Despite being a former No. 1 overall pick and the 2024 Rookie of the Year, Indiana Fever guard Catilin Clark enters the upcoming season as the betting favorite to win the WNBA’s Most Improved Player award.
While Clark is a special player, she would break the mold of a typical MIP winner.
There have only been five second-year players to win MIP since the award was created in 2000, including three in the first four seasons. None of those five Most Improved Players were coming off a ROY campaign, and all of them averaged 6.8 points per game or fewer in their debut campaign.
In addition, Janel McCarville is the only former No. 1 overall pick to win MIP. McCarville, the top pick in the 2005 draft, won Most Improved Player in 2007 following two seasons averaging 4.5 points per game or fewer.
With that in mind, here’s a look at the latest WNBA odds and best betting prediction for this year’s Most Improved Player market:
Odds to Win 2025 WNBA Most Improved Player of the Year
| Player | Team | Odds |
|---|---|---|
| Caitlin Clark | Fever | +450 |
| Rickea Jackson | Sparks | +750 |
| Angel Reese | Sky | +850 |
| Cameron Brink | Sparks | +1400 |
| Kamilla Cardoso | Sky | +1500 |
| Kate Martin | Valkyries | +1500 |
| Aaliyah Edwards | Mystics | +1800 |
| Julie Vanloo | Valkyries | +2500 |
| Maddy Siegrist | Wings | +2500 |
| Aliyah Boston | Fever | +2800 |
Who Will Win WNBA Most Improved Player?
Based on the latest WNBA betting lines, Clark is the betting favorite (+450) to win the Most Improved Player award in 2025. She has an implied probability of 18.18% of entering the upcoming season.
This reminds me of last summer when San Antonio Spurs center Victor Wembanyama opened as the MIP favorite in the NBA entering his second season. He was coming off a Rookie of the Year campaign and a legitimate contender in the MVP race.
Not only did Wembanyama quickly become a long shot during the season, but there was pushback on Cade Cunningham (another former No. 1 overall pick) as the MIP favorite by the end of the season.
As a result, I don’t believe Clark has a chance to win this award. She certainly shouldn’t be the betting favorite.
Because a second-year player hasn’t won MIP since 2017, I also would bet against the top favorites behind Clark. Rickea Jackson, Angel Reese, Cameron Brink, Kamilla Cardosa, and Kate Martin are all 15/1 or better entering their second WNBA season.
My pick to win this year’s MIP trophy isn’t even listed in the latest odds at the BetMGM online sportsbook. Washington Mystics center Shakira Austin hasn’t met expectations since being the No. 3 pick in the 2022 WNBA Draft, primarily due to health.
Austin has averaged 9.6 points per game through three seasons, playing in just 67 games. I could see her reminding everyone of her immense talent in a similar way to Satou Sabally’s MIP campaign in 2023.
Prediction: Shakira Austin
2024 WNBA Most Improved Player Voting
| Player | Team | Votes |
|---|---|---|
| DiJonai Carrington | Sun | 28 |
| Dearica Hamby | Sparks | 18 |
| Bridget Carleton | Lynx | 15 |
| Chennedy Carter | Sky | 3 |
| Jordan Horston | Storm | 1 |
| Sabrina Ionescu | Liberty | 1 |
| Alanna Smith | Lynx | 1 |
List of WNBA Most Improved Player Winners
| Year | Player | Team |
|---|---|---|
| 2024 | DiJonai Carrington | CON |
| 2023 | Satou Sabally | DAL |
| 2022 | Jackie Young | LVA |
| 2021 | Brionna Jones | CON |
| 2020 | Betnijah Laney-Hamilton | ATL |
| 2019 | Leilani Mitchell | PHO |
| 2018 | Natasha Howard | SEA |
| 2017 | Jonquel Jones | CON |
| 2016 | Elizabeth Williams | ATL |
| 2015 | Kelsey Bone | CON |
| 2014 | Skylar Diggins-Smith | TUL |
| 2013 | Shavonte Zellous | IND |
| 2012 | Kristi Toliver | LAS |
| 2011 | Kia Vaughn | NYL |
| 2010 | Leilani Mitchell | NYL |
| 2009 | Crystal Langhorne | WAS |
| 2008 | Ebony Hoffman | IND |
| 2007 | Janel McCarville | NYL |
| 2006 | Erin Perperoglou | SAC |
| 2005 | Nicole Powell | SAC |
| 2004 | Kelly Miller | IND |
| 2004 | Wendy Palmer | CON |
| 2003 | Michelle Snow | HOU |
| 2002 | Coco Miller | WAS |
| 2001 | Janeth Arcain | HOU |
| 2000 | Tari Phillips | NYL |
How Many Second-Year Players Have Won WNBA MIP?
Since the Most Improved Player award was introduced in 2000, five WNBA players have won the MIP in their second professional season. These five players are: Jonquel Jones (2017), Elizabeth Williams (2016), Michelle Snow (2001), Coco Miller (2002), and Tari Phillips (2000).
All five players made massive leaps from Year 1 to Year 2.
Jones averaged 15.4 points per game in 2017, an increase from 6.8 in her rookie season. Williams raised her scoring average from 3.3 to 11.9 in 2016.
Snow averaged 9.2 points per game in 2003 after scoring 3.9 as a rookie. Miller raised her average from 1.7 to 9.3, while Phillips boosted her mark from 4.1 to 13.8.
Has a No. 1 Pick Ever Won WNBA MIP?
Janel McCarville is the only former No. 1 overall pick to win the WNBA’s Most Improved Player award, accomplishing the feat by averaging 10.4 points per game in 2007.
McCarville was drafted by the Charlotte Sting as the No. 1 pick in the 2005 draft. She averaged 1.8 points per game as a rookie and 4.5 points per contest in her second season. She was subsequently chosen by the New York Liberty as the No. 3 pick in the dispersal draft for the 2007 season.
Related Articles
Visit the online sportsbook for WNBA betting opportunities throughout the year. With prop bets, parlays, futures, and more, there’s something for every basketball fan.
If you don’t have a BetMGM account, check your eligibility for a sportsbook welcome offer, one of many sportsbook promos for new and existing customers.
