Taurasi Chosen Rookie of Year

Diana Taurasi of the Phoenix Mercury walked away with the WNBA’s award for rookie of the year Monday.

She became the second No. 1 overall draft pick to win the award. Chamique Holdsclaw of Washington did it in 1999. Among rookies, Taurasi was first in scoring (17.0 average) and second in rebounds (4.4) and assists (3.9). She led Phoenix, 8-26 last year, to a 17-17 record.

“You have to believe you can win before you can go out and win, so I think the whole season was an accomplishment,” Taurasi said in New York, where she received the award.

Taurasi received 42 votes from the national media panel. Alana Beard of Washington had four, and Nicole Ohlde of Minnesota had two. Connecticut’s Wendy Palmer-Daniel and Indiana’s Kelly Miller shared the award for most improved player.