University Park, Pa. — Former Penn State Lady Lion Tanisha Wright and the Seattle Storm claimed the 2010 WNBA Championship with an 87-84 victory over the Atlanta Dream Thursday night in Atlanta. The Storm, who had the WNBA’s best regular-season record, swept the Dream, 3-0, to claim their first title since 2004. It is the first WNBA Championship for Wright. A former Lady Lion has taken home the WNBA Championship trophy in three of the last four seasons (Kelly Mazzante with the Phoenix Mercury in 2007 & 2009).
Wright, a 2005 Penn State grad, had a solid WNBA Finals Game 3, scoring 13 points to go along with four rebounds, three assists and two steals. Lauren Jackson, who claimed WNBA Finals MVP, tallied 15 points and nine rebounds, while Swin Cash led the Storm with 18 markers and six boards.
Wright produced for the Storm in the WNBA Finals, accounting for 11.3 points, 3.0 rebounds, 3.3 assists and 2.7 steals. In seven WNBA Playoff games this season, Wright averaged 9.6 points, 2.6 rebounds, 2.9 assists and 1.3 steals.
In her sixth season with Seattle, Wright accounts for 9.2 points, 3.3 rebounds, a career-best 4.5 assists and 1.2 steals per game during the regular season. She ranks 10th in the WNBA in assists per game and eighth in assist-to-turnover ratio (2.17). The three-time Big Ten Defensive Player of the Year has also been steady at the free throw line, ranking 13th in the WNBA with an 84.4% mark from the stripe. Wright was also recently selected to the WNBA All-Defensive first team for the second consecutive season.
The Lady Lions, who will face Gannon in an exhibition on Sun., Nov. 7, open their season on the road at Dayton on Fri., Nov. 12. Penn State then faces Rider in its home opener on Sun., Nov. 14. 2010-11 Lady Lion Basketball season tickets are available by calling 814-867-2557. Season tickets are $117 for adults, $52 for youth and $91 for seniors. The PNC Flex Books are available again this year for $99. The Flex Book gives fans 10 vouchers that can be redeemed for Nittany Lion and Lady Lion Basketball tickets in any combination.