WNBA rookie team honors for Sky’s Vandersloot
Rookie of the Year Maya Moore of the Minnesota Lynx and the San Antonio Silver Stars’ Danielle Robinson headline the 2011 WNBA All-Rookie Team, which includes the Tulsa Shock’s Liz Cambage, Chicago Sky’s Courtney Vandersloot, and Silver Stars’ Danielle Adams.
The announcement was made Friday by the league, and the voting panel 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. Moore and Robinson each received 11 votes, Vandersloot received 10, while Cambage and Adams each got 9.
Moore, a 2011 WNBA All-Star and two-time NCAA national champion at Connecticut, 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).
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.
Cambage, the No. 2 overall draft pick, 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. The 19-year native of Australia was selected to the 2011 All-Star Game as a reserve.