Associated Press
AUBURN HILLS, Mich. -- Lauren Jackson of the Seattle Storm was chosen as the WNBA MVP on Sunday.
Jackson, who led the league with 21.2 points a game, received 23 of 54 first-place votes and 406 total from a nationwide media panel.
"Lauren Jackson is truly deserving of the MVP award and proved why she was consistently the best this season," Seattle coach Anne Donovan said. "She came to every practice and every game focused and determined. She dominated the court this season."
Despite Jackson's year, the Storm missed the playoffs with a 18-16 record. The Australian's 698 points were the second highest single-season total in the seven-year history of the league. Minnesota guard Katie Smith scored 739 points in 2001. Jackson, 22, is the youngest player in WNBA history to reach 1,000 points.
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Indiana's Tamika Catchings was second in the MVP voting with 242 points, and 2001 MVP Lisa Leslie of the two-time champion Los Angeles Sparks finished third with 218 points. Smith and Detroit's Swin Cash rounded out the top five.
Jackson, Catchings, Leslie, Smith and Seattle's Sue Bird were named to the WNBA's first team. Cash and Detroit teammates Cheryl Ford and Deanna Nolan, Los Angeles' Nikki Teasley and Houston's Sheryl Swoopes were chosen for the second team.
