University of Connecticut Athletics
UConn Connections Up For Six ESPY Awards
6/25/2009 12:00:00 AM | Women's Basketball
June 25, 2009
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STORRS, Conn. - Geno Auriemma, Maya Moore (Lawrenceville, Ga.) and the 2009 NCAA National Champion UConn women's basketball team are among the nominees announced for The 2009 ESPYs, co-presented by Under Armour and Land Rover.
Moore is nominated for both Best Female Athlete and Best Female College Athlete while Auriemma is among the candidates for Best Coach.
The UConn women's basketball team is nominated for Best Team following its perfect 39-0 run to the 2009 NCAA National Championship - the sixth in program history.
In addition, the six-overtime UConn men's basketball game against Syracuse in the quarterfinals of the 2009 BIG EAST Championship has been nominated for the Game of the Year.
Former UConn women's basketball standout Diana Taurasi of the Phoenix Mercury has been nominted for the Best WNBA Player along with Lindsay Whalen of the Connecticut Sun, Deanna Nolan of the Detroit Shock and Candace Parker of the Los Angeles Sparks.
The 2009 ESPYs will recognize both sport-specific achievements, such as "Best MLB Player" and "Best WNBA Player," and best-in-sport winners, such as "Best Team" or "Best Female Athlete" that pit nominees from different sports against each other.
The ESPYs honor ESPN's commitment to The V Foundation for Cancer Research, a partnership launched with the late Jim Valvano at the inaugural ESPYs in 1993.
BEST TEAM NOMINEES
Connecticut Women's Basketball
- Had a 39-0 record on their way to a National championship.
- Became the first team in men's or women's Division I to win every game by double digits.
- Became the fifth team in NCAA women's basketball history to finish the season undefeated.
Los Angeles Lakers
- Won 15th NBA championship by beating Orlando Magic, 4-1 in NBA Finals.
- Posted the best record in the Western Conference (65-17) during the regular season.
- Won the NBA title for the first time since 2002.
North Carolina Men's Basketball
- Became the fifth team in NCAA history to win all their tournament games by double digits en route to a national title.
- Led the nation in scoring margin (+17.8 PPG) on their way to a 34-4 record.
Philadelphia Phillies
- Earned their first World Series title since 1980 and second in team history.
- Their 28-year span between World Series titles is tied for the fourth-longest in MLB history.
- Finished the postseason with a 7-0 record at home.
- Won the NL with a record of 92-70.
Pittsburgh Penguins
- After starting the season 27-25-5, the team changed coached, turned things around and made the playoffs.
- Won their first Stanley Cup since 1992 by defeating the Detroit Red Wings in game seven of the Stanley Cup Finals in Detroit at Joe Louis Arena.
Pittsburgh Steelers
- Won their record-breaking sixth Super Bowl.
- Went 12-4 during regular season despite playing the toughest schedule in the NFL.
BEST COACH/MANAGER NOMINEES
Geno Auriemma, Connecticut Women's Basketball
- Earned his sixth national championship and led Connecticut to a perfect 39-0 record.
- His team won every game by double figures.
Dan Bylsma, Pittsburgh Penguins
- Led the Penguins to first Stanley Cup since 1992.
- Replaced Michel Therrien as coach when Pittsburgh started with a 27-25-5 record, off the playoff pace.
- Led team to 18-3-4 mark to end regular season and then through the playoffs to win the Stanley Cup.
Phil Jackson, Los Angeles Lakers
- Won his 10th NBA title as a head coach, surpassing Red Auerbach for the most all-time.
- Became the first head coach to win 10 championships in one of the four major American pro sports leagues.
Joe Maddon, Tampa Bay Rays
- Led Tampa Bay to its first winning season in franchise history.
- Tampa Bay became the second franchise in major league history to finish first immediately following a streak of 10 or more consecutive losing seasons.
Mike Tomlin, Pittsburgh Steelers
- Led Steelers to Super Bowl championship.
- His Steelers finished the 2008 regular season with a 12-4 record.
- Became the youngest coach to win a Super Bowl.
BEST FEMALE COLLEGE ATHLETE
Kerri Hanks, Notre Dame Women's Soccer
- Joined Mia Hamm, Cindy Parlow and Christine Sinclair as the fourth two-time Hermann Award winner.
- Finished the 2008 season ranked fifth in the nation in goals (20), tied for third in assists (15) and tied for second in points (55).
- Became the only Division I player to rank in the top five nationally in goals and assists.
Courtney Kupets, Georgia Gymnastics
- Helped Georgia earn its fifth consecutive national title.
- Won on the uneven bars and the balance beam while tying for first in floor exercise during NCAA team championships.
- Became the all-time NCAA leader with nine individual championships.
Danielle Lawrie, WashingtonSoftball
- Led Washington to its first national softball championship title.
- Led the nation in strikeouts (521) and wins (42).
- Finished third in shutouts (21) and sixth in ERA (0.97).
- Was named 2009 USA Softball National Collegiate Player of the Year.
Maya Moore, Connecticut Women's Basketball
- Averaged 19.3 PPG and 8.9 RPG while shooting 52.1 percent from the field.
- Set the Connecticutsingle-season scoring mark.
- Led the Huskies to a 39-0 record and an NCAA championship.
Dana Vollmer, CaliforniaSwimming
- Won the 100 and 200 freestyle titles at NCAA swimming championships.
- Was part of two winning relays that helped California win its first NCAA Division I swimming championship.
BEST FEMALE ATHLETE
Natalie Coughlin, Swimming
- Became the first woman to win six medals at a single Olympics.
- Became the first woman to defend her title in the 100-meter backstroke by winning gold.
Nastia Liukin, Gymnastics
- Joined Mary Lou Retton (1984) and Carly Patterson (2004) as the third American woman to win the individual all-around championship.
- Edged USteammate Shawn Johnson by six-tenths of a point to win the gold medal at the 2008 Olympics.
- Won three silver medals and one bronze medal in addition to her gold at the 2008 Olympics.
Maya Moore, NCAA Basketball
- Averaged 19.3 PPG and 8.9 RPG while shooting 52.1 percent from the field.
- Set the Connecticutsingle-season scoring mark as the AP Player of the Year.
- Led the Huskies to a 39-0 record and an NCAA championship.
Candace Parker, WNBA
- Named WNBA MVP and Rookie of the Year for 2008 season.
- Led WNBA in rebounding (9.5 RPG) and finished fifth in scoring (18.5 PPG).
Serena Williams, Tennis
- Won her 10th career Grand Slam at the 2009 Australian Open.
- Failed to drop a set on her way to her to the 2008 US Open singles title.
