https://www.instagram.com/p/BnCMNdXHa2M/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link
NEW YORK, Aug. 28, 2018 – Atlanta Dream Head Coach Nicki Collen, who guided the team to the No. 2 seed in the 2018 WNBA Playoffs, has been named the WNBA Coach of the Year, the WNBA announced today. She becomes the second Atlanta coach to earn the honor, joining Marynell Meadors (2009).
Collen received 37 votes from a national panel of 39 sportswriters and broadcasters. Dan Hughes of the Seattle Storm and Mike Thibault of the Washington Mystics tied for second with one vote each.
In Collen’s first season as a head coach at any level, the Dream won 15 of its final 17 games to finish with a 23-11 record – an 11-game improvement over last season’s 12-22 mark. The 23 victories are the most in franchise history, surpassing the previous mark of 20 set in 2011 (20-14). The season-ending 15-2 surge featured a team-record eight-game winning streak.
Atlanta Dream General Manager Chris Sienko has been named the 2018 WNBA Basketball Executive of the Year, the WNBA announced today. Sienko earned the honor in his first year in his position.
Sienko received six of 11 first-place votes and four second-place votes (42 points) from a panel composed of one basketball executive from each WNBA team. Seattle Storm President and General Manager Alisha Valavanis finished second with 37 points (five first-place votes). Washington Mystics General Manager and Head Coach Mike Thibault was third with 10 points.
Executives were awarded five points for a first-place vote, three points for a second-place vote and one point for a third-place vote. They were not allowed to vote for themselves.
