Skylar Diggins-Smith, Natasha Howard, Jackie Young… those are just some of the recipients of the WNBA’s Most Improved Player Award. Last season, the Dallas Wings’ Satou Sabally captured the honor.
It’s an award that’s always hard to prognosticate, as making improvements usually comes with some unpredictability. So, treat these more as educated guesses, rather than solid predictions.
Shakira Austin (Washington Mystics)
After appearing in 19 games last season and undergoing hip surgery before the end of the season, Austin should be a new player for a new-look Mystics team. With Elena Delle Donne sitting out the season, Austin should find herself playing a more important role on both ends of the court, no longer bound by the minutes restriction that limited her contributions in 2023. Last season, she averaged 10.0 points and 7.0 rebounds per game. This year, those numbers can significantly improve, as long as she stays healthy.
Dana Evans (Chicago Sky)
The Sky point guard has been improving every season she’s been in the W, playing in more games and getting more minutes since 2021. Last year was the first in which she truly got to showcase her abilities, averaging 9.0 points and 3.0 assists per game as she finished third for Sixth Player of the Year. The fact that she was overlooked for Most Improved last season was kind of surprising, but this year, if she gets even more minutes, chances are the voters will not make the same mistake again.
Dorka Juhász (Minnesota Lynx)
Juhász has tons of potential and the size to become one of the best bigs in the W. In her rookie season in 2023, she beat the odds, not only making the roster as the No. 16 overall pick but also starting 27 games for the Lynx. After playing another year in Europe and averaging close to 10 points and 10 rebounds in the EuroLeague quarterfinals, the 6-foot-4 Hungarian should improve her WNBA regular season averages of 6.0 points, 6.5 rebounds and 2.6 assists per game. We’ll see whether these improvements will be worthy of Most Improved Player.
Kia Nurse (Los Angeles Sparks)
Can a one-time All-Star still qualify for Most Improved Player? I don’t see why not, considering the season Kia Nurse had with the Storm in 2023. In 40 games (20 starts), she averaged 5.9 points and 1.3 assists while playing 20 minutes per contest. This year, Nurse should be the starter on a Sparks team in rebuild mode, sharing the court with two top rookies in Cameron Brink and Rickea Jackson. As the on-court leader and veteran presence, the 27-year-old is in for a tasking, but potentially rewarding, season.