WNBA Most Improved Player Award


The Women's National Basketball Association's Most Improved Player Award is an annual Women's National Basketball Association award given since the 2000 WNBA season, to the most improved player of the regular season. The winner is selected by a panel of sportswriters throughout the United States, each of whom casts a vote for first, second and third place selections. Each first-place vote is worth five points; each second-place vote is worth three points; and each third-place vote is worth one point. The player with the highest point total, regardless of the number of first-place votes, wins the award.
In 2019, Leilani Mitchell became the first player in history to win the award twice, after winning the award in 2010. In 2004, there was a tie -- both Kelly Miller and Wendy Palmer received the award. Nicole Powell and Natasha Howard are the only players to win the Most Improved award and a WNBA title in the same year.

Winners

SeasonPlayerPositionNationalityTeam
2000Tari PhillipsForward / CenterNew York Liberty
2001Janeth ArcainGuardHouston Comets
2002Coco MillerGuardWashington Mystics
2003Michelle SnowForward / CenterHouston Comets
2004Kelly MillerGuardCharlotte Sting
2004Wendy PalmerForwardConnecticut Sun
2005Nicole PowellForwardSacramento Monarchs
2006Erin BuescherForwardSacramento Monarchs
2007Janel McCarvilleCenterNew York Liberty
2008Ebony HoffmanForwardIndiana Fever
2009Crystal LanghorneForwardWashington Mystics
2010Leilani MitchellGuardNew York Liberty
2011Kia VaughnCenterNew York Liberty
2012Kristi ToliverGuardLos Angeles Sparks
2013Shavonte ZellousGuardIndiana Fever
2014Skylar DigginsGuardTulsa Shock
2015Kelsey BoneCenterConnecticut Sun
2016Elizabeth WilliamsForward / CenterAtlanta Dream
2017Jonquel JonesForward / CenterConnecticut Sun
2018Natasha HowardForwardSeattle Storm
2019Leilani Mitchell GuardPhoenix Mercury

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