Former Blackman star Crystal Dangerfield of Lynx named 2020 WNBA Rookie of the Year

Joseph Spears
Murfreesboro Daily News Journal

Former Blackman and UConn star Crystal Dangerfield was named the 2020 WNBA Rookie of the Year on Thursday. 

Selected by the Minnesota Lynx with the 16th pick in the second round of the 2020 Draft, Dangerfield is the lowest pick ever to win the league's award. 

The 5-foot-5 guard started in 19 of the 21 games she played this season and connected on 47% of her shots for a team-high 16.2 points per game. She also averaged 3.6 assists.

“It wasn’t my goal to come in and win this,” Dangerfield said. “I wanted to win games. I guess my play stood out.”

Twitter - https://twitter.com/minnesotalynx/status/1306671642588913664/photo/1

Dangerfield scored the second-most total points in the league in the final period behind only Arike Ogunbwale, averaging 6.5 points a game.

She was at it again on Thursday night, scoring nine of her 17 points in the fourth quarter as the Lynx rallied to defeat the Phoenix Mercury 80-79 and advance to the playoff semifinals.

Dangerfield received 44 votes. Atlanta Dream guard Chennedy Carter finished second with two votes and Dallas Wings forward Satou Sabally was third with one vote.

A four-year starter for Blackman, Dangerfield averaged 17 points, four rebounds and four assists during her career. She led Blackman to the 2014 and 2015 Class AAA state titles and was the  Class AAA Miss Basketball in 2015 and 2016.