Take a look back at the top 10 plays of the decade.

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Top 10 Plays of the Decade

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League Champion: Phoenix Mercury (Third title in franchise history)
Top Draft Pick: Chiney Ogwumike (CON, Stanford University)
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<a href="https://www.wnba.com/awards2014/">Awards</a>
<ul>
<li>Most Valuable Player: Maya Moore (MIN)</li>
<li>Rookie of the Year: Chiney Ogwumike (CON)</li>
<li>Defensive Player of the Year: Brittney Griner (PHX) 1st DPOY</li>
<li>Sixth Woman of the Year: Allie Quigley (CHI) 1st Sixth</li>
<li>Most Improved Player: Skylar Diggins-Smith (TUL)</li>
<li>Coach of the Year: Sandy Brondello (PHX)</li>
</ul>
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Top Players
<ul>
<li>All-WNBA First Team: Skylar Diggins-Smith (TUL), Brittney Griner (PHO), Maya Moore (MIN), Candace Parker (LAS), Diana Taurasi (PHX)</li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li>All-WNBA Second Team: Seimone Augustus (MIN), Tina Charles (NYL), Danielle Robinson (SAS), Nneka Ogwumike (LAS), Danielle Robinson Angel McCoughtry (tie) (ATL), Lindsay Whalen (tie) (MIN)</li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li>All-Rookie Team: Bria Hartley (WAS), Kayla McBride (SAS), Chiney Ogwumike (CON), Odyssey Sims (TUL), Alyssa Thomas (CON)</li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li>All-Defense First Team: Brittney Griner (PHX), Briann January (IND), Sancho Lyttle (ATL), Angel McCoughtry (ATL), Tanisha Wright (SEA)</li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li>All-Defense Second Team: Alana Beard (LAS), Tamika Catchings (IND), Sylvia Fowles (CHI), Maya Moore (MIN), Danielle Robinson (SAS)</li>
</ul>
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Stats Leaders
<ul>
<li>Points Per Game: Maya Moore (MIN): 23.9</li>
<li>Rebounds Per Game: Courtney Paris (TUL): 10.2</li>
<li>Assists Per Game: Diana Taurasi (PHX): 5.6</li>
<li>Steals Per Game: Angel McCoughtry (ATL): 2.4</li>
<li>Blocks Per Game: Brittney Griner (PHX): 3.8</li>
</ul>
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Regular Season
The year began with two key business transactions. The first took place in February when the WNBA and NBA Board of Governors approved the sale of the Los Angeles Sparks by an investment group led by Los Angeles Lakers legend Earvin “Magic” Johnson.
A month later, the WNBA and the Players Association announced an agreement on a new collective bargaining agreement with an eight-year term beginning in 2014, with both sides having the ability to opt-out after the sixth year. Among the key elements in the new CBA is the expansion of rosters from 11 to 12 players per team. In addition, the new agreement, like the expired CBA, includes a revenue-sharing component should league revenues hit agreed-upon benchmarks.
After posting a franchise-worst 10-24 record in 2013, <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SnjoCzFMaYY">the Connecticut Sun won the Draft Lottery</a> and with the top pick in the 2014 WNBA Draft on April 14,<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9YWwTyX01ro"> they selected Chiney Ogwumike of Stanford University.</a> Ogwumike and her older sister, Nneka – the No. 1 overall pick in the 2012 Draft by the Los Angeles Sparks – joined NFL stars Peyton and Eli Manning as the only siblings selected with the top pick in a North American professional sports league draft.
<a href="https://www.wnba.com/draft2014/">The Tulsa Shock drafted Odyssey Sims of Baylor with the No. 2 pick</a> and the San Antonio Stars (after dropping the ‘Silver’ from their team name) selected Kayla McBride of Notre Dame with the No. 3 pick.
After opening the season 6-3, the Phoenix Mercury put together the second-longest win streak in WNBA history as they won 16 straight games from June 15 to July 29. Only the 2001 Los Angeles Sparks had a longer win streak at 18 games. After losing three times in their first nine games, the Mercury only lost two games in their final 25 games of the season as they finished the year at 29-5.
Not only did that lead the league in 2014 (Minnesota finished second at 25-9, the only other 20-win team), but also marked the fourth-highest single-season win percentage in the history of the WNBA.
0.900: Houston Comets, 1998 (27-3)
0.875: Los Angeles Sparks, 2000 (28-4)
0.875: Los Angeles Sparks, 2001 (28-4)
0.853: Phoenix Mercury, 2014 (29-5)
In the final month of her 16-year WNBA career, San Antonio guard Becky Hammon was hired by the NBA’s San Antonio Spurs as an assistant coach under head coach Gregg Popovich. Hammon became the first full-time, paid female assistant coach in NBA history.
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All-Star
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The 2014 WNBA All-Star Game took place at the US Airways Center in Phoenix and offered a bit of history. In the first WNBA All-Star Game to go to overtime, the East edged out the West, 125-124. Shoni Schimmel &#8211; a reserve guard for the Atlanta Dream that was voted into the game as a starter by the fans – became the first rookie to win All-Star MVP after a record-breaking performance.
“Showtime” Shoni set a WNBA All-Star record with 29 points and dished out a game-high eight assists in 28 minutes on the court. Her 29 points were topped by Maya Moore a year later, but Schimmel still holds (or is tied) for the All-Star record in field goals made (11), field goals attempted (24), 3-pointers made (7) and 3-pointers attempted (16).
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Playoffs
<ul>
<li>West Semifinals: Minnesota Lynx def. San Antonio Stars, 2-0</li>
<li>West Semifinals: Phoenix Mercury def. Los Angeles Sparks, 2-0</li>
<li>East Semifinals: Chicago Sky def. Atlanta Dream, 2-1</li>
<li>East Semifinals: Indiana Fever def. Washington Mystics, 2-0</li>
<li>West Finals: Phoenix Mercury def. Minnesota Lynx, 2-1</li>
<li>East Finals: Chicago Sky def. Indiana Fever, 2-1</li>
<li>Finals: Phoenix Mercury def. Chicago Sky, 3-0</li>
</ul>
The dominance displayed by the Phoenix Mercury throughout the regular season carried over to the playoffs. After sweeping the Sparks in two games in the Western Conference Semifinals, the Mercury faced their toughest test as they had to knock off the defending champion Lynx in order to advance to their third-ever WNBA Finals.
The Mercury took Game 1, 85-71, in Phoenix behind double-doubles from Brittney Griner and Penny Taylor. The Lynx responded in Game 2 behind a combined 55 points from Maya Moore and Seimone Augustus to force a decisive Game 3 back in Phoenix. However, the Mercury were too much at home – where they lost just once all season – as Diana Taurasi (31 points) and Griner (22) led Phoenix to a 96-78 win and a trip to the Finals.
In the East, the No. 4 seed Chicago Sky entered the playoffs at just 15-19, but got hot at the right time as they knocked off the Atlanta Dream in the East Semifinals and the Indiana Fever in the East Finals to advance to their first-ever WNBA Finals.
But Chicago’s good fortune did not continue against Phoenix as the Mercury were dominant through the first two games of the series, winning by 21 and 29 points, respectively. Game 3 was a much closer contest, but with the game on the line, the Mercury gave the ball to Diana Taurasi and she delivered with 14 of her 24 points coming in the fourth quarter, highlighted by an old-fashioned three-point play with 14 seconds remaining that broke an 82-82 tie and sealed the third championship in franchise history for the Mercury. <a href="https://www.wnba.com/playoffs/2014/diana_taurasi_finals_shot_2014_09_13.html">Taurasi was named Finals MVP for the second time in her illustrious career.</a>

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WNBA Decade In Review: 2014

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The New York Liberty and Shoni Schimmel have released the following statement regarding the 2017 WNBA season:
NEW YORK LIBERTY TEAM PRESIDENT ISIAH THOMAS
“Shoni Schimmel has informed us that it is her desire to take time away from the game during the 2017 WNBA season. Shoni will continue to have the full support of the New York Liberty. We look forward to continuing to work with Shoni during her time away from the game.”
NEW YORK LIBERTY GUARD SHONI SCHIMMEL
“I&#8217;m very grateful to the New York Liberty for allowing me to take this season to deal with some personal issues. I look forward to rejoining them next year.”

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Liberty's Schimmel To Take Time Off

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Shoni Schimmel with the rejection vs. the Wings

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3-pts Made by Shoni Schimmel

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Schimmel Does What She Does From Way Outside

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Shoni Schimmel with the Full-Court Assist

Watch Shoni Schimmel sink a 3-pointer for the first points as a member of the Liberty

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Shoni Schimmel's First Basket for the New York Liberty

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New York sends a 2017 Second Round Draft Pick to Atlanta in exchange for two-time All-Star
NEW YORK, NY – MAY 2, 2016 – The New York Liberty has acquired All-Star point guard Shoni Schimmel from the Atlanta Dream in exchange for its 2017 second round draft pick, Team President Isiah Thomas announced today.
Schimmel, a 2014 WNBA First Round pick (No. 8 overall), two-time WNBA All-Star, and the Most Valuable Player of the 2014 All-Star Game, is a 3-point shooting threat and strong distributer of the basketball. In two WNBA seasons she has career averages of 8.0 ppg, 3.4 apg, and 1.5 3-pointers per game.
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“Shoni Schimmel has demonstrated she can shine on a big stage, and I am confident that with the leadership on our coaching staff and on our team she will thrive as a member of the New York Liberty playing at Madison Square Garden,” said Thomas. “Shoni is good fit for our style of play. Her long-range shooting will really allow us to spread the floor on the offensive end. She takes pride in giving back to the community and she shares the same core values we look for in every member of our team.”
During her rookie season in 2014, Schimmel appeared in 34 games, starting twice, while averaging 8.3 ppg and 3.6 apg. She followed that up with a 2015 campaign that saw her shoot 38.3 percent from 3-point range, averaging 7.6 ppg and 3.2 apg.
Schimmel scored a career-high 24 points against the Phoenix Mercury on August 13, 2014, and has hit five 3-pointers in a game on three occasions.

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Liberty Acquire Dream Guard Shoni Schimmel for Second-Round Draft Pick

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Shoni Schimmel

WNBA CAREER CAPSULE
• Two-time WNBA All-Star (2014, 2015) 
• Named MVP of the 2014 WNBA All-Star Game during her rookie season. 
• Career scoring average of 6.3 ppg 
• Averaged 51 3-pointers per season and 1.5 per game over her first two professional seasons 
• Scored career-high 24 points at Phoenix on August 13, 2014. 
• Named Eastern Conference Player of the Week on August 18, 2014. 
• Career high of 11 assists came against San Antonio on May 16, 2014. 
• Has hit five 3-pointers in a game on three occassions.
WNBA TRANSACTIONS: Selected by the Atlanta Dream with the No. 8 overall pick in the 2014 WNBA Draft. Traded from Atlanta to New York Liberty for 2017 2nd round pick
2016: Appeared in 17 games averaging 2.1 points and 4.5 minutes per game&#8230; Had three games hitting multiple 3-pointers&#8230; Finished the season shooting .563 from 3-point range (11-of-20)&#8230; Knocked down a pair of triples in 4 minutes in New York&#8217;s loss at Minnesota (7/15)&#8230;  Finished with 7 points, nailing a 3-pointer and hitting two clutch free throws with 13.4 to play to help the Liberty clinch a 91-88 victory over Dallas at Madison Square Garden (6/14)&#8230; Knocked down a pair of triples on the way to scoring a season-high 8 points on 10 minutes of action at Los Angeles (6/7)&#8230; Hit a pair of 3-pointers in 4 minutes of action in a win over Indiana (6/3)&#8230; Knocked down a three in five minutes of action during a win over Dallas in her New York Liberty debut at Madsion Square Garden (5/15).
2015 Season:  Played in 32 games with 16 starts…Led the Dream in assists (101)…49 made three-pointers was 6th most in the league…Season high 18 points against the Lynx (8/14)…Career average 8.0 ppg, 20.6 mpg, 3.4 apg…Had at least one assist in each of 31 games…WNBA All-star starter for second straight year…
2014 WNBA SEASON: Voted in as a starter for the WNBA All-Star Game &#8230; All-Star Game MVP after scoring All-Star Game record with 29 points plus eight assists &#8230; WNBA Player of the Week for games played Aug. 11-17 &#8230; Set WNBA record for most assists in her first four games in the league (37) &#8230; 15th in the WNBA in assists (3.6) and sixth in assists per 40 minutes (6.9) &#8230; 53 made three-pointers was sixth most in the league &#8230; Sixth among rookies in scoring (8.3) &#8230; Averaged 14.3 points over her last seven games &#8230; Played in all 34 games with two starts &#8230; Fifteen double-figure scoring games &#8230; In her WNBA debut, tied a team record with 11 assists &#8230; 11 assists is second most in a debut in WNBA history, and just the fourth time ever &#8211; and first since 1999 &#8211; that a player had at least 10 assists in a WNBA debut &#8230; Posted a double-double with 17 points, 10 assists in road opener at Indiana 5/17 &#8230;  Scored career-high 24 points with six boards 8/13 vs. Phoenix, and had just the sixth 20-point quarter in WNBA history, outscoring the Mercury 20-14 in the second quarter &#8230; Averaged 6.3 points and 5.7 assists in three playoff games.
COLLEGE CAREER: Ranks fifth in NCAA Division I history with 387 career three-pointers, just five off the record of 392 &#8230; Became the first Louisville player ever to accumulate career totals of at least 2,000 points and 500 assists, finishing with 2,174 and 600, respectively &#8230; Led the Cardinals in scoring and assists in each of her last three seasons &#8230; Career point total ranks second in school history, trailing only teammate Angel McCoughtry’s 2,779 career points &#8230; Named a Wooden Award finalist during her senior season, an All-American by the USBWA  and earned Second Team All-American honors by the Associated Press and ESPNW after averaging 17.4 points, 4.5 rebounds and 3.8 assists per game &#8230; Was a first-team All-Conference honoree each of her last three seasons &#8230; Named the Most Outstanding Player of the Oklahoma City Regional in 2013 after leading Louisville past defending champion Baylor into the Final Four, where the Cardinals ultimately reached the national championship game &#8230; Helped guide Louisville to the Elite Eight in 2014 while setting the school single-season record for threes (118), including a school-record nine in a game against Memphis.
PERSONAL: Daughter of Rick Schimmel and CeCilee Moses … Has a sister, Jude, who was her teammate at Louisville in each of her last three seasons &#8230; Majored in communications &#8230; The No. 8-ranked recruit in the nation by ESPN Hoop Gurlz … Named a First-Team Parade All-American, an ESPN Rise First Team All-American and selected to the WBCA All-American team as a senior … Finished her senior year averaging 29.8 points, 9.0 rebounds, 7.3 assists and 5.5 steals &#8230; Finished her career with 2,120 points, ranking her sixth on Oregon’s all-time scoring list.