2008 WNBA All-Defensive
Team Selections Announced

-- Two-Time Defensive Players of the Year Lisa Leslie and Tamika Catchings Highlight First Team --

NEW YORK, Sept. 19, 2008 -- The 2008 All-Defensive Team was announced today by the WNBA, headlined by Los Angeles Sparks center Lisa Leslie, the 2004 and 2008 Defensive Player of the Year. Leslie garnered 21 points while two-time Defensive Player of the Year Tamika Catchings finished second with 16 points.

Rounding out the All-Defensive First Team are San Antonio Silver Stars forward Sophia Young (12 points), Sacramento Monarchs guard Ticha Penicheiro (11 points) and Indiana Fever guard Tully Bevilaqua (11 points).

For Leslie, this marks her second selection to the All-Defensive First Team (2006) after being selected to the Second Team in 2005. Catchings is the only player to be named to the First Team in each of the four years the team has been named (2005-2008). Bevilaqua makes her third appearance on the All-Defensive First Team (2005 and 2006; Second Team, 2007). Both Young and Penicheiro were selected to the first All-Defensive Team of their respective careers.

The WNBA All-Defensive Second Team consists of Chicago Sky center Sylvia Fowles (12 points), Detroit Shock guard Deanna Nolan (10 points), Seattle Storm forward Lauren Jackson (nine points), Sacramento Monarchs forward Rebekkah Brunson (eight points) and Detroit Shock guard Katie Smith (eight points).

Jackson was named the 2007 Defensive Player of the Year and was a member of the 2007 All-Defensive First Team while Nolan was selected to the First Team in 2007 and the Second Team in 2005 and 2006. Brunson was a member of the 2007 Second Team. Fowles, a rookie, and Smith were both voted to the Second Team for the first time.

The fourth annual WNBA All-Defensive Team was voted on by a panel of the WNBA's 14 head coaches, who selected First and Second Teams by position. Coaches were not permitted to vote for players from their own team. Two points were awarded for a First Team vote and one point was awarded for a Second Team vote.

Below are the results for the 2008 WNBA All-Defensive Teams:

About the WNBA
Comprised of 14 teams, the WNBA is the most successful women's professional team sports league in the world. The WNBA concluded its 12th regular season with increases in key metrics including attendance, ratings and web traffic. The 2008 WNBA Playoffs presented by adidas began Thursday, Sept. 18 when both the Eastern and Western Conference Semifinals tipped off with games airing on ESPN2 and NBA TV.

Through WNBA Cares, the WNBA is deeply committed to creating programs that improve the quality of life for all people, with a special emphasis on programs that promote a healthy lifestyle and positive body image, increase breast and women's health awareness, support youth and family development, and focus on education. For more information on the WNBA, log on to www.wnba.com.