After close to a month of WNBA action, the league has been on fire with several players stepping up in an effort to make a name for themselves.
So far there are several standout performers who have made a big jump from the season prior.
Here are some names that should be in consideration for the WNBA's Most Improved Player award this year.
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Phoenix Mercury: Kahleah Copper
2023 Stats: 18.7 points, 4.4 rebounds, 2.0 assists per game
2024 Stats: 24.7 points, 4.9 rebounds, 2.6 assists per game
How could a former finals MVP get better? By getting more buckets, that's how!
Copper has been on a tear scoring the basketball since being traded to the Mercury.
She took a massive leap in scoring for the 3-4 Phoenix Mercury while still remaining efficient, shooting 45.8% from the field.
Kahleah Copper has had two 30-point games so far, one being against the defending champion Las Vegas Aces, where she dropped 37 points.
Scoring-wise, Copper has always shown immense potential in flashes, serving as an outstanding role player at every stop. Now we're seeing her talent on full display in Phoenix, and it has been a fun ride so far.
Connecticut Sun: Dijonai Carrington
(Photo : (Photo by Emilee Chinn/Getty Images))
2023 Stats: 8.3 points, 2.9 rebounds, 1.3 assists per game
2024 Stats: 13.2 points, 5.7 rebounds, 1.7 assists per game
Dijonai Carrington has fully embraced the starting point guard role and has not disappointed the Connecticut Sun.
Ever since game 1 of the 2024 season, where she clamped down Caitlin Clark on defense; Carrington has been completely locked in, playing some of the best basketball of her career.
She is one of the Sun's top scorers, and her defensive presence has been a major factor in shutting down some of the best talents in the league.
Last season, Carrington showed flashes of being a productive player, coming off the bench for the Sun initially. Now she could be an X-Factor that puts Connecticut over the hump in their quest to win a championship.
Los Angeles Sparks: Dearica Hamby
(Photo : (Photo by Ethan Miller/Getty Images))
2023 Stats: 8.9 points, 5.9 rebounds, 1.9 assists per game
2024 Stats: 20.6 points, 12.7 rebounds, 3.9 assists per game
The talk in Los Angeles has been the play of the dazzling rookie Cameron Brink, but don't sleep on Dearica Hamby, another massive bright spot on a young Sparks team.
Hamby has flourished during this early season, becoming a double-double machine, improving offensively and becoming a better rebounder.
Hamby has been solid at every stop throughout her career. She was a big-time role player for the Las Vegas Aces when they won it all back in 2023.
And now, in Los Angeles, she is showing that she has what it takes to be the No.1 one option for a Sparks team that was in a full rebuild mode.
Minnesota Lynx: Alanna Smith
(Photo : (Photo by Ethan Miller/Getty Images))
2023 Stats: 9.2 points, 6.6 rebounds, 1.8 assists per game
2024 Stats: 14.5 points, 5.2 rebounds, 2.5 assists per game
The Minnesota Lynx have been one of the better teams in the WNBA this season, and Alanna Smith has been a significant reason for this.
So far this season as a starter, Alanna Smith has played exceptionally well, serving as the the perfect co-front-court mate for Napheesa Collier, who is looking like an MVP Candidate this year.
Smith has raised her efficiency and is shooting better from behind the arc. She has also continued to be a menace in the paint, averaging three blocks per game as well.
Alanna Smith throughout her career has been reliable, but has never gotten the minutes to show what she could do. Now with the Lynx, Smith is proving that she was a steal in free agency, playing some of her best basketball on a team that has surprised everyone in the league.
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