Chiney Ogwumike Named 2014 WNBA Rookie of Year Presented by Samsung
Press Release
NEW YORK, Aug. 28, 2014 – Chiney Ogwumike of the Connecticut Sun is the recipient of the 2014 WNBA Rookie of the Year presented by Samsung award, the WNBA announced today. Ogwumike received 23 votes from a national panel of 38 sportswriters and broadcasters who voted for the award.
The Tulsa Shock’s Odyssey Sims finished second with 12 votes, Kayla McBride of the San Antonio Stars placed third with two votes, and the Atlanta Dream’s Shoni Schimmel finished fourth with one vote.
Chiney Ogwumike and her sister Nneka continue to make history, becoming the first pair of sisters to earn WNBA Rookie of the Year presented by Samsung honors. The duo started the season in historic fashion when they became the second set of siblings ever selected with the top overall pick in an American professional sports draft. Nneka Ogwumike was drafted in 2012 by the Los Angeles Sparks and was named the 2012 WNBA Rookie of the Year presented by Samsung. In July, the Ogwumikes also became the first sisters ever selected for the same WNBA All-Star Game.
A two-time WNBA Rookie of the Month presented by Samsung recipient, Ogwumike led all rookies in rebounding (8.5 rpg) and double-doubles (13), ranked second in scoring (15.5 ppg), and third in steals (1.2 spg). Overall, the first-year pro ranked second in the WNBA in offensive rebounds (123), tied for second in double-doubles, placed seventh in rebounding, and was 11th in scoring.
The Stanford product appeared in 31 games for the Sun this season, all in a starting role. Ogwumike scored in double digits in 28 of her 31 contests, while posting 10 or more rebounds in 13 games.
In her second game of the year, Ogwumike poured in 25 points and grabbed 10 rebounds in a 90-87 loss against the 2013 defending champion Minnesota Lynx. In the final month of the season, she posted back-to-back double-doubles, including a 24-point, 12-rebound performance in a victory over San Antonio on Aug. 1. Two days later, Ogwumike chipped in 23 points and 13 rebounds in a one-point loss to Los Angeles on Aug. 3.
In honor of being named the 2014 WNBA Rookie of the Year presented by Samsung, Ogwumike will receive $5,000 and a specially designed trophy by Tiffany & Co.
Below are the complete results of the 2014 WNBA Rookie of the Year voting, followed by a list of previous winners:
2014 WNBA ROOKIE OF THE YEAR PRESENTED BY SAMSUNG VOTING RESULTS
23: Chiney Ogwumike – Connecticut Sun
12: Odyssey Sims – Tulsa Shock
2: Kayla McBride – San Antonio Stars
1: Shoni Schimmel – Atlanta Dream
WNBA ROOKIE OF THE YEAR PRESENTED BY SAMSUNG ALL-TIME WINNERS
2014: Chiney Ogwumike – Connecticut Sun
2013: Elena Delle Donne – Chicago Sky
2012: Nneka Ogwumike – Los Angeles Sparks
2011: Maya Moore – Minnesota Lynx
2010: Tina Charles – Connecticut Sun
2009: Angel McCoughtry – Atlanta Dream
2008: Candace Parker – Los Angeles Sparks
2007: Armintie Price – Chicago Sky
2006: Seimone Augustus – Minnesota Lynx
2005: Temeka Johnson – Washington Mystics
2004: Diana Taurasi – Phoenix Mercury
2003: Cheryl Ford – Detroit Shock
2002: Tamika Catchings – Indiana Fever
2001: Jackie Stiles – Portland Fire
2000: Betty Lennox – Minnesota Lynx
1999: Chamique Holdsclaw – Washington Mystics
1998: Tracy Reid – Charlotte Sting
