WNBA Most Improved Player of the Year (MIPOY) Rankings 2024: Top 5 candidates ft. Chennedy Carter (Week 10)

The WNBA has just entered the Olympic break after the All-Star weekend finished, with the WNBA Stars beating Team USA in the big game. The league will return next month, with multiple players keen to put themselves in the right position to win awards at the end of the season.

The WNBA Most Improved Player of the Year award (MIPOY) has plenty of candidates at this point in the season. Even though Week 10 of the competition only lasted two days, it was enough to see one player making it to this list for the first time this campaign.

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Top 5 WNBA MIPOY Candidates After Week 9

#5, DiJonai Carrington

Connecticut Sun v Indiana Fever - Source: Getty

DiJonai Carrington's Connecticut Sun didn't have the best end to the first half of the season, losing to the New York Liberty, 82-74, without Breanna Stewart on the court. Carrington tried to help her squad with 13 points, but it wasn't enough.

That said, she remains a MIPOY candidate this season, averaging 12.9 points, 5.2 rebounds and 1.8 assists per game with Connecticut. She's shooting 39.5% from the field and 81.3% from the free-throw line.

#4, Ezi Magbegor, Seattle Storm

Chicago Sky v Seattle Storm - Source: Getty

Ezi Magbegor has been one of the most consistent players in the WNBA this season, posting seven double-doubles in 25 games this campaign. The Storm veteran averages 13.0 ppg, 8.7 rpg (career-high) and 2.3 apg while posting career highs in steals (1.4) and blocks per game (2.4), becoming a two-way threat for her opponents.

#3, Chennedy Carter, Chicago Sky

Chicago Sky v Seattle Storm - Source: Getty

Chennedy Carter finished the first half of the 2024 WNBA season on a strong note, exploding for 34 points against the defending champions Las Vegas Aces and beating them 93-85 at home. Not even A'ja Wilson (28 points) could keep up with Carter, who added four rebounds and two assists to her account.

After that game, she averages 17.2 ppg, 2.9 rpg (career-high) and 2.7 apg. The Sky has given her a chance to unlock her game, as she's posting career highs in steals (1.3), field goals made (7.3) and field goal percentage (51.8%). Carter's numbers should get better now that Marina Mabrey is out of Chicago.

#2, Dearica Hamby, LA Sparks

2024 WNBA All Star - Skills Challenge & 3-Point Contest - Source: Getty

Dearica Hamby keeps demonstrating that she's the best option for a struggling LA Sparks team. The veteran forward is still a top-10 scorer in the WNBA, averaging 19.2 ppg. In addition, she's posting career-highs in rebounds (10.0), assists (3.5), field goals made (7.4), field goals attempted (14.3), free throws made (3.4) and free throw attempts (5.6).

#1, Kahleah Copper

Dallas Wings v Phoenix Mercury - Source: Getty

Kahleah Copper remains the leader of this ranking after a notable first half of the season. The Phoenix Mercury star is averaging 23.2 ppg (second in the league), 4.6 rpg and 2.2 apg. She's posting career-highs in FGM (8.2), FGA (18.2), 3PM (2.1), 3PA (6.3), FTM (4.6) and FTA (5.7).

She's putting on a show this season and it seems unlikely that somebody will beat her to win this award once the regular season ends.