swoopes led the WNBA
in steals this season with 2.48 per game.
Bud
Light Peak Performers
Los Angeles' Lisa Leslie and
Seattle's Lauren Jackson
have been named the 2003 WNBA Bud Light
Peak Performers. Jackson led the WNBA in scoring with 20.5 points a game.
Leslie led the WNBA in rebounding, finishing with 9.9 boards per game.
Kim
Perrot Sportsmanship Award presented by Secret
Teresa Edwards of the Minnesota
Lynx was named the recipient of the 2004 Kim
Perrot Sportsmanship Award presented by Secret. In only her second WNBA
season, the five-time Olympian and 40 year-old guard provided much-needed leadership
for a young Lynx team.
Coach
of the Year
Minnesota Lynx coach Suzie
McConnell Serio was named 2004 WNBA Coach
of the Year on September 25 after leading her team to its second consecutive
playoff appearance. Despite the loss of Olympian Katie Smith in mid-July, the
Lynx finished in third place in the Western Conference.