Laimbeer garners coaching honor

AUBURN HILLS, Mich. (AP) -- Detroit Shock coach Bill Laimbeer was voted WNBA's coach of the year, and Shock forward Cheryl Ford was selected rookie of the year Sunday.
Also, Michelle Snow of the Houston Comets was selected as the league's most improved player.
Laimbeer, who led the Shock to a league-best 25-9 record this season after a 9-10 mark in 2002, received 45 of 54 votes from a panel of sports writers and broadcasters.
The Shock set a league record with a 16-victory improvement over 2002.
Ford, the daughter of NBA star Karl Malone, became the first rookie in league history to average a double-double with 10.8 points and 10.4 rebounds. She received 49 out of 54 votes.
Ford admitted being nervous coming into the league, but said she was calmed by her early success.
"When I was able to play hard and get double-doubles in a lot of games, I knew I could play at this level," she said.
Snow, who received 22 of 53 votes, averaged 9.3 points, 7.7 rebounds, and shot 49.8 percent from the field.