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