LAS VEGAS (KLAS) — Becky Hammon of the Aces is the WNBA Coach of the Year.
The league announced Hammon as the winner of its top coach award Friday. She is the third former league player to win the award, joining Sandy Brondello (2014) and Suzie McConnell (2004), the league said.
Hammon called the award a “great honor” and gave credit to her players. “Great girls to work with,” she said. “They made me look good. I share this with a lot of different people.”
Hammon guided the Aces to the top seed in the WNBA playoffs and a 26-10 regular-season record in her first season as coach. The Aces open their best-of-five semifinal series against the Seattle Storm on Sunday at Michelob Ultra Arena.
The defending champion Chicago Sky play the Connecticut Sun in the other semifinal that also starts Sunday.
Hammon received 27 votes from a national panel of 56 sportswriters and broadcasters. Tanisha Wright of the Atlanta Dream was second place with 18 votes. Chicago’s James Wade followed with eight votes.
Hammon played 16 seasons in the league, including her final eight with the San Antonio Silver Stars. She was picked as one of the league’s 25 best players in the WNBA’s 25 year anniversary celebration in 2021.