Take a look back at the Top 10 Plays from the 2010 WNBA Finals matchup between the Seattle Storm and Atlanta Dream.

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Top 10 Plays of the 2010 WNBA Finals

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League Champion: Minnesota Lynx (first title in franchise history)
<a href="https://www.wnba.com/draft2011/">Top Draft Pick: Maya Moore (MIN; University of Connecticut)</a>
<a href="https://www.wnba.com/awards2011/">Awards</a>
<ul>
<li>Most Valuable Player: <a href="https://www.wnba.com/news/tamika-catchings-named-2011-wnba-most-valuable-player/">Tamika Catchings (IND), 1st MVP</a></li>
<li>Rookie of the Year: Maya Moore (MIN)</li>
<li>Defensive Player of the Year: Sylvia Fowles (CHI), 1st DPOY</li>
<li>Sixth Woman of the Year: DeWanna Bonner (PHX), 3rd Sixth</li>
<li>Most Improved Player: Kia Vaughn (NYL)</li>
<li>Coach of the Year: Cheryl Reeve (MIN), 1st COY</li>
</ul>
Top Players
<ul>
<li>All-WNBA First Team: Tamika Catchings (IND), Tina Charles (CON), Angel McCoughtry (ATL), Diana Taurasi (PHX), Lindsay Whalen (MIN)</li>
<li>All-WNBA Second Team: Seimone Augustus (MIN), Sue Bird (SEA), Sylvia Fowles (CHI), Cappie Pondexter (NYL), Penny Taylor (PHX)</li>
<li>All-Rookie Team: Danielle Adams (SAS), Liz Cambage (TUL), Maya Moore (MIN), Danielle Robinson (SAS), Courtney Vandersloot (CHI)</li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li>All-Defense First Team: Rebekkah Brunson (MIN), Tamika Catchings (IND), Sylvia Fowles (CHI), Angel McCoughtry (ATL), Tanisha Wright (SEA)</li>
<li>All-Defense Second Team: Swin Cash (SEA), Tina Charles (CON), Katie Douglas (IND), Armintie Price Herrington (ATL), Sancho Lyttle (ATL)</li>
</ul>
Stats Leaders
<ul>
<li>Points Per Game: Diana Taurasi (PHX): 21.6</li>
<li>Rebounds Per Game: Tina Charles (CON): 11.0</li>
<li>Assists Per Game: Lindsay Whalen (MIN): 5.9</li>
<li>Steals Per Game: Sancho Lyttle (ATL): 2.4</li>
<li>Blocks Per Game: Sylvia Fowles (CHI): 2.0</li>
</ul>
Regular Season
The 2011 season marked the 15th anniversary of the WNBA, and the history of the league was celebrated throughout the season. But in addition to looking back, 2011 also offered a glimpse of the future as it marked the beginning of a new dynasty in the WNBA – the Minnesota Lynx.
Heading into the 2010 season, the Lynx hired Cheryl Reeve as head coach and <a href="https://lynx.wnba.com/news/lynx-bring-lindsay-whalen-back-home/">traded for hometown hero Lindsay Whalen</a> as the team’s point guard. However, injuries robbed the Lynx of reaching their potential in 2010 as they finished 13-21 and missed the playoffs for the sixth straight season.
But there was a silver lining – the draft lottery – which the Lynx won to give them the top pick in the 2011 Draft. And sitting atop every draft board was an absolute game-changer in <a href="https://www.wnba.com/draft2011/">Maya Moore from the University of Connecticut</a>.
Adding a player of Moore’s caliber to a team that already had Lindsay Whalen, Rebekkah Brunson and now a healthy Seimone Augustus was like adding gasoline to a small fire. The Lynx burned the rest of the league down in 2011 as they finished with a franchise-best 27-7 record. It was the first 20-win season in team history and started a streak of seven straight in Minnesota.
Moore would win Rookie of the Year honors, but it was a veteran in the Eastern Conference that took home Most Valuable Player. In her 10th season, Tamika Catchings captured her first MVP after finishing among the top three five times and among the top five in eight different seasons. She was the runner-up in 2003, 2009 and 2010.
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Catchings led the Indiana Fever to the top seed in the Eastern Conference with a 21-13 record by excelling on both ends of the floor. She already had four Defensive Player of the Year awards to her credit (she would win a fifth in 2012 to extend her own record) and now added the top individual honor the league awards.
The 2011 season also saw the return of three-time MVP and three-time DPOY Sheryl Swoopes. After a two-year absence, Swoopes returned to the league at the age of 40 as a member of the Tulsa Shock. The 2016 Naismith Hall of Famer finished her final WNBA season averaging 8.2 points, 4.1 rebounds, 2.3 assists and 0.7 steals in 33 games.
As part of the celebration of the WNBA’s 15th season, on June 21, the Los Angeles Sparks hosted the New York Liberty at Staples Center in the WNBA’s 15th Anniversary Game, played 15 years to the day of the league inaugural matchup between the same two teams in Los Angeles.
This was the first season under new WNBA President Laurel Richie, who joined the league on April 21, 2011 and served as President for four-and-a-half years before departing on Nov. 4, 2015.
All-Star
The San Antonio Silver Stars hosted their first WNBA All-Star Game in 2011. It marked only the second time the contest was played in a Western Conference venue and the first since the 2000 game was held in Phoenix.
In a tightly contested game, that saw 28 ties, 25 lead changes and neither team leading by more than five points, the East All-Stars prevailed 118-113 for their third All-Star win in 10 games. Seattle’s Swin Cash was named All-Star MVP after finishing with game-highs of 21 points and 12 rebounds in a losing effort. Cash became the first player to win All-Star MVP from the losing team and joined Lisa Leslie as the only multi-time winners as Cash also won in 2009.
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During the All-Star Game halftime ceremony, the WNBA unveiled <a href="https://www.wnba.com/news/wnba-honors-top-15-players-league-history-halftime-ceremony-2011-wnba-star-game-presented-adidas/">the Top 15 Players of All-Time.</a> With consideration given to on-court performance and ability, leadership, sportsmanship, and community service, as well as to contributions to team success and women’s basketball, voting was conducted by fans, select national and WNBA-market media, and by current players and coaches.
The players named were: Sue Bird, Tamika Catchings, Cynthia Cooper, Yolanda Griffith, Becky Hammon, Lauren Jackson, Lisa Leslie, Ticha Penicheiro, Cappie Pondexter, Katie Smith, Dawn Staley, Sheryl Swoopes, Diana Taurasi, Tina Thompson, and Teresa Weatherspoon.
Playoffs
<ul>
<li>West Semifinals: Minnesota Lynx def. San Antonio Silver Stars, 2-1</li>
<li>West Semifinals: Phoenix Mercury def. Seattle Storm, 2-1</li>
<li>East Semifinals: Atlanta Dream def. Connecticut Sun, 2-0</li>
<li>East Semifinals: Indiana Fever def. New York Liberty, 2-1</li>
<li>West Finals: Minnesota Lynx def. Phoenix Mercury, 2-0</li>
<li>East Finals: Atlanta Dream def. Indiana Fever, 2-1</li>
<li>Finals: Minnesota Lynx def. Atlanta Dream, 3-0</li>
</ul>
After finishing with six more wins than any other team during the regular season, the Minnesota Lynx carried their dominance over to the postseason. After dropping Game 2 of their West Semifinal series with San Antonio, the Lynx would not lose again. They won the decisive Gamtichae 3 over the Silver Stars by 18 points, then swept the Phoenix Mercury in the West Finals in two games and swept the Eastern Conference champion Atlanta Dream in the WNBA Finals to claim their first championship in franchise history.
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A year after her famous playoff duel with Cappie Pondexter, Atlanta’s Angel McCoughtry faced off in a Finals scoring duel with Minnesota’s Seimone Augustus in Game 2 of the 2011 Finals. McCoughtry topped her own Finals scoring record (35 points back in 2010) with a 38-point performance, but it came in a losing effort as Augustus scored 36 points to lead the Lynx to a 101-95 win and a commanding 2-0 series lead.
Augustus would win Finals MVP honors after the Lynx completed the sweep on Oct. 7. That same day, the WNBA unveiled the Top 15 Moments in league history as voted by fans. The top moment was Teresa Weatherspoon’s half-court shot at the buzzer to win Game 2 of the 1999 WNBA Finals for the New York Liberty and send that series to a decisive third game. Ranking second was the WNBA’s first-ever game (NY Liberty at LA Sparks, June 21, 1997). Third was Sparks’ center Lisa Leslie throwing down the first dunk in WNBA history in the first half of a game vs. the Miami Sol.

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WNBA Decade In Review: 2011

In celebration of Sancho Lyttle announcing her retirement, here is a look at her 15-year career in the WNBA.
&#x1f3b5; &#8220;MVP&#8221; by ATM Curly | United Masters
&#x1f3a7; http://untd.io/r/AhBFmwe6gPaL?utm_source=nba

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Sancho Lyttle Career Mix

Get to know some of the women of the Phoenix Mercury with The Pick Up.

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The Pick Up: Phoenix Mercury

Watch the Phoenix Mercury&#8217;s top plays of the 2019 WNBA regular season!

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Best Of: Phoenix Mercury

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Washington Mystics vs. Phoenix Mercury - Game Highlights

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Phoenix Mercury vs. Atlanta Dream - Game Highlights

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PHOENIX – Phoenix Mercury forward Sancho Lyttle will miss the remainder of the 2018 WNBA season after sustaining a torn ACL during the Mercury’s last game on Saturday, June 30, at Washington, the team has announced.
Lyttle, who signed with Phoenix on February 1 as a free agent this past offseason, had started all 18 games for the Mercury this season.  She ranks fourth on the team in scoring (7.9), third in rebounding (5.3) and was shooting 54 percent from the field, her highest mark since the 2008 season (58.2 percent).  Along with Brittney Griner and Camille Little, Lyttle has helped anchor a Mercury defense that ranks first in the league in blocks (5.3), second in opponent field goal percentage (41.8 percent) and fourth in opponent scoring (79.4).

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Mercury Forward Sancho Lyttle Out For Season With Torn ACL

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Top 3 Plays of the Week! (6/19-6/24)

Allie Quigley scores 20 points to lead the Sky to a win over the Mercury, 97-88.

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GAME RECAP: Sky 97, Mercury 88

Latest

Sancho Lyttle

WNBA CAREER
Signed with Phoenix as a free agent on February 1, 2018
15-year WNBA veteran with the Houston Comets (2005-08), Atlanta Dream (2009-17) and Phoenix Mercury (2018-19)
Owns career averages of 8.9 points and 6.6 rebounds and 1.6 steals in 392 career games (281 starts)
Nine playoff appearances (2019, 2018, 2014, 2012, 2011, 2010, 2009, 2006, 2005)
Three WNBA Finals appearances (2013, 2011, 2010)
Two-Time All-WNBA Defensive First Team  (2014, 2012)
Two-Time All-WNBA Defensive Second Team (2017, 2016)
2009 WNBA All-Star
Member of the WNBA squad during the 2010 ‘WNBA vs. USA Basketball: The Stars at the Sun’ game
Three-time Eastern Conference Player of the Week award winner
Scored 3,000th-career point on June 5, 2016 against Washington
Scored 2,000th-career point on July 13, 2012 at San Antonio
Scored 1,000th-career point on August 25, 2009 against Sacramento
Became 13th player in WNBA history to record 2,500 career rebound on June 12, 2018 at Dallas
Ranks 10th on the WNBA’s all-time rebounds list with 2,601 career rebounds
Finished her career tied for sixth on the WNBA all-time steals list with 634 career steals
One of four players to rank in the top-15 on both the WNBA’s all-time rebounds and steals list (Tamika Catchings, Taj McWilliams-Franklin, Yolanda Griffith)…only active player in the top-15 on both lists…Karl Malone and Hakeem Olajuwon are the only two NBA players to rank in the top-15 on the NBA’s all-time rebounds and steals list
Three-time WNBA steals leader (2016, 2015, 2011)&#8230;one-of-two players (Tamika Catchings) to lead league in steals in three seasons or more&#8230;only power forward to ever lead WNBA in steals&#8230;Golden State’s Draymond Green is only power forward to lead NBA in steals since stat was first recorded in 1973-74
Originally selected with the fifth overall pick in the 2005 WNBA Draft by the Houston Comets&#8230;acquired by the Dream with the first selection in the 2008 WNBA dispersal draft
Holds the record for most seasons played for the Atlanta Dream with eight
54 career double-doubles
2019 SEASON
Played in 20 games in her final WNBA season…averaged 2.9 points and 2.9 rebounds on 41.9 percent shooting
Missed 13 games due to a knee injury sustained on July 12 at Connecticut
Tied Jia Perkins for sixth on the WNBA’s all-time steals list with 634 on Sept. 8 against Las Vegas
Moved into 10th on the WNBA’s all-time rebounds list on July 7 against Atlanta with six rebounds…has 2,601 for her career
2018 SEASON
Played in 18 games in 2018, starting in all 18 of them
Suffered a torn ACL on June 30 at Washington causing her to miss the remainder of the season
Averaged 7.9 points, 5.3 rebounds, 1.4 assists and 0.9 steals per game before suffering her knee injury
Notched the 54th double-double of her career on June 12 at Dallas, scoring 12 points and grabbing 10 rebounds
Scored a season-high 20 points on May 27 at Los Angeles, finishing 10-of-13 (77.0 percent) from the field
Scored in double-figures in six of the 18 games she appeared in
Finished a perfect six-for-six from the field in the Mercury’s June 16 win against Connecticut…finished with 14 points and nine rebounds
Was shooting 54.0-percent (61-of113) from the field prior to the injury, her highest field goal percentage since shooting 58.2-percent from the field in 2008…was also shooting a career-best 85.5-percent (21-of-24) from the free throw line
Mercury was 13-5 in the 18 games she appeared in…team went 7-9 following the injury
Recorded 2,500th-career rebound on June 12 at Dallas
2017 WNBA Season: Played in 29 games and started 28 for the Dream…Suffered broken nose on July 5 at Dallas…Averaged 6.4 points per game…Recorded 1.6 steals per game finishing sixth in the WNBA&#8230;Her 7.1 rebounds a game ranked 11th in the league…Finished with a season-high 18 points vs. Seattle on August 23…Missed four games to help lead Team Spain to the 2017 FIBA EuroBasket title…Moved in to 12th place all-time in WNBA history with 2,447 career rebounds and sits in ninth place with 606 career steals.
2016 WNBA Season: Suited up for 19 games and started 18…Averaged 7.6 points and 7.8 rebounds per game during the season…Led the WNBA in steals at 1.8 per game…Recorded A career-high eight steals vs. Liberty (6/22).
2015 WNBA SEASON: Led the league in steals per game (2.25)…50 points away from 3,000…Played and started in 24 games…Has appeared in 30 postseason games in her career…Recorded 6 double-doubles…10 double-digit rebound games…11 double-digit scoring games…Scored a season high 19 points on two separate occasions (6/16 and 9/11)…Season high 13 defensive rebounds in the win over Seattle Storm (7/5)…Named to the All-Defensive Second Team…Seventh active leader in total rebounds (2,092)…Fifth in the league in rebounds per game (8.2)…Led the Dream in offensive rebounds (67) and defensive rebounds (131).
2014 WNBA SEASON: Named to the All-Defensive First Team &#8230; Finished second in Defensive Player of the Year voting &#8230; WNBA Eastern Conference Player of the Week (June 23-29) &#8230; Averaged 12.2 points, 9.0 rebounds, 2.4 assists and 2.2 steals per game &#8230; Finished second in the league in steals and fifth in rebounds &#8230; Only player on the team to start all 34 games &#8230; Nine double-doubles (tied for seventh in the league) &#8230; 23 double-digit scoring games and 14 double-digit rebound games &#8230; Grabbed a franchise record 21 rebounds plus 10 points May 17 at Indiana &#8230; Tied team record with seven steals, plus eight points and 12 boards Aug. 5 at Phoenix &#8230; Averaged 9.3 points, 11.3 rebounds and 3.3 assists in three playoff games vs. Chicago.
2013 WNBA SEASON: Played in just six regular-season games, averaging 14.3 points, 8.5 rebounds and 2.3 steals &#8230; Missed six games from June 14-30 while helping the Spanish National Team win gold at EuroBasket Women 2013, winning the MVP award &#8230; Later named the FIBA Europe Women’s Player of the Year for 2013 &#8230; Suffered a fracture in her left foot in her first game back with the Dream on July 9 at Minnesota, and missed the rest of the season &#8230; Had three double-doubles in her six games.
2012 WNBA SEASON: WNBA All-Defensive First Team &#8230; WNBA Eastern Conference Player of the Week for the Week of Aug. 20-26 … Averaged a career-best 14.0 points, 7.6 rebounds and 2.4 steals per game &#8230; Only Dream player to start all 34 games … Had a team-best 27 double-digit scoring efforts, including six double-doubles … Set a team single-season record with 84 steals &#8230; Had the most total steals in the WNBA and ranked second in steals per game &#8230; Ranked sixth in the WNBA in rebounding and 18th in scoring … Tied for second on the team with 28 three-pointers made, after making just two in her fi rst seven years in the league &#8230; Averaged 12.3 points, 7.0 rebounds and 3.0 steals in three playoff games.
2011 WNBA SEASON: Averaged 10.0 points, 6.3 rebounds and 2.4 steals per game … WNBA All-Defensive Second team honoree … Led WNBA in steals (2.4 spg) &#8230; Missed a total of 12 games (six due to commitments to Spain’s national team and six more with a back injury) &#8230; Started all eight postseason games, averaging 10.0 ppg and 7.5 rpg.
2010 WNBA SEASON: Averaged 12.8 points and 9.9 rebounds per game … WNBA All-Defensive Second team honoree … 2010 WNBA “Stars at the Sun” selection for the WNBA squad … Recorded a career-high 27 points against Connecticut on May 21 … Started all seven playoff games, averaging 10.7 points and 9.6 rebounds per game.
2009 WNBA SEASON: Started 31 of 34 games and averaged 27.4 minutes per game … Averaged 13 points, 7.5 rebounds and 2.0 steals per game … WNBA All-Defensive Second Team honoree in 2009 … Earned first WNBA All-Star selection … Ranked second on the team in steals (68) … Ranked fourth in WNBA in both defensive rebounds (182) and total rebounds (254).
2008 WNBA SEASON: Played in 27 games for the Comets, including nine starts … Averaged 8.2 points, 6.2 rebounds, 1.5 steals and 1.0 blocks per game … Recorded career-highs in all major statistical categories …Led the team in field goal percentage, shooting 58.2% from the field … Led the team in blocked shots.
2007 WNBA SEASON: Played in 31 games for the Comets, including 25 starts … Averaged 5.9 points, 5.3 rebounds and 1.2 steals per game … Recorded her first career double-double with ten points and 11 rebounds against Connecticut on July 22.
2006 WNBA SEASON: Appeared in 29 games for the Comets, including two starts … Averaged 3.7 points and 3.9 rebounds per game.
2005 WNBA SEASON: Played in 33 games for the Comets as a rookie … Averaged 4.2 points and 3.8 rebounds …Ranked first among WNBA rookies in field goal percentage (58.4 pct) … Set the Comets rookie record for field goal percentage in a season … Finished second among rookies in rebounds per game (3.8) … Made her WNBA debut against San Antonio on May 21.
INTERNATIONAL/SPANISH NATIONAL TEAM
Four-time EuroLeague Champion (2016, 2014, 2012, 2011)
Spent the 2016-17 WNBA offseason in Russia playing for UMMC Ekaterinburg alongside Mercury teammates Diana Taurasi and Brittney Griner&#8230;averaged 5.8 points and 5.9 rebounds per game
Played for UMMC Ekaterinburg with Diana Taurasi and Brittney Griner during the 2015-16 WNBA offseason&#8230;averaged 7.8 points and 7.6 rebounds per game&#8230;helped to the EuroLeague Title
Played for Galatasaray in Turkey for three-consecutive WNBA off seasons (2012-2015)&#8230;best season came in 2013-14 when she averaged 13.6 points and 8.3 rebounds per game, guiding team to EuroLeague Title
Played for Ros Casares in Spain during 2011-12 WNBA offseason, helping team to EuroLeague Title (her second consecutive title) with averages of 12.8 points and 7.4 rebounds
Played two straight years for Halcon Avenida in Spain during WNBA offseason from 2009-11&#8230;averaged double-double (17.6 points, 10.8 rebounds during 2009-10 season&#8230;helped Avenida to EuroLeague Title during 2010-11 season
Helped guide Spain to the 2017 FIBA EuroBasket Titile
Led Spain to a silver medal at the 2014 FIBA World Champion ships
Member of Team Spain in the 2010 FIBA World Championships
Named to the All-Star Five at both the 2014 and 2010 FIBA World Championships
COLLEGE CAREER
Finished career at University of Houston after spending two seasons at Clarendon Junior College in Texas
Averaged 17,6 points and 10.7 rebounds in her two seasons at Houston
In her senior season, averaged 18.8 points and led the nation in rebounds with 12.1 per game
AP All-America Honorable Mention, All-Conference USA First Team and Conference USA All-Tournament Team honors in 2005
Dunked in a game against Gonzaga
PERSONAL
Grew up in Saint Vincent in the West Indies
Standout sprinter growing up, representing her country in the 400 meters and 300 hurdles
Played netball growing up, but did not start playing basketball until senior season of high school (17 years old)
Majored in kinesiology and minored in health at Houston
Awarded Spanish citizenship after competing in Spain for a few years during WNBA offseason