Earns Recognition Despite Season-Ending Knee Injury; Finishes Second in Voting for Rookie of the Year

Despite missing the last 14 games of the regular season, Minnesota Lynx point guard Lindsey Harding was named to the WNBA's All- Rookie Team, it was announced today by the WNBA. Harding received 10 of a possible 12 votes from a panel consisting of the WNBA’s 13 head coaches, who were asked to select five players regardless of position. Coaches were not permitted to vote for players on their own team.

"There were many members of the 2007 rookie class that deserved to be recognized for their outstanding play in their first professional seasons, and to be selected among the best of the class is a tremendous honor for me," said Harding. "Although it is my name on the All-Rookie Team, it is an honor that I share with my teammates and the entire Lynx organization."

Harding suffered a season-ending tear to the anterior cruciate ligament in her left knee in a game on July 10 against the Washington Mystics. Despite the injury, Harding still led the rookie class in scoring with 11.7 points per game and minutes per game (30.1). She was second in assists (3.9 per game) behind only Lynx teammate Noelle Quinn (4.4). Harding was also third in rebounds per game (4.4) and steals per game (1.0).

On June 5 against the Phoenix Mercury, Harding scored a season-high 20 points to help the Lynx win their first game of the season. She handed out a season-high nine assists on May 25 against the Chicago Sky. Against the Detroit Shock on May 22, Harding topped Minnesota in rebounds (7) and assists (6), becoming the first Lynx guard with at least six rebounds and six assists in the same game since current Lynx assistant coach Teresa Edwards did so against Sacramento on Aug. 9, 2003.

Harding's play in her rookie season also earned recognition in the voting for the 2007 Rookie of the Year award. The former Duke University standout was second in the voting behind Rookie of the Year Armintie Price. Price received 30 votes from a national panel of sportswriters and broadcasters to earn the award, while Harding finished second with 12 votes and Los Angeles Sparks guard Sidney Spencer was third with 10.

Selected No. 1 in the 2007 WNBA Draft by the Phoenix Mercury, Harding was acquired by the Lynx in a draft-day trade in exchange for Tangela Smith. Harding is joined on the WNBA All-Rookie Team by Price (12 votes), Los Angeles Sparks guards Spencer (11) and Marta Fernandez (8) and San Antonio Silver Stars forward Camille Little (10). Quinn, Minnesota's first-round pick in the 2007 WNBA Draft (fourth overall), finished sixth in the voting after receiving four votes from the WNBA's coaches.