2012 Media Guide - WNBA.com

July 28-Aug. 27, 2008
The WNBA stops play to give players the opportunity to compete
in the 2008 Olympic Games in Beijing, China. The U.S. Olympic
Women’s Basketball Team defeated Australia in the gold medal
game, while Russia defeated China for the bronze. The United
States has now won four consecutive Olympic gold medals.
September 5, 2008
Ticha Penicheiro of the Sacramento Monarchs becomes the first
player in WNBA history to record 2,000 career assists.
October 3, 2008
Los Angeles Sparks forward Candace Parker is named the Hanns-
G ‘Go Beyond’ Rookie of the Year as well as the WNBA Most
Valuable Player presented by T-Mobile. It marks the first time a
rookie won both awards in the same year. The top overall pick in
the 2008 WNBA Draft, Parker capped a season in which she also
earned All-WNBA First Team honors, two Hanns-G ‘Go Beyond’
Rookie of the Month Awards (May and July), one Player of the
Week Award (Aug. 31) and the Peak Performer Rebounding
Award.
October 5, 2008
The 2008 WNBA Finals see the Detroit Shock sweep the San
Antonio Silver Stars in three games. The Shock earned their third
championship in six years. Detroit’s Katie Smith was named
Finals MVP.
December 2, 2008
The League announces that the Houston Comets, an original
member of the WNBA, would suspend operations.
December 9, 2008
The WNBA holds a Dispersal Draft of the Houston Comets
players. Teams drafted in inverse order of their regular-season
finish in 2008. The Atlanta Dream selected Sancho Lyttle with the
first pick, the Washington Mystics chose Matee Ajavon with the
second selection and the Chicago Sky took Mistie Williams with
the third pick.
December 9, 2008
The Atlanta Dream win the eighth annual WNBA Draft Lottery and
earned the top pick in the 2009 WNBA Draft. The winning team
had 420 chances out of 1,000 to receive the first overall selection.
The lottery went exactly according to odds for the first time in
WNBA history.
February 5, 2009
The WNBA Board of Governors votes to allow the expanded use
of instant replay by game officials. The two modifications will allow
referees to use instant replay 1.) to determine at any point during
a game whether a field goal was correctly scored as a two- or
three-point field goal, and, for the purposes of awarding the correct
number of free throws, whether a shooter was fouled while taking
a two- or three-point attempt and 2.) when the game clock
malfunctions during a play concluding with no time remaining on
the clock (0:00) at the end of any quarter or overtime period.
April 7, 2009
University of Tennessee head coach Pat Summit is named the
recipient of the WNBA’s Inspiring Coach Award.
2012 INDIANA FEVER MEDIA GUIDE
WNBA HISTORY
188 • FeverBasketball.com
April 9, 2009
The 2009 WNBA Draft presented by adidas takes place at the
NBA Entertainment studios in Secaucus, NJ. Angel McCoughtry,
Marissa Coleman and Kristi Toliver were selected as the top three
overall picks.
May 13, 2009
WNBA LiveAccess, a new feature on WNBA.com that provides
fans with free access to more than 200 live game Webcasts, is
launched and allows fans around the world to access live game
Webcasts on individual team Web sites.
June 1, 2009
The Phoenix Mercury announces a groundbreaking marquee
partnership with LifeLock to launch the first-ever branded jersey in
WNBA or NBA history. The LifeLock name will appear on the front
of Phoenix Mercury player jerseys and on warm-up suits through
the 2011 season.
June 5, 2009
The Los Angeles Sparks reach an agreement with the Farmer’s
Insurance Group of Companies to become the second team to
secure a marquee partnership and wear branded jerseys. The
Farmer’s Insurance Group of Companies name and logo will
appear on player jerseys.
June 14, 2009
Tamika Raymond is named the recipient of the 2009 Dawn Staley
Community Leadership Award.
July 17, 2009
Sue Bird of the Seattle Storm reaches the 3,000-point plateau,
becoming just the third player in league history to score 3,000
points and hand out 1,000 career assists. (Shannon Johnson and
Vickie Johnson)
July 29, 2009
Cokie Roberts, political commentator for ABC News, senior news
analyst for NPR News, and bestselling author, is honored as the
recipient of the 2009 WNBA Inspiration Award. Roberts served as
the keynote speaker at the WNBA Inspiring Women Luncheon in
Chicago.
August 10, 2009
Lisa Leslie of the Los Angeles Sparks becomes the first player in
WNBA history to record 6,000 career points.
August 15, 2009
Lauren Jackson of the Seattle Storm scores her 5,000th point
against the Atlanta Dream, becoming the youngest and fastest
player in league history to reach the milestone. Jackson joins Lisa
Leslie, Tina Thompson and Katie Smith as the WNBA’s 5,000
point scorers.
September 5, 2009
Diana Taurasi of the Phoenix Mercury scores her 4,000th point,
eclipsing Lauren Jackson as the youngest and fastest player in
league history to reach the milestone. Taurasi accomplishes the
feat in 197 games.
The Fever captured its first Eastern Conference title in 2009 while advancing to the WNBA Finals.