WNBA Most Improved Player of the Year (MIPOY) Rankings 2024: Top 5 candidates ft. Maddy Siegrist (Week 5)

The race for the WNBA Most Improved Player of the Year award has some intriguing candidates. A series of players have improved their levels this year, making solid cases to win the coveted award and establish themselves as future stars in the league.

The competition for the WNBA's MVP and Defensive Player of the Year awards has an apparent favorite, and in the past two weeks, one player has become the favorite to take the MIPOY award home at the end of the season.

These are the top five candidates to win this trophy, while other candidates like DiJonai Carrington and Shakira Austin are lurking, waiting for an opportunity to get involved in the conversation.

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WNBA Most Improved Player of the Year ranking after Week 5

#5, Alanna Smith, Minnesota Lynx

Alanna Smith started this season on a stronger note, even being part of the conversation for the WNBA DPOY award. Napheesa Collier took the spotlight and became a top candidate to land that trophy while Smith took a lesser role but still helped the Minnesota Lynx.

In 14 games, the 27-year-old forward has scored 12.4 points per game, 3.2 more than last year. She's grabbed 4.9 rebounds per game and dished 3.2 assists per game while shooting 51.6%, including 43.6% from beyond the arc.

#4, Ezi Magbegor

Ezi Magbegor has had a strong couple of weeks with the Seattle Storm. The team has found its rhythm, and Magbegor has played a role in their recent success. The forward is averaging 13.0 ppg, 9.4 rpg and 2.4 apg while shooting 46.8% from the field and 91.5% from the free-throw line.

#3, Maddy Siegrist

Maddy Siegrist has been given a lot more opportunities this season, and she's done a notable job with the struggling Dallas Wings. In the absence of Satou Sabally, Siegrist has played 34.1 minutes per game, scoring 14.6 ppg, grabbing 4.2 rpg and dishing 1.2 apg.

She's shooting 52.3% from the field and 79.2% from the free-throw line. If she keeps this level of performance, the top two players on the list will have something to worry about.

#2, Dearica Hamby

Even though she's not posting the same numbers she posted in the first two weeks of the WNBA season, Dearica Hamby remains a strong candidate to take the MIPOY award home. The LA Sparks forward is averaging 19.0 ppg, 11.1 rpg and 3.6 apg with the Californians.

She's also shooting 51.8%, including 41.9% from deep. After nine years of experience in the league, Hamby is proving that she needed the right chance to shine.

#1, Kahleah Cooper

Kahleah Cooper has been at the top of this list for the last two weeks. The Phoenix Mercury veteran has taken her game to the next level and is averaging more ppg than during her championship season in 2021.

Cooper and the Mercury are trying to compete against the league's top teams, led by the guard's 24.0 ppg, 4.6 rpg and 2.1 apg. She's shooting 44.4% from the field, 38.2% from deep and 82.3% from the free-throw line. Besides being a top candidate for this award, she's also made a case for the WNBA MVP trophy.