August 7, 2016
Former Connecticut Sun Center/Forward Kelsey Bone, who now plays for the Phoenix Mercury after a midseason trade was the winner of the 2015 WNBA Most Improved Player. In winning this award she raised her statistics in several categories. In scoring she went from 9.3 points in 2014 to 15.4 in 2015. Rebounding from 5.3 to 6.3 and assists to 2.0 from 1.4. Her field goal percentage also increased from 45.1 to 50.8 and among all WNBA players, Bone placed seventh in scoring and fifth in field goals made (6.8 per game). With 10 days left in the WNBA regular season the question is, who is the most improved player for the 2016 season? There are several players that have had much improvement this season starting with Elizabeth Williams of the Atlanta Dream. Tayler Hill from the Washington Mystics, Sugar Rogers of the New York Liberty and Jewell Loyd of the Seattle Storm should all be in the running for MIP and here’s why;
Elizabeth Williams was the fourth overall pick in the 2015 WNBA Draft to the Connecticut Sun. After one season with the Sun she was traded to the Atlanta Dream in exchange for the fourth overall pick in the 2016 WNBA Draft. In her rookie season with the Sun Williams saw limited minutes and never seemed to find her rhythm with the team. Playing behind All-Star F/C Kelsey Bone cut into her time but playing behind a veteran allowed her to develop her skills and prepare herself for when her number was called. Her number being called came in the form of the Atlanta Dream who had a starting spot waiting for her to fill. Williams has been exceptional this season. After not starting a single game for the Sun last season, Williams has started every game for the Dream during the 2016 season. She is a defensive nightmare who is one of the best shot blockers in the league. A great rebounder who is also able to put the ball in the basket; Williams has helped the Dream to a 5th position in the WNBA standings.
STATISTICS: 2015 MPG 11.7 PPG 3.3 RPG 3.2 APG 0.4 BPG 0.9 SPG 0.2
2016 MPG 34.2 PPG 11.7 RPG 7.5 APG 1.3 BPG 2.4 SPG 0.8 [Read more…]