Jump Ball: Will the real Most Improved Player, please stand up!?
On this edition of Jump Ball, the awards debate continues. Who is the real MIP of the WNBA this season? The NCS crew offers different arguments...
Welcome to Jump Ball, a written series from No Cap Space WBB. This season in the WNBA has been filled with plenty of debate but it doesn’t take long for points to go off the rails. Here at NCS, we’re deciding on a new model. Each installment of Jump Ball explores a topic where two of our writers will debate two separate sides. It’s up to you to decide in the comments what side you fall on. As sports discourse has gotten more and more caustic, we want to make a place for you to find good, spirited and respectful debate on the things that you want to hear about. Let us know in the comments who wins the Jump and what ball you want to throw in the air next!
As we get into Awards Season, there’s going to be plenty to debate about who gets what. Our last Jump Ball looked at whether or not A’ja Wilson should be a unanimous MVP. Now, we expand the field past just two writers. The floor is totally open to find out who has the best case for Most Improved Player.
Andrew: A lot of the energy has understandably been around DiJonai Carrington but, for my money, the real Most Improved Player is one of her Connecticut Sun teammates: Ty Harris. For the first time in her career, Harris actually got legitimate minutes (28.9 mpg) and has been a starter for most of this season. While she’s taken a slight backseat to Marina Mabrey, who adds a scoring punch that CT has desperately needed, I’d argue that this offense flows the smoothest when Harris and Carrington are the backcourt duo. While her three point shooting has dipped (mostly due to more attempts than past seasons), her 2PT percentage is up, her rebounds are up, as well as her assists, steals and points per game. In being given the largest role of her WNBA career to date, Harris hasn’t disappointed.
The definition of Most Improved is nebulous and really up to the interpretation of the voter. But, to me, Harris is a perfect example of what this award is about. For three years, she was a bench piece on the Wings and looked like she’d just be another journeywoman rotational guard in this league. Even with a move to Connecticut, she still looked the same in 2023. But this year, she’s made a massive leap and has become an indispensable piece on a deep playoff contender. Dive into the advanced stats and the case gets even better. Her Defensive Rebound percentage is up from 5.2 to 6.2. Her True Shooting is up from .523 to .539. The Turnover percentage has dropped to her lowest number since her rookie year (12.5) and her win shares have skyrocketed. At no point in her career has she registered a Win Share over 1.0 or a WS per 48 minutes over .100. This season? Her Win Shares are 3.2 and WS/48 is .144.
The numbers don’t lie. Ty Harris is the Most Improved Player in the WNBA. She just hasn’t had a PR campaign to push her name forward. Consider this a late candidacy.
Tyler: Due to the lack of definitions for awards it is ultimately going to be a different mindset for everyone with a vote. For me? I want my Most Improved Players to have gotten it out the MUD. For example, Dearica Hamby has absolutely improved this year and has been phenomenal, but we knew this already. The resume is stamped!
The essence of MIP to me will always be about the player that saw an opportunity and made themselves undeniable. Last season felt like the perfect example of this with Jordin Canada yet we saw Satou Sabally take home the award. Under that mindset, I could see a player like Hamby taking it home. But under my definition, I look at a player like DiJonai Carrington who has made herself an indispensable piece this year for Connecticut.
Going from not starting a game last year while showing flashes of solidifying herself for the Sun, she got the opportunity this season and has started every game she has played in. The stat increases can largely be credited to the increase in minutes but that increase is never a given. Carrington has improved in points, assists, rebounds, steals and blocks.
The stats tell part of the story but some of the impact must be physically witnessed on the defensive side of the ball. Her disruptiveness on the perimeter has been so elite that it gave the Sun confidence to go make the move for Marina Mabrey, knowing that Carrington would be there to aid on that side of the ball.
For me, Carrington embodies my definition of a Most Improved Player, going from a role player to a certified starter with definitive impact on a team, especially a winning one, while increasing stats nearly across the board.
Rashard: While there are a handful of candidates for the Most Improved Player Award this season, I think Dearica Hamby has the best case of all candidates.
Not only did we see a significant increase in Hamby’s stats, but we also saw a significant increase in her role and development as a player within this league. Take a look at her stats from 2023 compared to 2024 below:
8.9 PPG —> 17.2 PPG
5.9 RPG —> 9.3 RPG
1.8 APG —> 3.5 APG
0.9 SPG —> 1.7 SPG
There are many baseless arguments that claim Hamby shouldn’t be MIP because she is an Olympian, All-Star, and WNBA Champion. There are also ignorant comments regarding her recent pregnancy prior to the 2023 season and her push for MIP this season.
The facts are… Hamby went from being a valued role player on a championship team to a star player on a young, rebuilding team within just two seasons. She is now the player who carries a heavy load and who other teams strategize for. Credit to the other candidates such as Carter, Carrington, and Smith. But I’m riding with Hamby.
Greer: Like my colleagues, I can acknowledge that the criteria for this award need to be clarified. But when I think about the season Bridget Carleton is having for the Lynx, improvement is one of the very first words that comes to mind. Carleton and the Lynx brass have stayed down for the come up. Not only has she started in 34 of the 37 games she’s played in, she’s averaging a career-high 29.8 minutes per game, up from 15.1 a season ago.
The increased workload is paying off as she’s shooting over 44% from 3 while taking over 5 attempts a game in support of her 9.6 points per game, a career-high. Carleton also defends her tail off for the league’s best defense. The Canadian Olympian returned to her squad post break an even more impactful player.