Baltimore native Angel McCoughtry, a forward with the Atlanta Dream, has been named the
WNBA's Rookie of the Year 2009. McCoughtry, a
Saint Frances Academy alum fought through a tough start on the season on the way to earning the award.
Here's an excerpt:
Angel McCoughtry wasn't having much fun during the first half of her rookie season. She wasn't playing a lot and was struggling on offense.
In fact, she almost gave up playing basketball.
It all changed for the No. 1 draft pick when she cracked the starting lineup. McCoughtry regained her confidence and helped lead the Atlanta Dream to a remarkable turnaround, making the playoffs after winning only four games in their inaugural season.
Her play was rewarded Thursday when McCoughtry was voted the WNBA rookie of the year.
"It means so much," she said after receiving the award at U.S. women's basketball training camp. "I was just thinking back how I was really struggling, I wasn't playing a lot, I was ready to quit. That's how frustrated I was. I had lost a lot of confidence in myself. I had to mentally get myself back. When I started having fun I started playing my game.
"It goes to show you that if you keep doing something you love and stick with it through the good and the bad, good things can come out of it."
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