NEW YORK, Sept. 17, 2020 – Minnesota Lynx guard Crystal Dangerfield has been named the 2020 WNBA Rookie of the Year, the leagued announced today.  She is the first player not selected in the first round of the WNBA Draft to win the award, which was first given out in 1998.  Dangerfield was selected in the second round (16^th pick overall) in the 2020 WNBA Draft presented by State Farm on April 17.

PALMETTO, FL – AUGUST 31: Crystal Dangerfield #2 of the Minnesota Lynx handles the ball against the Los Angeles Sparks on August 31, 2020 at Feld Entertainment Center in Palmetto, Florida. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2020 NBAE (Photo by Ned Dishman/NBAE via Getty Images)

Dangerfield received 44 votes from a national panel of 47 sportswriters and broadcasters.  Atlanta Dream guard Chennedy Carter finished second with two votes and Dallas Wings forward Satou Sabally was third with one vote.

She is the fifth player in Lynx franchise history to be named Rookie of the Year, joining Betty Lennox (1999), Seimone Augustus (2006), Maya Moore (2011) and Napheesa Collier (2019).

Dangerfield, ranked 11^th in the WNBA in scoring (16.2 ppg, pacing the Lynx) and third in free throw percentage (92.2) while starting 19 of her 21 regular-season games and logging 30.0 minutes per contest.

Among WNBA rookies, Dangerfield ranked first in three throw percentage, second in scoring, minutes and assists (3.6 apg), tied for fourth in steals (0.86 spg) and fifth in field goal percentage (47.1).

Dangerfield scored in double figures in 19 of 21 games, including a season-high 29 points against the Los Angeles Sparks on Aug. 9. She finished the season with eight 20-point games and handed out four or more assists in 12 contests.

She also was the WNBA Rookie of the Month for August and September.

The Lynx finished with the fourth-best record (14-8) in the league behind Dangerfield and Collier, who averaged 16.1 points and 9.0 rebounds in her second season.

The Lynx selected Dangerfield with the idea that she would play a reserve role early in her career before injuries led to her being inserted into the starting lineup and becoming the team’s leading scorer.  She was a decorated four-year player at UConn, finishing fifth in program history in assists.

In honor of being named the 2020 WNBA Rookie of the Year, Dangerfield will receive $5,150 and a specially designed trophy by Tiffany & Co.

Below are the voting results for the 2020 WNBA Rookie of the Year Award and a list of past recipients.

2020 WNBA ROOKIE OF THE YEAR VOTING RESULTS

WNBA ROOKIE OF THE YEAR WINNERS

2020: Crystal Dangerfield (Minnesota Lynx)
2019: Napheesa Collier (Minnesota Lynx)
2018: A’ja Wilson (Las Vegas Aces)
2017: Allisha Gray (Dallas Wings)
2016: Breanna Stewart (Seattle Storm)
2015: Jewell Loyd (Seattle Storm)
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)
 

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