Williams Named WNBA Sixth Woman of the Year
Photo Credit: Shane Bevel/NBAE/Getty Images
NEW YORK — Tulsa Shock guard and former Miami Hurricanes All-American Riquna Williams was named the 2013 WNBA Sixth Woman of the Year, the WNBA announced Tuesday. Williams received 17 votes from a national panel of 39 sportswriters and broadcasters to earn the award.
“We are once again so proud of Riquna and her accomplishments this season,” Miami head coach Katie Meier said. “She has always been a ‘game-changer’ at every level, and it is a testament to her work ethic that she continues to be one in the WNBA.”
The second-year guard averaged 15.6 points in 27 games for Tulsa in 2013, including 21 games off the bench. Williams also averaged 2.4 rebounds, 1.8 assists and 1.0 steals, and burst onto the scene with a record-setting 51-point performance against San Antonio in early September.
The Pahokee, Fla., native shot 17-for-28 from the field in a 98-65 win over the Silver Stars, including eight 3-point baskets, to set a single-game WNBA scoring record. The 51-point effort surpassed the previous mark of 47 set by Phoenix’s Diana Taurasi in 2006 and Seattle’s Lauren Jackson in 2007, earning her a career-first Western Conference Player of the Week Award.
Williams was selected in the second round (17th overall) of the 2012 WNBA Draft, becoming the fourth player in Miami Hurricanes history to be drafted. She finished her inaugural WNBA campaign ranked third among rookies in both assists (2.1) and steals (1.55), and fourth in scoring (10.5) en route to 2012 All-Rookie honors.
In recognition of her selection as Sixth Woman of the Year, Williams will receive $5,000 and a specially-designed trophy from Tiffany & Co.
