Rapid City native Becky Hammon, a standout for the WNBA’s San Antonio Silver Stars, has been nominated for an ESPY.

Hammon, 33, is among five women nominated for ESPN’s annual sports award show in the category of best WNBA player. Others nominated include Tamika Catchings of Indiana, Lauren Jackson of Seattle, Candace Parker of Los Angeles and Diana Taurasi of Phoenix.

Last year, Hammon finished second in the league in scoring with 19.5 points per game and third in the league with five assists per game. Hammon was an undrafted rookie in 1999 and has played for New York Liberty and the Silver Stars in the WNBA. She also plays

professionally in Russia and was a key member of the 2008 Russian Olympic team that won a bronze medal.

Hammon was an All-American at Colorado State before entering the WNBA, and she played her high school basketball at Rapid City Stevens, where she earned South Dakota Miss Basketball and South Dakota Player of the Year Honors.

ESPY voting online, by phone and at Facebook began Thursday and runs through July 10, with fans deciding the winners in 37 categories. The winners will be announced during the show on July 14, televised live this year for the first time from the Nokia Theatre in Los Angeles.

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