Who are the top five players? Who is the best coach? Which team has the best chance of dethroning the Sacramento Monarchs? Which player would GMs sign first if they were starting a team today?

Once again, WNBA.com posed questions to the league's general managers to learn what the people who make the decisions really think about these topics and more.



MAY 18 RESULTS

Which player in the WNBA would you want taking a shot with the game on the line?

Diana Taurasi - 15.4%

Lauren Jackson - 15.4%

Deanna Nolan - 15.4%

7 players tied - 7.7%
Which one player acquisition will make the biggest impact in 2006?

Nikki Teasley - 54.5%

Seimone Augustus - 36.4%

Kedra Holland-Corn- 9.1%

Who is the toughest player in the WNBA?

Yolanda Griffith – 36.4%

Tamika Catchings – 18.2%

Katie Smith - 9.1%

Cheryl Ford - 9.1%

Lauren Jackson - 9.1%

LaTasha Byears - 9.1%
Who will win the 2006 MVP?

Lauren Jackson – 45.5%

Tamika Catchings - 18.2%

Lisa Leslie - 18.2%

Katie Smith - 9.1%

Tina Thompson - 9.1%


Which team made the best offseason moves overall?

Washington - 44.4%

Indiana– 22.2%

San Antonio – 22.2%

Detroit - 11.1%
Which team will win the Eastern Conference?

Detroit – 45.5%

Connecticut - 27.2%

Indiana - 18.2%

Washington - 9.1%

Which team will win the Western Conference?

Sacramento - 45.5%

Houston - 27.2%

Seattle - 18.2%

Los Angeles - 9.1%
Which team will win the WNBA Finals in 2006?

Connecticut - 18.2%

Detroit - 18.2%

Houston - 18.2%

Sacramento - 18.2%

Seattle - 18.2%

Indiana - 9.1%



MAY 17 RESULTS

Which player is best at making her teammates better?

Lindsay Whalen - 36.4%

Ticha Penicheiro - 9.1%

Swin Cash - 9.1%

Tamika Catchings - 9.1%

Helen Darling - 9.1%

Sue Bird - 9.1%

Lauren Jackson - 9.1%

Katie Smith - 9.1%
Which player do you think has the greatest hunger to win a championship in 2006?

Tamika Catchings - 25%

Dawn Staley - 16.7%

Nykesha Sales - 8.3%

Taj McWilliams-Franklin - 8.3%

Sheryl Swoopes - 8.3%

Tina Thompson - 8.3%

Vickie Johnson - 8.3%

Yolanda Griffith - 8.3%

Which player is the best on-court leader?

Dawn Staley – 18.2%

Lisa Leslie – 18.2%

Lindsay Whalen – 9.1%

Ticha Penicheiro – 9.1%

Yolanda Griffith – 9.1%

Sue Bird – 9.1%

Tina Thompson– 9.1%

Sheryl Swoopes– 9.1%
Which player is the best lockerroom leader?

Tully Bevilaqua – 14.3%

Swin Cash – 14.3%

Ticha Penicheiro – 14.3%

Sue Bird– 14.3%

Yolanda Griffith – 14.3%

Diana Taurasi– 14.3%

Taj McWilliams-Franklin – 14.3%

Which player has the best court smarts?

Dawn Staley – 27.3%

Sue Bird - 27.3%

Sheryl Swoopes - 18.2 %

Lindsay Whalen - 9.1%

Tamika Catchings- 9.1%

Kara Lawson - 9.1%
Who is the best perimeter defender in the WNBA?

Sheryl Swoopes – 27.3%

Alana Beard - 18.2%

Deanna Nolan - 18.2%

Katie Douglas - 18.2%

Tully Bevilaqua - 9.1%

Ticha Penicheiro - 9.1%

Who is the best interior defender in the WNBA?

Lisa Leslie – 54.5%

Yolanda Griffith - 36.4%

Margo Dydek - 9.1%



MAY 16 RESULTS

Who is the best point guard in the WNBA?

Sue Bird - 45.5%

Lindsay Whalen - 45.5%

Nikki Teasley - 9.1%
Who is the best shooting guard in the WNBA?

Deanna Nolan - 63.6%

Diana Taurasi - 18.2%

Alana Beard - 9.1%

Kara Lawson- 9.1%

Who is the best small forward in the WNBA?

Tamika Catchings - 63.6%

Sheryl Swoopes - 27.3%

Swin Cash - 9.1%
Who is the best power forward in the WNBA?

Lauren Jackson - 63.6%

Cheryl Ford - 9.1%

Taj McWilliams-Franklin - 9.1%

Tamika Catchings- 9.1%

DeLisha Milton-Jones- 9.1%

Who is the best center in the WNBA?

Lisa Leslie - 63.6%

Yolanda Griffith - 36.4 %
Who is the best head coach in the WNBA?

Anne Donovan - 50%

Mike Thibault - 30%

John Whisenant - 20%

Which head coach is the best manager/motivator of people?

Bill Laimbeer - 20%

Anne Donovan - 20%

Van Chancellor - 20%

Mike Thibault - 20%

John Whisenant - 20%
Which head coach is the best strategic/X's and O's coach?

Richie Adubato - 44.4%

Mike Thibault - 33.3%

Dan Hughes - 11.1%

Anne Donovan - 11.1%

Which head coach is the best at developing young players?

Mike Thibault - 30%

Dan Hughes - 20%

Suzie McConnell Serio - 20%

John Whisenant - 10%

Richie Adubato - 10%

Anne Donovan - 10%
Which active player would make the best head coach someday?

Dawn Staley - 90%

Charlotte Smith - 10%



MAY 15 RESULTS

Which WNBA team will be the most fun to watch in 2006?

Phoenix - 36.4%

Connecticut - 18.2%

Indiana - 9.1%

Detroit - 9.1%

San Antonio- 9.1%

Sacramento - 9.1%
Who has the best athleticism?

Deanna Nolan - 90.9%

DeLisha Milton-Jones- 9.1%

Who has the best post moves?

Lisa Leslie – 80%

Lauren Jackson – 10%

Taj McWilliams-Franklin– 10%
Who is the best pure shooter?

Katie Smith – 40%

Diana Taurasi – 30%

Anna DeForge – 10%

Sheryl Swoopes– 10%

Crystal Robinson – 10%


Who is the fastest with the ball?

Deanna Nolan – 44.4%

Shannon Johnson – 11.1%

Sheryl Swoopes – 11.1%

Ticha Penicheiro – 11.1%

Kedra Holland-Corn – 11.1%

Temeka Johnson – 11.1%
Who is the best fast-break finisher?

Lindsay Whalen – 20%

Nykesha Sales – 20%

Deanna Nolan – 20%

Michelle Snow – 10%

Tamika Catchings – 10%

Swin Cash – 10%

Katie Smith – 10%


Who has the single most effective individual offensive move in the game today?

Sheryl Swoopes – 22.2%

Diana Taurasi – 22.2%

Lisa Leslie – 11.1%

Taj McWilliams-Franklin – 11.1%

DeMya Walker – 11.1%

Deanna Nolan – 11.1%

Tamika Catchings – 11.1%
Who is the best passing big man?

Taj McWilliams-Franklin– 27.3%

Nicole Ohlde – 18.2%

Lisa Leslie – 9.1%

Ruth Riley – 9.1%

Margo Dydek – 9.1%

Lauren Jackson – 9.1%



MAY 12 RESULTS

Who will win the 2006 Rookie of the
Year award?

Seimone Augustus- 63.6%

Cappie Pondexter- 18.2%

Sophia Young- 18.2%
If you were starting a franchise today and could sign any player in the WNBA, who would it be?

Lauren Jackson- 45.5%

Tamika Catchings - 27.3%

Seimone Augustus- 9.1%

Deanna Nolan- 9.1%


Which rookie is most likely to be a "sleeper" success?

Sherill Baker- 40%

La'Tangela Atkinson- 10%

Candice Dupree- 10%

Ann Strother- 10%

Lisa Willis- 10%

Sophia Young- 10%

Shanna Zolman- 10%

Who are the most underrated players in the WNBA?

Katie Douglas- 13.6%

Michelle Snow- 9.1%

Nykesha Sales- 9.1%

Vickie Johnson- 9.1%

Taj McWilliams-Franklin- 9.1%

Betty Lennox- 9.1%

Penny Taylor- 9.1%


Who is the best international player in the WNBA?

Lauren Jackson- 90.9%

Maria Stepanova- 9.1%
Which team will be most improved in 2006?

San Antonio Silver Stars - 36.4%

Charlotte Sting - 27.3%

Minnesota Lynx- 18.2%

Detroit Shock - 9.1%

Los Angeles Sparks- 9.1%


Which player is most likely to have a breakout season in 2006?

Tan White- 20%

Asjha Jones- 10%

Kara Braxton- 10%

Alana Beard- 10%

Tamecka Dixon- 10%

Seimone Augustus - 10%

Jia Perkins - 10%

LaToya Thomas- 10%

Nikki Teasley- 10%
Who will win the Defensive Player of the Year Award?

Tamika Catchings - 63.6%

Alana Beard - 18.2%

Ticha Penicheiro- 9.1%

Deanna Nolan- 11.1%



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