Second-year players continue to lead the WNBA’s Most Improved Player market entering the 2025 season ever since Indiana Fever guard Caitlin Clark opened as the betting favorite. Washington Mystics forward Aaliyah Edwards has become the favorite ahead of the opening weekend after being the No. 6 pick in the 2024 draft.
There have been eight second-year players to win MIP since the award was created in 2000, including three in the first four seasons. The last time a second-year player won the award was when Jonquel Jones accomplished the feat in 2017.
Of the eight second-year players to win MIP, none averaged more than 8.5 points per game as a rookie. In fact, their average scoring clip was 4.7 points per game and their average PRA (points, rebounds, assists) line was 8.2 during their debut season. They increased those marks to an average of 12.8 points and 21.4 PRA, respectively, in their MIP campaigns.
Given the talent of the 2024 rookie class, will there be another second-year player to win MIP? Here’s a look at the latest WNBA odds and my best betting predictions for the Most Improved Player award:
Odds to Win 2025 WNBA Most Improved Player of the Year
| Player | Team | Odds |
|---|---|---|
| Aaliyah Edwards | Mystics | +600 |
| Rickea Jackson | Sparks | +700 |
| Gabby Williams | Storm | +700 |
| Kate Martin | Valkyries | +800 |
| Leonie Fiebich | Liberty | +800 |
| Caitlin Clark | Fever | +1000 |
| Kamilla Cardoso | Sky | +1100 |
| Rhyne Howard | Dream | +1100 |
| Shakira Austin | Mystics | +1100 |
| Angel Reese | Sky | +1400 |
| Julie Vanloo | Valkyries | +2000 |
| Maddy Siegrist | Wings | +2000 |
| Veronica Burton | Valkyries | +2500 |
| Kayla Thornton | Valkyries | +2500 |
| Jade Melbourne | Mystics | +2800 |
| Jacy Sheldon | Sun | +3000 |
| Natasha Mack | Mercury | +3500 |
| Cameron Brink | Sparks | +4000 |
| NaLyssa Smith | Wings | +4000 |
| Aliyah Boston | Fever | +5000 |
Who Will Win WNBA Most Improved Player?
Edwards established herself as the betting favorite to win Most Improved Player entering her second WNBA season. Edwards has an implied probability of 14.29% based on her +600 odds.
Edwards makes more sense as a MIP contender than Clark, who opened as a +400 favorite in this market. Edwards averaged 7.6 points, 5.6 rebounds, and 1.4 assists during her rookie campaign in Washington.
Clark starting as the favorite reminded me of last summer when San Antonio Spurs center Victor Wembanyama opened as the MIP front-runner 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. I still wouldn’t bet her current odds.
However, because a second-year player hasn’t won MIP since 2017, I also would bet against many of the top favorites in this market. Rickea Jackson, Angel Reese, Kate Martin, Kamilla Cardosa, Leonie Fiebich, and Julie Vanloo are all 20/1 or better entering their second WNBA season.
My pick to win this year’s MIP trophy is the one player near the top of the market who isn’t a second-year player.
I took a +1600 price tag on Seattle Storm forward Gabby Williams in the preseason, but I don’t mind her current odds because she should be the favorite.
After trading away Jewell Loyd in the offseason, Seattle is counting on Williams to make a leap this year. She averaged 10.3 points, four rebounds, and 3.7 assists in 12 games last summer. If she experiences a slight bump in those metrics across a full season, Williams will be a contender for MIP.
The average MIP winner since 2000 has averaged 21 PRA, for an increase of +10.3 compared to the previous season. Williams is capable of making that kind of a leap for an underrated Seattle team.
Prediction: Gabby Williams
WNBA Most Improved Player Voting for 2024
| 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, eight WNBA players have won the MIP in their second professional season. These eight players are: Jonquel Jones (2017), Elizabeth Williams (2016), Skylar Diggins (2014), Crystal Langhorne (2009), Nicole Powell (2005), Michelle Snow (2003), Coco Miller (2002), and Tari Phillips (2000).
All eight players made massive leaps from Year 1 to Year 2. They averaged 4.7 points, 2.7 rebounds, and 0.9 assists in 14.1 minutes per game during their rookie seasons. They increased those marks to an average of 12.7 points, 6.7 rebounds, and 1.9 assists in 30.9 minutes per contest during MIP campaigns.
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.
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