Sylvia Fowles Named 2011 WNBA Defensive Player of the Year, All Defensive Team announced

The WNBA named Chicago Sky center Sylvia Fowles the 2011 WNBA Defensive Player of the Year today. She received 19 out of 40 votes, one more than the runner-up, Indiana Fever forward and four-time Defensive Player of the Year Tamika Catchings (18). Connecticut Sun center Tina Charles (2) and Sky guard Epiphanny Prince (1) received the remaining votes.

Fowles was the league’s Eastern Conference Player of the Month for August and a three-time Conference Player of the Week winner. She led the WNBA in blocks (2.0 bpg) for the second straight year. Fowles also shared the league lead in defensive rebounds (7.3 drpg) and ranked second in overall rebounding (10.2 rpg) and double-doubles (22).

On offense, she finished third in the league in scoring (20.0 ppg), becoming only the second player in league annals to average 20 points and 10 rebounds in a season – Chamique Holdsclaw (20.5 ppg and 10.9 rpg) for Washington in 2003.

The league also announced the 2011 WNBA All-Defensive Team. Fowles and Indiana Fever forward and league MVP Tamika Catchings headline the team. Seattle Storm guard Tanisha Wright, Atlanta Dream forward Angel McCoughtry and Minnesota Lynx forward Rebekkah Brunson are also on the team.

Voting Results

Votes Player Team
19 Sylvia Fowles Chicago Sky
18 Tamika Catchings Indiana Fever
2 Tina Charles Connecticut Sun
1 Epiphanny Prince Chicago Sky

ALL-time Defensive Player of the Year Winners

Year Player Team
2011 Sylvia Fowles Chicago Sky
2010 Tamika Catchings Indiana Fever
2009 Tamika Catchings Indiana Fever
2008 Lisa Leslie Los Angeles Sparks
2007 Lauren Jackson Seattle Storm
2006 Tamika Catchings Indiana Fever
2005 Tamika Catchings Indiana Fever
2004 Lisa Leslie Los Angeles Sparks
2003 Sheryl Swoopes Houston Comets
2002 Sheryl Swoopes Houston Comets
2001 Debbie Black Miami Sol
2000 Sheryl Swoopes Houston Comets
1999 Yolanda Griffith Sacramento Monarchs
1998 Teresa Weatherspoon New York Liberty
1997 Teresa Weatherspoon New York Liberty

2011 WNBA All-Defensive First Team

Player Team Position Points
Tamika Catchings Indiana Fever Forward 55
Rebekkah Brunson Minnesota Lynx Forward 23
Sylvia Fowles Chicago Sky Center 48
Tanisha Wright Seattle Storm Guard 35
Angel McCoughtry Atlanta Dream Guard 28

2011 WNBA All-Defensive Second Team

Player Team Position Points
Sancho Lyttle Atlanta Dream Forward 20
Swin Cash Seattle Storm Forward 16
Tina Charles Connecticut Sun Center 22
Armintie Price Atlanta Dream Guard 27
Katie Douglas Indiana Fever Guard 19
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One Comment

  • How is it that Catchings is NOT the player of the year for defense? Is there some rule about not being the MVP and the Defensive Player of the Year at the same time?

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