3 WNBA offseason additions who could win Most Improved Player this year

WNBA awards, and league awards in general, are a tricky subject. It seems like every voter has a different perception of what each award means and its parameters. The league is also intentionally vague about the definitions, leaving more room for personal interpretation among voters, which makes one award particularly difficult to predict every season: Most Improved Player.

Some say the award should go to the player who had the best breakout season when compared to every past season they’ve played. Others say it should just be compared to the season immediately before the current season. There is a whole other conversation that goes on about players who miss time with an injury and then come back and have a MIP-caliber season.

There isn’t a definitive correct answer as of right now. DiJonai Carrington won the award in 2024, after she went from being primarily a bench role player to a starter for the Connecticut Sun, going from playing 17.2 minutes per game to 29.6 minutes per game. Naturally, her points per game went up as well, as she scored 12.7 per game in 2024 compared to 8.3 per game in 2023. She improved from a purely statistical point of view, but those stats went up because she played more minutes. Should that matter? Regardless of why, her role certainly increased, leading to more output in the season than in her previous seasons.

Behind Carrington was Bridget Carleton from Minnesota, who was in a similar situation. Bench role player turned starter simply due to her team’s needs last season. She ended up averaging nearly 10 points per game after averaging 3.2 points per game the season before. Carleton also led Canada Basketball in points per game at the Olympics mid-way through the WNBA season, before returning to play with Minnesota. The Lynx went on to go all the way to the WNBA Finals, with Carleton hitting some clutch shots along the way.

Every year, the baseline for what “Most Improved” means shifts a little. What could it mean in 2025? So many players moved teams this offseason, there is a good chance this year’s MIP race is about fresh starts, and which players moved teams and immediately experienced an improvement in their skills.

Here are a few players whose change in environment could help them improve their performances this year.

Satou Sabally – Phoenix Mercury

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Satou Sabally has been one of the most highly regarded players in the WNBA since she was drafted by the Dallas Wings out of Oregon. The beginning of her career has unfortunately been interrupted time and time again by injury, not allowing her to fully reach her potential. This offseason, she decided she wanted to move on from the Wings, and was traded to the Phoenix Mercury.

This change of scenery could do wonders for Sabally’s game, but also her long-term health. The Mercury opened their own dedicated practice and recovery facility last year, something the Dallas Wings don’t have. Add that onto the fact that she will be playing under a new coach, with new teammates, and Sabally could reach a new level.

NaLyssa Smith – Dallas Wings

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After being drafted No. 2 overall to the Indiana Fever in 2022, NaLyssa Smith’s career did not take off like expected. A lack of direction in Indiana before drafting Caitlin Clark in 2024 left Smith in a strange place. She didn’t have a clear role, and her place became even more murky once both Aliyah Boston and Caitlin Clark were drafted. Her 2024 season ended up being filled with droughts of not playing, falling in and out of the rotation, and being frustrated.

In the offseason, she was moved to the Dallas Wings. With so much change in Dallas — even before they drafted Paige Bueckers — there won’t be a clear indication of Smith’s role until we see the team play, but there is a lot more room for growth. Smith is a talented player, and in the right situation, has the potential to be an impactful member of the team.

Kate Martin – Golden State Valkyries

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After being drafted to the Las Vegas Aces in the second round of the 2024 WNBA draft and making their opening day roster, Kate Martin quickly became a fan favorite. She was called “the glue” of the Iowa Hawkeyes when she played with Caitlin Clark, reaching two National Championship games. In her rookie season, she showed great potential as a wing player.

As the Golden State Valkyries prepared to enter the WNBA, they hired former Aces assistant Natalie Nakase as their head coach. Then, at the expansion draft, the Valkyries picked Kate Martin from the Aces and brought her to California. While it’s sad to see Martin’s Aces tenure end after one season, this new opportunity with Golden State gives her the chance to build herself a leading role with the Valkyries.

Martin now has security when it comes to making the roster and will now be one of the faces of the new franchise. She’s with a coach she already knows, and in a situation where she will get way more minutes to develop her game. This could all lead to a Most Improved kind of season.