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Alexa PhilippouESPN
of Las Vegas AcesBecky Hammon was named the 2022 WNBA Coach of the Year, the league announced Friday, becoming the first former WNBA player to win the award in his debut season as head coach.
Hamon received 27 out of 56 votes from a panel of sports media members. Atlanta Dreams Another former WNBA player-turned-coach, Tanisha Wright, finished second with 18. chicago skies James Wade has eight, while Dallas’ Vicky Johnson, Phoenix’s Vanessa Nygaard and Washington’s Mike Thibault each have one.
No. 1-seeded ace challenges No. 4 seed as Hamon finishes regular season with 26-10 record seattle storm in the best-of-five semi-final series that begins on Sunday. Las Vegas hopes to clinch her first WNBA title for the franchise after reaching at least the semifinals for the past three years under Bill Laimbeer.
If the Aces win the title, Hammon will be the first first-year head coach to win a WNBA championship since Van Chancellor won with the Houston Comets in his first season in the league.
After Laimbeer’s departure this past offseason, Hammon’s pace and space, a read that featured a three-point barrage, was a far cry from Laimbeer’s older-school approach, which was premised on getting the ball inside. I was keen to implement an offense with a lot of . post. Ace thrived under the new style: Hamon’s regular His 9-1 start to the season meant his 10-game start, the best in league history, and the team’s regular 722, the third best in league history. franchise history. Hammon also moved Ace to last month’s 2nd Annual Commissioners Cup in his championship game, where he beat Chicago 93-83 and led team Wilson to victory in his 2022 All-Star game. rice field.
In the process, Vegas’ new offense broke many WNBA records. Phoenix Mercuryand 90.4 points per game is the third highest scoring average in league history and the highest since 2010.
Jamon’s Starting Five – Aja Wilson, Jackie Young, chelsea gray and old reserves Kelsey Plum When Dearika Humvee — Emerging as one of the deadliest lineups in the league. Four of the five were named All-Stars earlier this season. Among them were MVP candidate Wilson, most improved prospect Young and all expected WNBA selection Plum.
Hammon’s storied WNBA playing career spanned 16 seasons, including eight with the Aces’ predecessor, the San Antonio Silver Stars, before the franchise move. She was recently named one of her 25 greatest players in league history. After her playing career ended, Hammon moved to San Antonio where she served as assistant coach for the Spurs for eight seasons, becoming the first full-time female assistant in NBA history.
