Jackson Named WNBA Defensive Player of the Year

Jackson

August 24, 2007

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SEATTLE - The WNBA announced today that Storm All-Star Lauren Jackson has been named 2007 WNBA Defensive Player of the Year. Jackson received 20 votes from a national panel of sportswriters and broadcasters to finish ahead of the Indiana Fever’s Tamika Catchings. With the award, Jackson becomes the first Seattle Storm player, as well as the first international player, to be named WNBA Defensive Player of the Year.

“It’s an incredible honor to win this award and it’s a reflection of all the hard work our whole team has put into improving on the defensive end of the floor,” Jackson said. “Some amazing players have won this award over the last 10 years and I’m humbled to join that group.”

Jackson led the league in rebounds this season (9.7 rpg) and her 2.03 blocks per game trailed only the Connecticut Sun’s Margo Dydek (2.06 bpg). Jackson was the only player in the WNBA to rank in the top-10 in points, rebounds and blocks in 2007, and her league-best 7.1 defensive rebounds per game were nearly two more than the 5.4 posted by the runner-up, Dydek.

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Led by Jackson, the Storm ranked among the league leaders in rebounding (+2.1) and blocked-shot differential (+1.2). As a team, Seattle averaged 4.4 blocks, meaning Jackson accounted for almost half of the team’s average.

“Lauren has been a very good defensive player throughout her career, but this season she’s really taken her entire game to a whole new level.” Storm Head Coach Anne Donovan said. “To have the league’s best offensive player also be recognized for her defense just speaks to the unique talent that Lauren is and the incredible season that she’s produced.”

Jackson, the league’s MVP in 2003, is no stranger to accolades this season. In addition to having been selected to her sixth All-Star Game in July, Jackson garnered Western Conference Player of the Week honors a league-record five times and captured the league’s Peak Performer Award for both scoring and rebounding after leading the league in both categories during the regular season.

The WNBA also announced the All-Defensive Team selections today, as selected by the league’s head coaches. Jackson was named to the WNBA All-Defensive First Team for the first time in her career after being named to the 2005 Second Team.