DeWanna Bonner Named 2011 WNBA Sixth Woman of the Year

-- Phoenix Mercury Guard-Forward Named Top Reserve For Third Consecutive Year --

NEW YORK, Sept. 16, 2011 � Phoenix Mercury guard-forward DeWanna Bonner has been named the 2011 WNBA Sixth Woman of the Year, the league announced today. Bonner received 20 votes from a national panel of 40 sportswriters and broadcasters to earn the award. New York Liberty guard-forward Essence Carson and Connecticut Sun guard Kara Lawson received eight votes each, while Indiana Fever center Jessica Davenport garnered three votes and San Antonio Silver Stars guard Jia Perkins garnered one vote.

In honor of being named the Sixth Woman of the Year, Bonner will receive $5,000 and a specially-designed trophy from Tiffany & Co.

In 34 games this season, including 29 off the bench, Bonner averaged 10.7 points and a career-high 7.0 rebounds. Bonner also shot a career-best .909 from the free throw line. Her 7.0 rpg ranked second on the Mercury behind Candace Dupree�s 8.2 rpg.

Bonner recorded five 20-point games this season and scored at least 10 points off the bench 12 times; she scored a career-high 25 points on two occasions. Bonner had a three-game stretch (Aug. 7-11) in which she outscored the opposing team�s bench each time. She recorded five double-doubles and posted double-digit rebounds nine times, leading the team in boards 11 times. .

On Sept. 6, she earned the first WNBA Player of the Week Award of her career for games played Aug. 29-Sept. 4, as she ranked third in the WNBA and second in the West in rebounding (9.3 rpg) while her 19.0 points per game placed her fourth overall and third in the Conference in scoring.

A standout at Auburn, Bonner was drafted fifth overall by the Mercury in the 2009 WNBA Draft. As a senior, she was named the Southeastern Conference Player of the Year and led the SEC in scoring, becoming the first Auburn player to do so. Bonner was a three-time All-SEC First Team member during her four-year stint as a Tiger.

Below are the results of the 2011 WNBA Sixth Woman of the Year voting and a list of previous winners:

2011 WNBA SIXTH WOMAN OF THE YEAR RESULTS

WNBA SIXTH WOMAN OF THE YEAR WINNERS

* Inaugural award