Atlanta's Angel McCoughtry, Minnesota's Seimone Augustus Named WNBA Eastern and Western Conference Players of the Week

NEW YORK, July 25, 2011 – Angel McCoughtry of the Atlanta Dream and Seimone Augustus of the Minnesota Lynx were named the WNBA’s Eastern and Western Conference Players of the Week, respectively, for regular season games played Monday, July 18 through Thursday, July 21.

McCoughtry tied for first in the league in steals (4.0), and among Eastern Conference players, tied for first in scoring (24.0 ppg), while leading the Dream to back-to-back victories and a 2-0 record. This marks her first Player of the Week award in 2011 and the third in her three seasons.

On July 19, McCoughtry recorded 15 points and had a season-high five steals to go along with three rebounds and two assists in an 84-74 victory over the Indiana Fever. The following day, in an 86-79 road-win against the Washington Mystics, McCoughtry scored a season-high 33 points, grabbed three rebounds, dished out three assists and had three steals.

This season, McCoughtry is averaging 17.3 points, 4.8 rebounds, 2.0 assists, and 2.5 steals.

Augustus led the Lynx to a 1-0 record for the week, and finished first in the league in scoring (25.0 ppg), and among Western Conference players, ranked third in field goal percentage (.733 on 11-for-15 shooting).

In a 106-98 road-victory over conference rival Phoenix Mercury on July 20, Augustus established personal season-highs in points (25), rebounds (six) and assists (four). Her field goal with 7:23 to play in the fourth quarter was also the 1,128th of her career, which broke Katie Smith’s all-time franchise record.

The pivotal win helped the Lynx move into first place in the Western Conference at 10-4, the league’s best record as teams begin action again tomorrow, following the All-Star break. It was also the Lynx’s third straight victory away from Target Center, matching the longest road-winning streak in team history.

This marks the first time Augustus has won the honor this season, and fifth of her career in six seasons.

Other candidates for WNBA Players of the Week were Chicago’s Epiphanny Prince, Connecticut’s Renee Montgomery, Phoenix’s Penny Taylor and Washington’s Crystal Langhorne.