She is called upon to provide the spark, to give her team a jolt of energy when she enters the game. She is the leader of the subs, the first name the coach yells from the sideline, the first to head to the scorer’s table to check in.
This season the WNBA is honoring the league’s top bench player with the Sixth Woman of the Year award, recognizing the player that makes the biggest impact on her team in a reserve role.
Below are six leading candidates for the inaugural Sixth Woman of the Year award. Did we leave your favorite sixth woman off the list? Want to help build your favorite player's case for the award? Sound off about it here in the Fan Voice forums!
Note: Statistics are current through games on August 14, 2007
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|
|
|
GP |
GS |
MPG |
PPG |
FG% |
3FG& |
RPG |
APG |
SPG |
BPG |
| 31 |
0 |
15.3 |
9.0 |
.402 |
.419 |
1.3 |
0.8 |
0.4 |
0.0 |
Breakdown: San Antonio’s Shanna Crossley may only play 15 minutes per game, but she makes the most of her time. The second-year sharpshooter ranks eighth in the WNBA in 3-point shooting percentage (0.419) and third in 3-pointers made (65). Crossley has scored in double-figures 10 times and has led the Silver Stars in scoring four times this season.
During San Antonio's first five games of August Crossley played extended minutes and her production soared. She logged 26 minutes a night during the stretch and averaged 19.6 points and posted a career-high 26 points on August 4 against the Los Angeles Sparks. |
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|
|
|
|
GP |
GS |
MPG |
PPG |
FG% |
3FG& |
RPG |
APG |
SPG |
BPG |
| 16 |
0 |
27.1 |
11.9 |
.433 |
.294 |
3.1 |
2.7 |
1.3 |
0.4 |
Breakdown: Tamecka Dixon joined the Houston Comets on July 2 as a free agent and played as if she’d been there since training camp. The Comets were 4-12 when Dixon signed and have gone 8-8 since her arrival. In her 11th WNBA season, Dixon is averaging 11.9 points a game, a point-and-a-half more than her career average. She has led the team in scoring twice and posted double-figures in scoring nine times.
While Dixon’s arrival was not enough to push the Comets into the playoff picture, it brought veteran leadership to an extremely young backcourt. Dixon’s impact on starting point guard Crystal Smith, in her second season, and rookie guard Erin Grant may prove more valuable than her dozen points a contest for the Comets. |
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|
|
|
|
GP |
GS |
MPG |
PPG |
FG% |
3FG& |
RPG |
APG |
SPG |
BPG |
| 31 |
0 |
22.8 |
11.1 |
.372 |
.341 |
2.3 |
2.0 |
0.9 |
0.3 |
Breakdown: In her fifth season in the WNBA, Sacramento’s Kara Lawson is having a career year. She is currently averaging a career-high 11.1 points per game, second on the Monarchs behind Nicole Powell. Lawson, who has come off the bench in each of the Monarchs’ 31 games, has led the team in scoring 10 times and scored in double-figures in 15 games. She tied her career-high in scoring with 24 points against the Houston Comets on June 11.
Lawson was also the only bench player to be selected to the 2007 WNBA All-Star team. When Seattle’s Sue Bird could not attend the game due to injury, WNBA President Donna Orender selected Lawson to replace Bird on the Western Conference squad. |
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|
|
|
|
GP |
GS |
MPG |
PPG |
FG% |
3FG& |
RPG |
APG |
SPG |
BPG |
| 31 |
5 |
22.9 |
11.8 |
.477 |
.452 |
3.2 |
2.4 |
1.6 |
0.2 |
Breakdown: Chicago’s Jia Perkins is making a case for the less-is-more argument. Last season she started 27 of 30 games for the Sky, averaging 9.4 points and 3.6 in 28 minutes per contest. As the Sky’s sixth woman in 2007, Perkins has increased her scoring to a career-high 11.8 points, maintained her rebounding prowess with 3.2 boards a night and has done it in less than 23 minutes per game.
Perkins has scored in double figures 17 times, including each game but one in the month of July. She has led the team in scoring nine times, including her career-high 39-point performance in the Sky’s double-overtime victory over Sacramento on June 29. |
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|
|
|
|
GP |
GS |
MPG |
PPG |
FG% |
3FG& |
RPG |
APG |
SPG |
BPG |
| 32 |
0 |
25.3 |
11.5 |
.476 |
.000 |
5.7 |
1.7 |
0.8 |
0.9 |
Breakdown: Plenette Pierson is a prime example of the depth of the defending champion Detroit Shock. When forward Cheryl Ford was lost for the remainder of the season on July 20, many thought Detroit may suffer a letdown down the stretch without the All-Star MVP in the lineup. The Shock has gone 9-3 during that stretch and the play of Pierson has been key to maintaining dominance along the front line.
Pierson is averaging 11.5 points and 5.7 rebounds, both career highs. She has scored in double-figures 18 times and has led the team in scoring four times this season. She has also played well against some the league’s best teams, posting her season-high 22 points against Western Conference powers Sacramento and San Antonio. |
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|
|
|
|
GP |
GS |
MPG |
PPG |
FG% |
3FG& |
RPG |
APG |
SPG |
BPG |
| 31 |
6 |
24.0 |
11.2 |
.398 |
.345 |
2.6 |
1.7 |
1.1 |
0.3 |
Breakdown: Indiana’s Tan White is in her third season as the Fever’s energizer off of the bench and is having her best season as a pro, setting career-highs in nearly every statistical category. She has scored in double figures 17 times this season, eclipsing the 20-point plateau on four occasions, and has led the team in scoring 10 times
White was recently inserted into the starting lineup due to the injury to All-Star Tamika Catchings and has stepped up her production to go along with the extra minutes. In 25 games as a sub, she is averaging 10.2 points in 21.8 minutes. In her six games in the starting lineup, she is averaging 15.2 points in 32.8 minutes. With Catchings still recovering from injury with the playoffs around the corner, the Fever will continue to rely on White to step up. |
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More Candidates
Sherill Baker, Guard, Los Angeles Sparks: 19.9 MPG, 8.1 PPG, 2.8 RBG, 3.0 APG
Ashley Battle, Forward, New York Liberty: 22.4 MPG, 7.6 PPG, 3.8 RBG, 1.6 APG
Tamara James, Guard/Forward, Washington Mystics: 13.3 MPG, 5.5 PPG, 1.6 RBG, 1.1 APG
Evanthia Maltsi, Guard/Forward, Connecticut Sun: 19.3 MPG, 6.0 PPG, 2.7 RBG, 1.4 APG
Shay Murphy, Guard, Minnesota Lynx: 13.3 MPG, 5.3 PPG, 3.3 RBG, 0.5 APG
Kelly Mazzante, Guard, Phoenix Mercury: 14.1 MPG, 5.2 PPG, 1.5 RBG, 1.1 APG
Wendy Palmer, Forward, Seattle Storm: 14.2 MPG, 4.7 PPG, 4.3 RBG, 0.5 APG
