2016 WNBA season
 | This article is missing information about Error: you must specify what information is missing.. (May 2016) |
| 2016 WNBA season | |
|---|---|
| Duration | May 14 – |
| Number of teams | 12 |
| TV partner(s) | ESPN on ABC, ESPN, ESPN2, NBA TV |
The 2016 WNBA season is the ongoing 20th season of the Women's National Basketball Association (WNBA). It began on May 14 when the Indiana Fever hosted the Dallas Wings.
2016 WNBA Draft
Seattle Storm selected Breanna Stewart first in the 2016 WNBA Draft at Mohegan Sun in Uncasville, CT. The draft was televised nationally on the ESPN networks (Round 1 on ESPN2, Rounds 2&3 on ESPNU).[1]
Notable occurrences
On March 15, the WNBA announced a new league-wide sponsor, Verizon Wireless. The Verizon logo now appears on all jerseys except those of the Stars and Sun, and Verizon will receive significant branding in arenas, on jerseys, and in telecasts via commercials. Verizon will also sponsor the WNBA Playoffs,WNBA Finals, WNBA Tip-Off, WNBA Draft, and WNBA Inspiring Women Luncheon.[2]
On March 28, the WNBA introduced new jerseys for the 2016 season. All teams will no longer have a white home jersey. Teams will use the away jersey from the previous year or a secondary color-based alternate jersey. The Sparks and Stars already used their secondary colors for jerseys, and thus there will be no significant change. The jerseys include special patches commemorating the 20th season for the league, along with the three remaining original franchises, and also will show the WNBA Championships each franchise has won by displaying the trophies on the back collar of the jersey. [1]
The ESPN Networks will air 14 games (1 on ESPN, 13 on ESPN2) during the regular season and will air all playoff games. NBATV will show 42 games across the regular season.
Statistics
Individual statistic leaders
| Category | Player | Team | Statistic |
|---|---|---|---|
| Points per game | Tina Charles | New York Liberty | 23.1 PPG |
| Rebounds per game | Tina Charles | New York Liberty | 9.8 RPG |
| Assists per game | Sue Bird | Seattle Storm | 5.5 APG |
| Steals per game | Sancho Lyttle | Atlanta Dream | 2.7 SPG |
| Blocks per game | Brittney Griner | Phoenix Mercury | 2.7 BPG |
| Three point percentage | Emma Meesseman | Washington Mystics | 57.1% |
| Free throw percentage | Rebekkah Brunson | Minnesota Lynx | 100% |
Individual game highs
| Category | Player | Team | Statistic |
|---|---|---|---|
| Points | DeWanna Bonner | Phoenix Mercury | 38 |
| Breanna Stewart | Seattle Storm | ||
| Nneka Ogwumike | Los Angeles Sparks | ||
| Elena Delle Donne | Chicago Sky | ||
| Rebounds | Breanna Stewart | Seattle Storm | 17 |
| Assists | Jamierra Faulkner | Chicago Sky | 11 |
| Courtney Vandersloot | Chicago Sky | ||
| Steals | Sancho Lyttle | Atlanta Dream | 8 |
| Blocks | Brittney Griner | Phoenix Mercury | 10 |
| Three pointers | Kristi Toliver | Los Angeles Sparks | 7 |
- as of July 5, 2016
Season award winners
Player of the Week award
| For games in week ending |
Eastern Conference | Western Conference | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Player | Team | Player | Team | |
| May 23, 2016 | Tina Charles | New York Liberty | Maya Moore | Minnesota Lynx |
| May 29, 2016 | Angel McCoughtry | Atlanta Dream | Candace Parker | Los Angeles Sparks |
| June 6, 2016 | Tina Charles (2) | New York Liberty | Maya Moore (2) | Minnesota Lynx |
| June 13, 2016 | Emma Meesseman | Washington Mystics | Nneka Ogwumike | Los Angeles Sparks |
| June 20, 2016 | Tina Charles (3) | New York Liberty | Candace Parker (2) | Los Angeles Sparks |
| June 27, 2016 | Tina Charles (4) | New York Liberty | Diana Taurasi | Phoenix Mercury |
| July 6, 2016 | Tina Charles (5) | New York Liberty | Nneka Ogwumike (2) | Los Angeles Sparks |
| July 11, 2016 | Angel McCoughtry (2) | Atlanta Dream | Maya Moore (3) | Minnesota Lynx |
| July 18, 2016 | ||||
| July 25, 2016 | ||||
| August 29, 2016 | ||||
| September 5, 2016 | ||||
| September 12, 2016 | ||||
| September 19, 2016 | ||||
Player of the Month award
| For games played | Eastern Conference | Western Conference | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Player | Team | Player | Team | |
| May 2016 | Tina Charles | New York Liberty | Maya Moore | Minnesota Lynx |
| June 2016 | Tina Charles (2) | New York Liberty | Nneka Ogwumike | Los Angeles Sparks |
| July 2016 | ||||
| August 2016 | ||||
| September 2016 | ||||
Rookie of the Month award
| For games played | Player | Team |
|---|---|---|
| May 2016 | Breanna Stewart | Seattle Storm |
| June 2016 | Breanna Stewart (2) | Seattle Storm |
| July 2016 | ||
| August 2016 | ||
| September 2016 |
References
- ^ "Seattle Storm Win Top Pick In WNBA Draft Lottery". WNBA.com - Official Site of the WNBA. Retrieved 2016-04-10.
- ^ "Verizon and WNBA Tip Off New Marquee Partnership Ahead of League's Landmark 20th Season - WNBA.com - Official Site of the WNBA". WNBA.com - Official Site of the WNBA. Retrieved 2016-04-10.