Taj McWilliams-Franklin Named WNBA Player of the Week
McWilliams-Franklin helped the Sun extend their winning streak to a franchise-record 10 games by averaging 16.7 points, 10.7 rebounds, 2.0 assists and 1.0 blocks on three games for the week. During that span she also shot 55.0 percent from field-goal range (22-for-40) and 66.7 percent from the free-throw line (6-for-9). The Sun now hold the best record in the league at 24-6.
On August 6, McWilliams-Franklin recorded her career-high tenth double-double of the season with 21 points and 13 rebounds. She also grabbed 2 assists and made 10-of-14 in an 86-67 victory over the Houston Comets.
Two days earlier, the Sun defeated the Western Conference leading Los Angeles Sparks, 72-63, on the strength of McWilliams-Franklin’s game-high 22 points. With 9 boards on the evening, she hit the 257 mark for the year, topping her own franchise record for total rebounds in a season (248 set in 2005). She currently has 270 rebounds with four games left to play.
McWilliams-Franklin is tied for second place in the league for rebounds per game (9.6), and ranks third in total rebounds (270) and double-doubles (10). She is also 31 points away from 3,000 points in her career and will likely be the 14th player to reach the milestone.
Other candidates for WNBA Player of the Week were Charlotte’s Monique Currie, Detroit’s Cheryl Ford, Houston’s Michelle Snow, Indiana’s Tamika Catchings, Phoenix’s Diana Taurasi, Sacramento’s Yolanda Griffith, San Antonio’s Sophia Young and Seattle’s Janell Burse.
About the WNBA
Featuring 14 teams and
the greatest female basketball players from around the world, the WNBA is the
longest-running and most successful women’s professional team sports league
in U.S. history. The WNBA’s 10th Anniversary season includes appointment
viewing on Tuesday nights as ESPN2 will televise 14 WNBA games – including
five doubleheaders – on Tuesdays this spring/summer. WNBA games and programming
also will be shown in 198 countries via 79 telecasters in 34 languages this season.
The 2006 WNBA All-Star Game took place on July 12 at Madison Square Garden in
New York City.
