Maya Moore named WNBA 2011 Rookie of the Year, Lynx coach Cheryl Reeve named Coach of the Year
As predicted by fans before the season began, Maya Moore is the 2011 WNBA Rookie of the Year. A national panel of 40 sportswriters and broadcasters voted on the award.
The former Connecticut star and two-time NCAA National Champion, topped all rookies in points (13.2 ppg), minutes (28.0 mpg) and steals (1.4 spg). She was second overall amongst rookies in rebounds (4.6 rpg) and third in assists (2.7 apg).
Moore was also the No. 1 overall pick in the 2011 WNBA Draft and finished the season winning two out of the three WNBA Rookie of the Month honors. She becomes the fourth straight No. 1 selection to win Rookie of the Year, joining Tina Charles (2010), Angel McCoughtry (2009), and Candace Parker (2008).
Second-year Lynx head coach Cheryl Reeve led the Lynx to a 27-7 record and is the 2011 WNBA Coach of the Year.
The two will receive their awards tonight from league president Cheryl Reeve before tip-off of the team’s first game in the playoff semifinal series against San Antonio.
The league also announced the All-Rookie team Friday morning:
2011 ALL-ROOKIE TEAM
| Player | Team | Position | Votes |
| Maya Moore | Minnesota Lynx | Forward | 11 |
| Danielle Robinson | San Antonio Silver Stars | Guard | 11 |
| Courtney Vandersloot | Chicago Sky | Guard | 10 |
| Danielle Adams | San Antonio Silver Stars | Forward | 9 |
| Liz Cambage | Tulsa Shock | Center | 9 |
The voting panel for the all-rookie team consisted of the WNBA’s 12 head coaches, who chose five players regardless of position. Coaches were not permitted to vote for players on their own team.
Robinson, selected sixth overall in the Draft by the Silver Stars, started nine games and played in all 34. She led all rookies in assists with 3.9 apg. Scoring in double digits in 14 games, Robinson averaged 8.2 points. The University of Oklahoma product scored a career-high 36 points, the best output by a rookie in 2011, in a 102-94 win over the Tulsa Shock on Sept. 11.
Vandersloot, selected No. 3 overall in the Draft by the Sky, led Chicago and ranked second among rookies in assists (3.7 apg). She played in all 34 games and started 26, averaging 6.5 points. In June, Vandersloot recorded highs in points (18) and assists (10) both against the Connecticut Sun in separate games. Vandersloot was selected as a reserve for the 2011 WNBA All-Star Game.
Adams, the 20th overall pick in the WNBA Draft by the Silver Stars, was a consistent option off the bench in her first season and earned June Rookie of the Month honors. Adams missed 11 games due to an injury but finished the season averaging 12.4 points and 4.3 rebounds. She was selected as a reserve for the 2011 WNBA All-Star.
Cambage, the No. 2 overall draft pick, she led all rookies in rebounds (4.7 rpg) and averaged 11.5 points. The 6-8 center started 11 games for the Shock this season. She had a career high in rebounds (15) in her second game in the WNBA against the Lynx on June 7. The 19-year native of Australia was selected to the 2011 All-Star Game as a reserve.
