Moore named to all-WNBA first team; Fowles is top defensive player

With the postseason looming, the Minnesota Lynx nabbed few more regular season awards.

The Associated Press season awards were announced Tuesday, and Lynx forward Maya Moore was named first-team all-WNBA, along with New York center Tina Charles, Los Angeles forward Nneka Ogwumike, Chicago’s Elena Delle Donne and Seattle rookie Breanna Stewart.

Lynx center Sylvia Fowles was named the league’s defensive player of the year and was named second-team all-WNBA along with Candace Parker of Los Angeles, Angel McCoughtry of Atlanta, Seattle’s Sue Bird and Diana Taurasi of Phoenix.

Here’s a rundown of the other WNBA awards:

--Lynx coach Cheryl Reeve was edged out for coach of the year by Brian Agler of Los Angeles. This despite the fact the Lynx finished with the league’s best record, the No. 1 playoff seed, and won the season series with the Sparks. The Sparks opened the season 20-1, but limped to the finish, going 5-5 in their last 10 games.

--Ogwumike won player of the year, beating out Charles and Delle Donne.

--Stewart was the run-away winter of rookie of the year.

--Atlanta’s Elizabeth Williams was named most improved player. Washington guard Tayler Hill -- the former Minneapolis South star – finished in a tie for second.

--Chiney Ogwumike – Nneka’s sister – was named comeback player of the year.

--L.A. center Jantel Lavender was named sixth woman of the year.

Meanwhile, Moore was named by the league as the Western Conference player of the month for September. It was the second time she won the award this season, nabbing it in May as well. Moore and Nneka Ogwumike (June and July) were the only players to win the award this season.

It is the eighth time Moore has won the award in her career.

Moore averaged 21.6 points, 4.9 rebounds and 3.9 assists in seven September games for the Lynx, who went 6-1 in the month while wrapping up the league’s best record (28-6).

She shot 46.5 overall, 57.7 percent on three-pointers and 82.4 percent at the free throw line in those seven games.

Charles was named the Eastern Conference player of the month. She won it every month this season.