AP names Nneka Ogwumike its WNBA Player of the Year
Nneka Ogwumike put up career numbers this season for the Los Angeles Sparks and was arguably the most consistent impact player in the league.
The Stanford alum was named the Associated Press WNBA Player of the Year on Tuesday. The award was chosen by the 14-member media panel that votes for the weekly power poll.
“It's special that there are different perspectives on so many things we do,” Ogwumike said in a phone interview. “Players, coaches, GMs, media. It’s interesting to see the support coming from all different angles.”
She averaged 19.7 points, 9.1 rebounds and 3.1 assists and shot 66.5 percent from the field, helping lead the Sparks to the second-best record in the WNBA and a bye until the semifinals of the playoffs.
“It's a great thing for someone like Nneka to win an award like this, as it shows that hard work and perseverance and continuing to develop your game can elevate you to superstar status,” said Los Angeles’ Brian Agler, who was named the AP’s Coach of the Year.
Agler narrowly edged Minnesota’s Cheryl Reeve for the coach honor.
Los Angeles also had the Sixth Woman of the Year in Jantel Lavender.
Atlanta’s Elizabeth Williams was voted the Most Improved Player. She was traded in the offseason from Connecticut to the Dream and helped them reach the playoffs.
“The change of scenery is the first main thing that would pop up,” said Williams on the biggest difference for her this year. “I think coming to this team, coach (Michael) Cooper having a lot of confidence in me in the beginning. Getting healthy and playing overseas in Turkey also helped me gain some confidence.”
Connecticut’s Chiney Ogwumike, also a Stanford alum and Nneka’s younger sister, earned Comeback Player of the Year honors after recovering from microfracture surgery in her right knee that sidelined her last year. NBA: A Los Angeles federal judge ruled that a woman accusing 2010-11 MVP Derrick Rose of rape cannot remain anonymous at her upcoming civil trial.
Lawyers for the woman, who is identified in court documents as Jane Doe, argued that her privacy should be protected because she is vulnerable and she already has been harassed after her name was leaked.
U.S. District Judge Michael W. Fitzgerald said the law was very clear on the issue and he wouldn’t close his courtroom to protect her identity. He said any decision by the news media about whether to name her is a journalistic decision.
The Associated Press typically does not identify alleged victims of sexual abuse.
The woman sued Rose last year, claiming he and two of his friends raped her in August 2013 while she was incapacitated after drinking. Rose and the others deny her claims and contend they had consensual sex with her that night. College volleyball: After dropping the first set 23-25, the No. 11 Stanford women stormed back with 25-22, 26-24 and 25-13 wins in the next three to defeat host Cal. Kathryn Plummer had 16 kills for the Cardinal (7-2, 1-0 Pac-12); Bailee Huizenga had 19 for Cal (6-5, 0-1). Hockey World Cup: The United States was eliminated from contention at the tournament in Toronto after a 4-2 loss to Canada, which was joined in the semifinals by Team Europe. Matt Duchene scored twice and Corey Perry and Patrice Bergeron each had a goal for Canada, which got 34 saves from Carey Price. Ryan McDonagh and T.J Oshie scored for the U.S.