2006 WNBA season

Last updated

2006 WNBA season
League Women's National Basketball Association
Sport Basketball
DurationMay 20 – September 9, 2006
Number of games34
Number of teams14
Total attendance1,779,366
Average attendance7,476
TV partner(s) ABC, ESPN, NBA TV
2006 WNBA Draft
Top draft pick Flag of the United States.svg Seimone Augustus
Picked by Minnesota Lynx
Regular season
Season MVP Flag of the United States.svg Lisa Leslie (Los Angeles)
Playoffs
Eastern champions Detroit Shock
  Eastern runners-up Connecticut Sun
Western champions Sacramento Monarchs
  Western runners-up Los Angeles Sparks
Finals
Champions Detroit Shock
  Runners-up Sacramento Monarchs
Finals MVP Flag of the United States.svg Deanna Nolan (Detroit)
WNBA seasons

The 2006 WNBA Season was the Women's National Basketball Association's tenth season. The league added one team: the Chicago Sky. The Sky were the first expansion team since 2000 when the Indiana Fever, Miami Sol, Portland Fire, and the Seattle Storm came to the WNBA. On April 5, the WNBA held their draft. Seimone Augustus, guard out of Louisiana State University was the number one overall pick. She was selected by the Minnesota Lynx. Cappie Pondexter, guard out of Rutgers University went number two. She was selected by the Phoenix Mercury. The season started on May 20 with a game between the Sacramento Monarchs and the Phoenix Mercury. The game was televised by ABC. The Monarchs won the game 105–78. On July 12, The All Star Game was held at Madison Square Garden in New York City, New York. The East All Stars defeated the West All Stars 98–82. Katie Douglas of the Connecticut Sun was named MVP in the game with 16 points, 5 rebounds, 4 assists. The 2006 WNBA season concluded on August 13. Lisa Leslie of the Los Angeles Sparks won the league MVP. Mike Thibault of the Connecticut Sun was named Coach of The Year. Seimone Augustus of the Minnesota Lynx was named Rookie of the Year. The season ended with the Detroit Shock winning their second WNBA Championship.

Contents

Regular season standings

Eastern Conference

Eastern Conference W L PCT GB Home Road Conf.
z - Connecticut Sun 268.76514–312–515–5
x - Detroit Shock 2311.6763.014–39–814–6
x - Indiana Fever 2113.6185.012–59–812–8
x - Washington Mystics 1816.5298.013–45–1212–8
e - New York Liberty 1123.32415.07–104–137–13
e - Charlotte Sting 1123.32415.07–104–36–14
e - Chicago Sky 529.14721.03–142–154–16

Western Conference

Western Conference W L PCT GB Home Road Conf.
Los Angeles Sparks x259.73515–210–715–5
Sacramento Monarchs x2113.6184.014–37–1010–10
Houston Comets x1816.5297.012–56–1111–9
Seattle Storm x1816.5297.09–89–810–10
Phoenix Mercury o1816.5297.010–78–98–12
San Antonio Silver Stars o1321.38212.06–117–1010–10
Minnesota Lynx o1024.29415.08–92–156–14

Season award winners

AwardWinnerTeam
WNBA Finals MVP Award Deanna Nolan Detroit Shock
WNBA Most Valuable Player Award Lisa Leslie Los Angeles Sparks
WNBA Defensive Player of the Year Award Tamika Catchings Indiana Fever
WNBA Most Improved Player Award Erin Buescher Sacramento Monarchs
WNBA Peak Performer Diana Taurasi Phoenix Mercury
WNBA Peak Performer Cheryl Ford Detroit Shock
WNBA Rookie of the Year Award Seimone Augustus Minnesota Lynx
Kim Perrot Sportsmanship Award Dawn Staley Houston Comets
WNBA Coach of the Year Award Mike Thibault Connecticut Sun

Playoffs

First Round
Best of 3
Conference Finals
Best of 3
WNBA Finals
Best of 5
         
E1 Connecticut 2
E4 Washington 0
E1 Connecticut 1
Eastern Conference
E2 Detroit 2
E2 Detroit 2
E3 Indiana 0
E2 Detroit 3
W2 Sacramento 2
W1 Los Angeles 2
W4 Seattle 1
W1 Los Angeles 0
Western Conference
W2 Sacramento 2
W2 Sacramento 2
W3 Houston 0

Coaches

Eastern Conference

Western Conference

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