Kim Perrot Sportsmanship Award History
The WNBA Sportsmanship Award was first presented during the league's
inaugural season in 1997.
Before the 2000 WNBA season, the award was renamed the
Kim Perrot Sportsmanship Award in honor of former
Houston Comets guard Kim Perrot.
Perrot helped Houston win the first two WNBA championships in
1997 and 1998. She died in August 1999 at the age of 32 after battling
cancer.
The award is presented annually to the player who best exemplifies
sportsmanship on the court, including ethical behavior, fair play
and integrity.
WNBA Kim Perrot Sportsmanship Award Winners
| Year |
Player |
Team |
| 2025 |
Nneka Ogwumike |
Seattle Storm |
| 2024 |
Dearica Hamby |
Los Angeles Sparks |
| 2023 |
Elizabeth Williams |
Chicago Sky |
| 2022 |
Sylvia Fowles |
Minnesota Lynx |
| 2021 |
Nneka Ogwumike |
Los Angeles Sparks |
| 2020 |
Nneka Ogwumike |
Los Angeles Sparks |
| 2019 |
Nneka Ogwumike |
Los Angeles Sparks |
| 2018 |
Sue Bird |
Seattle Storm |
| 2017 |
Sue Bird |
Seattle Storm |
| 2016 |
Tamika Catchings |
Indiana Fever |
| 2015 |
DeLisha Milton-Jones |
Atlanta Dream |
| 2014 |
Becky Hammon |
San Antonio Stars |
| 2013 |
Swin Cash |
Chicago Sky |
| 2013 |
Tamika Catchings |
Indiana Fever |
| 2012 |
Kara Lawson |
Connecticut Sun |
| 2011 |
Sue Bird |
Seattle Storm |
| 2011 |
Ruth Riley |
San Antonio Silver Stars |
| 2010 |
Tamika Catchings |
Indiana Fever |
| 2009 |
Kara Lawson |
Sacramento Monarchs |
| 2008 |
Vickie Johnson |
San Antonio Silver Stars |
| 2007 |
Tully Bevilaqua |
Indiana Fever |
| 2006 |
Dawn Staley |
Houston Comets |
| 2005 |
Taj McWilliams-Franklin |
Connecticut Sun |
| 2004 |
Teresa Edwards |
Minnesota Lynx |
| 2003 |
Edna Campbell |
Sacramento Monarchs |
| 2002 |
Jennifer Gillom |
Phoenix Mercury |
| 2001 |
Sue Wicks |
New York Liberty |
| 2000 |
Suzie McConnell Serio |
Cleveland Rockers |
| 1999 |
Dawn Staley |
Charlotte Sting |
| 1998 |
Suzie McConnell Serio |
Cleveland Rockers |
| 1997 |
Haixia Zheng |
Los Angeles Sparks |
Kim Perrot Sportsmanship Award Facts
Haixia Zheng of the Los Angeles Sparks became the
first recipient of the WNBA Sportsmanship Award in 1997.
Nneka Ogwumike became the first four-time winner
when she received the award with Seattle in 2025. She previously won
three consecutive awards with Los Angeles from 2019 through 2021.
Sue Bird won three times, receiving the honor in
2011, 2017 and 2018.
Tamika Catchings also won three times, in 2010,
2013 and 2016.
The award had co-winners twice. Sue Bird and Ruth Riley
shared the award in 2011, while Swin Cash and Tamika
Catchings shared it in 2013.
Dawn Staley won the award with two different
franchises: Charlotte in 1999 and Houston in 2006.
Kara Lawson also won with two different teams,
Sacramento in 2009 and Connecticut in 2012.
About Kim Perrot
Kim Perrot played five professional basketball seasons and spent the
final three years of her career with the Houston Comets. She helped
Houston capture the first two championships in WNBA history in
1997 and 1998.
Perrot became known for her competitiveness, leadership and respect
for the game. Following her death in 1999, the WNBA renamed its
Sportsmanship Award in her honor beginning with the 2000 season.
