The 2012 WNBA season was the 16th season of the Women's National Basketball Association. The regular season began on May 18 and concluded on September 23 and playoffs started on September 27 and concluded on October 21.
2011–2012 WNBA offseason The new television deal with ESPN continued during the 2012 season (runs 2009–2016). For the first time ever, teams will be paid rights fees as part of this deal. On January 3, 2012, the Tulsa Shock named former Indiana assistant coach Gary Kloppenburg head coach. On January 5, 2012, the Los Angeles Sparks named former Atlanta assistant coach Carol Ross head coach. The Seattle Storm trade three time WNBA champion Swin Cash to the Chicago Sky. The New York Liberty played home games for the next two seasons at Prudential Center in Newark, New Jersey, due to summer renovations at Madison Square Garden.
Draft
The WNBA Draft lottery was held on November 10, 2011. The lottery teams were the Tulsa Shock, Minnesota Lynx (from Wash.), Chicago Sky and Los Angeles Sparks. The top pick was awarded to Los Angeles.
The 2012 WNBA Draft was held on April 16, 2012, in Bristol, Connecticut. Coverage of the first round was shown on ESPN (HD). Second and third round coverage was shown on ESPNU and NBA TV.
Regular season Due to the 2012 Summer Olympics, there was no All-Star Game this season as the Olympiad caused a break from mid-July through August.
Standings
Playoffs
Awards Reference:
Individual AwardWinnerTeamPositionVotes/Statistic Most Valuable Player (MVP) Tina Charles Connecticut Sun Center 25 out of 41 Finals MVP Tamika Catchings Indiana Fever Forward Rookie of the Year Nneka Ogwumike Los Angeles Sparks Forward Unanimous Most Improved Player Kristi Toliver Los Angeles Sparks Guard 24 out of 41 Defensive Player of the Year Tamika Catchings Indiana Fever Forward 19 out of 41 Sixth Woman of the Year Renee Montgomery Connecticut Sun Guard 23 out of 41 Kim Perrot Sportsmanship Award Kara Lawson Connecticut Sun Guard 18 out of 41 Peak PerformersScoring Angel McCoughtry Atlanta Dream Guard/Forward 21.4 PPGRebounding Tina Charles Connecticut Sun Center 10.5 RPGAssists Lindsay Whalen Minnesota Lynx Guard 5.4 APG Coach of the Year Carol Ross Los Angeles Sparks Coach 15 out of 41
Team AwardGuardGuardForwardForwardCenter All-WNBAFirst Team Cappie Pondexter Seimone Augustus Candace Parker Tamika Catchings Tina CharlesSecond Team Kristi Toliver Lindsay Whalen Maya Moore Sophia Young Sylvia Fowles All-DefensiveFirst Team Briann January Alana Beard Tamika Catchings Sancho Lyttle Sylvia FowlesSecond Team Danielle Robinson Armintie Price Sophia Young Candace Parker Tina Charles All-Rookie Team Samantha Prahalis Riquna Williams Tiffany Hayes Nneka Ogwumike Glory Johnson
Players of the Week Week endingEastern ConferenceWestern ConferencePlayerTeamPlayerTeam May 27 Tamika Catchings Indiana Fever Candace Parker Los Angeles Sparks June 3 Epiphanny Prince (2) Chicago Sky DeWanna Bonner Phoenix Mercury June 10 Nneka Ogwumike Los Angeles Sparks June 17 Tina Charles Connecticut Sun Candace Parker (3) June 24 Tamika Catchings (2) Indiana Fever July 1 Angel McCoughtry Atlanta Dream Sophia Young San Antonio Silver Stars July 8 Tina Charles (3) Connecticut Sun Becky Hammon July 15 Candace Parker (4) Los Angeles Sparks August 20 Tamika Catchings (3) Indiana Fever Maya Moore Minnesota Lynx August 26 Sancho Lyttle Atlanta Dream Kristi Toliver Los Angeles Sparks September 2 Tamika Catchings (4) Indiana Fever DeWanna Bonner (2) Phoenix Mercury September 9 Lindsey Harding Atlanta Dream Maya Moore (2) Minnesota Lynx September 16 Cappie Pondexter New York Liberty Nneka Ogwumike (2) Los Angeles Sparks September 23 Tina Charles (4) Connecticut Sun Candace Parker (5)
Players of the Month MonthEastern ConferenceWestern ConferencePlayerTeamPlayerTeam May Sylvia Fowles Chicago Sky Candace Parker (3) Los Angeles Sparks June Tina Charles (2) Connecticut Sun July August Tamika Catchings Indiana Fever Kristi Toliver Los Angeles Sparks September Cappie Pondexter New York Liberty Candace Parker (4)Los Angeles Sparks
Rookies of the Month MonthPlayerTeam May Nneka Ogwumike Los Angeles Sparks June Samantha Prahalis Phoenix Mercury July Nneka Ogwumike (4) Los Angeles Sparks August September
Coaches Eastern Conference Atlanta Dream: Marynell Meadors and Fred Williams Chicago Sky: Pokey Chatman Connecticut Sun: Mike Thibault Indiana Fever: Lin Dunn New York Liberty: John Whisenant Washington Mystics: Trudi Lacey
Western Conference Los Angeles Sparks: Carol Ross Minnesota Lynx: Cheryl Reeve Phoenix Mercury: Corey Gaines San Antonio Silver Stars: Dan Hughes Seattle Storm: Brian Agler Tulsa Shock: Gary Kloppenburg
See also WNBA WNBA draft WNBA All-Star Game WNBA Playoffs WNBA Finals
References