Presented by Kia Motors 2010 WNBA Sixth Woman of the Year

DeWanna Bonner Named 2010 WNBA Sixth Woman of the Year Presented by Kia Motors

NEW YORK, Aug. 26, 2010 – Phoenix Mercury guard-forward DeWanna Bonner has been named the 2010 WNBA Sixth Woman of the Year presented by Kia Motors, the league announced today. Bonner received 16 votes from a national panel of 39 sportswriters and broadcasters to earn the award. New York Liberty forward-center Plenette Pierson finished second, garnering nine votes. Connecticut center Sandrine Gruda, Chicago Sky guard Epiphanny Prince, and Seattle Storm forward Svetlana Abrosimova finished tied for third, with three votes apiece.

In honor of being named the Sixth Woman of the Year presented by Kia Motors, Bonner will receive $5,000 and a specially-designed trophy from Tiffany & Co.

An integral part to the Mercury’s WNBA championship season last year, Bonner’s second year was equally impressive as she improved in each of the major statistical categories. She ended the season with a +14.56 efficiency rating.

DeWanna Bonner GalleryMore Photos

In 32 games this season, including 28 off the bench, Bonner averaged 12 points, good for fourth place on the Mercury behind WNBA top-scorer Diana Taurasi and starters Penny Taylor and Candice Dupree. Her three-point shooting percentage more than doubled to .358 and her assists per game increased threefold to 1.3 apg.

As a rookie in 2009, Bonner’s 196 total rebounds were the most ever for a Mercury reserve, topping the previous mark of 147 set by Kelly Schumacher in 2007. This year, she matched her previous record, grabbing 67 offense rebounds and 129 defensive rebounds. She finished the season second on the team for rebounding, averaging 6.1 rpg.

Bonner started her first WNBA game this season, on June 29 against the Atlanta Dream, recording 17 points, nine rebounds and five assists. In three other starts, she averaged 12.3 points and over 8 rebounds.

A standout at Auburn, Bonner was drafted fifth overall by the Mercury in the 2009 WNBA Draft. As a senior, she was named the Southeastern Conference Player of the Year and led the SEC in scoring, becoming the first Auburn player to do so. Bonner was a three-time All-SEC First Team member during her four-year stint as a Tiger.

This marks the second season that Kia Motors, an official WNBA marketing partner, has presented four of the league’s most illustrious season-ending awards – the WNBA’s Most Valuable Player, Defensive Player of the Year, Most Improved Player of the Year, and Sixth Woman of the Year – grouped under the banner of “The WNBA Performance Awards presented by Kia Motors.”

2010 WNBA SIXTH WOMAN OF THE YEAR PRESENTED BY KIA MOTORS RESULTS
Votes	Player	Team
16	DeWanna Bonner	Phoenix Mercury
9	Plenette Pierson	New York Liberty
3	Sandrine Gruda	Connecticut Sun
3	Epiphanny Prince	Chicago Sky
3	Svetlana Abrosimova	Seattle Storm
1	Charde Houston	Minnesota Lynx
1	Tan White	Connecticut Sun
1	Matee Ajavon	Washington Mystics
1	Jessica Davenport	Indiana Fever

WNBA SIXTH WOMAN OF THE YEAR PRESENTED BY KIA MOTORS WINNERS
Year	Player	Team
2010	DeWanna Bonner	Phoenix Mercury
2009	DeWanna Bonner	Phoenix Mercury
2008	Candice Wiggins	Minnesota Lynx
2007*	Plenette Pierson	Detroit Shock

* Inaugural award

Series Info Game 1: SEA 79, ATL 77: Box | Recap | Photos | Video Game 2: SEA 87, ATL 84: Box | Recap | Photos | Video Game 3: SEA 87, ATL 84: Box | Recap | Photos | Video
Gm 1: SEA 82, PHX 74 Box | Recap | Photos Gm 2: SEA 91, PHX 88 Box | Recap | Photos Gm 1: SEA 79, LAS 66 Box | Recap | Photos Gm 2: SEA 81, LAS 66 Box | Recap | Photos Gm 1: PHX 106, SAN 93 Box | Recap | Photos Gm 2: PHX 92, SAN 73 Box | Recap | Photos		Gm 1: ATL 81, NYL 75 Box | Recap | Photos Gm 2: ATL 105, NYL 93 Box | Recap | Photos Gm 1: ATL 95 WAS 90 Box | Recap | Photos Gm 2: ATL 101 WAS 77 Box | Recap | Photos Gm 1: NYL 85, IND 73 Box | Recap | Photos Gm 2: IND 75, NYL 67 Box | Recap | Photos Gm 3: NYL 77, IND 74 Box | Recap | Photos