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Sept. 28, 2004
NEW YORK – University of Virginia alumna Wendy Palmer (Timberlake, N.C.), who now plays for the WNBA’s Connecticut Sun, was named the co-winner of the 2004 WNBA Most Improved Player of the Year, the WNBA announced.
Palmer shares the award with the Indiana Fever’s Kelly Miller. Each received nine of a possible 48 votes from a national panel of sportswriters and broadcasters.
Palmer scored in double figures on 14 different occasions for Connecticut in 2004, and averaged 9.0 points and 5.5 rebounds – up from 4.7 points and 3.3 rebounds a year ago. She was the fourth leading scorer for the Sun and the second leading rebounder, almost doubled her assist output, doubled her steals per game, and increased her field goal percentage to 42.7 percent, up from 39.5 percent a year ago.
While at Virginia, Palmer became the first women’s player in school history to record over 1,000 points, and 1,000 rebounds in her career. The two-time Kodak All-American also earned ACC Player of the Year honors twice and was a three-time All-ACC first-team selection. Palmer is just one of four Virginia women to have her jersey number retired.
As the WNBA Most Improved Players of the Year, Palmer and Miller will receive a Tiffany-designed trophy and $5,000.
Four networks will carry 2004 WNBA Playoffs action, which tips off on September 24. ABC, ESPN2, NBA TV and Oxygen provide coverage through the Conference Finals. The 2004 WNBA Finals will be televised exclusively on ESPN2.