Minnesota�s Suzie McConnell Serio Named 2004 WNBA Coach of the Year

NEW YORK, September 25 � The WNBA announced today that Minnesota Lynx Head Coach Suzie McConnell Serio was named the 2004 WNBA Coach of the Year, receiving 15 of a possible 48 votes from a national panel of sportswriters and broadcasters. McConnell Serio won the award by the closest margin in the history of the award, as she received one vote more than runner-up Mike Thibault (14), head coach of the Connecticut Sun.

McConnell Serio coached the Lynx to the third best record in the WNBA (18-16) and led them back to the playoffs for a second consecutive year. The Lynx earned the third seed in the West despite being without Olympian and perennial WNBA All-Star Katie Smith, who missed the final 11 games of the season due to injury. Minnesota�s 18 wins tied the franchise record set last season with McConnell Serio also at the helm. Below are the complete results of the 2004 WNBA Coach of the Year voting and past recipients:

COACH OF THE YEAR RESULTS
15	Suzie McConnell Serio	Minnesota Lynx
14	Mike Thibault	Connecticut Sun
6	Carrie Graf	Phoenix Mercury
4	Anne Donovan	Seattle Storm
3	Karleen Thompson	Los Angeles Sparks
3	Patty Coyle	New York Liberty
2	Michael Adams	Washington Mystics
1	Van Chancellor	Houston Comets

COACH OF THE YEAR WINNERS
2004	Suzie McConnell Serio	Minnesota Lynx
2003	Bill Laimbeer	Detroit Shock
2002	Marianne Stanley	Washington Mystics
2001	Dan Hughes	Cleveland Rockers
2000	Michael Cooper	Los Angeles Sparks
1999	Van Chancellor	Houston Comets
1998	Van Chancellor	Houston Comets
1997	Van Chancellor	Houston Comets

Four networks will carry 2004 WNBA Playoffs action, which tips off on September 24. ABC, ESPN2, NBA TV and Oxygen provide coverage through the Conference Finals. The 2004 WNBA Finals will be televised exclusively on ESPN2.