NEW YORK, Oct. 24, 2023 – Chicago Sky center Elizabeth Williams has been named the recipient of the 2023 Kim Perrot Sportsmanship Award, the WNBA announced today. Williams has earned the honor for the first time and joins Swin Cash (2013) as players to win the award with the Sky.

The Kim Perrot Sportsmanship Award is presented each season to a player who exemplifies the ideals of sportsmanship on the court, including ethical behavior, fair play and integrity. The award is named for the late Kim Perrot, who helped guide the Houston Comets to their first two WNBA championships before passing away in August 1999 after a seven-month battle with cancer.

“I’m extremely humbled to be named this year’s recipient of the Kim Perrot Sportsmanship award,” said Williams.  “Kim displayed the highest level of respect for the game with her competitive nature and willingness to impact her local community as well. Her spirit lives on, and I’m grateful to share this honor with past recipients like Sylvia Fowles, Nneka Ogwumike, Swin Cash, and many others. All of these women demonstrated high levels of resilience, leadership, and sportsmanship on and off the court. It is truly an honor.”

Williams received 15 votes from a national panel of 60 sportswriters and broadcasters. Washington Mystics guard Ariel Atkins finished second with eight votes. Las Vegas Aces forward Alysha Clark finished third with seven votes, and Atlanta Dream forward Monique Billings and Seattle Storm guard Sami Whitcomb each received five votes.

In her ninth WNBA season and first with the Sky, Williams averaged 9.8 points, 5.8 rebounds and 2.5 assists per game. Williams, the fourth overall pick in the 2015 WNBA Draft, was the 2016 Kia WNBA Most Improved Player and a member of the 2020 WNBA All-Defensive First Team.

Below are the voting results for the 2023 WNBA Kim Perrot Sportsmanship Award and a list of past recipients.

2023 KIM PERROT SPORTSMANSHIP AWARD RESULTS

Player                               Team                                            Votes

Elizabeth Williams            Chicago Sky                                  15

Ariel Atkins                        Washington Mystics                        8

Alysha Clark                       Las Vegas Aces                              7

Monique Billings                Atlanta Dream                                5

Sami Whitcomb                  Seattle Storm                                  5

Rachel Banham                   Minnesota Lynx                              4

Karlie Samuelson                Los Angeles Sparks                         4

Rebecca Allen                    Connecticut Sun                              3

Natasha Howard                 Dallas Wings                                  3

Courtney Vandersloot         New York Liberty                           3

Aliyah Boston                     Indiana Fever                                  2

Megan Gustafson                Phoenix Mercury                            1         

KIM PERROT SPORTSMANSHIP AWARD WINNERS

2023              Elizabeth Williams            Chicago Sky

2022              Sylvia Fowles                     Minnesota Lynx

2021              Nneka Ogwumike               Los Angeles Sparks

2020              Nneka Ogwumike               Los Angeles Sparks

2019              Nneka Ogwumike               Los Angeles Sparks

2018              Sue Bird                             Seattle Storm

2017              Sue Bird                             Seattle Storm

2016              Tamika Catchings               Indiana Fever

2015              DeLisha Milton-Jones         Atlanta Dream

2014              Becky Hammon                  San Antonio Stars

2013              Swin Cash                          Chicago Sky

Tamika Catchings               Indiana Fever

2012              Kara Lawson                      Connecticut Sun

2011              Sue Bird                             Seattle Storm

Ruth Riley                          San Antonio Stars

2010              Tamika Catchings               Indiana Fever

2009              Kara Lawson                      Sacramento Monarchs

2008              Vickie Johnson                   San Antonio Stars

2007              Tully Bevilaqua                  Indiana Fever

2006              Dawn Staley                       Houston Comets

2005              Taj McWilliams-Franklin    Connecticut Sun

2004              Teresa Edwards                  Minnesota Lynx

2003              Edna Campbell                   Sacramento Monarchs

2002              Jennifer Gillom                   Phoenix Mercury

2001              Sue Wicks                          New York Liberty

2000              Suzie McConnell Serio        Cleveland Rockers

1999              Dawn Staley                       Charlotte Sting

1998              Suzie McConnell Serio        Cleveland Rockers

1997              Haixia Zheng                      Los Angeles Sparks

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