Every year, every single WNBA player wants to improve upon how she played the season before.
Accomplishing that, however, is easier said than done. But every sesaon, a handful of players reach a level of play no one saw coming.
This 2026 WNBA campaign is no exception, and at the midway point of the season, here are the three players who are at the forefront of the Most Improved Player (MIP) conversation.
In the comments, let us know who you think is the favorite, as well as how you see the race shaping
up over the second half of the season.
Jessica Shepard (Dallas Wings)
This is Jessica Shepard’s first season not playing for the Minnesota Lynx, and she is blossoming with the Dallas Wings.
She is now a walking double-double, averaging 15 points and 11.6 rebounds per game. Both are career-highs for a player who not only has gone from a reserve player with the Lynx to a starter for the Wings, but also was voted as a starter for the 2026 WNBA All-Star Game.
And she is a big reason why the Wings are currently a top-four team in the WNBA.
Considering her role, importance on the team and her production nearly doubling, Shepard is the frontrunner for the Most Improved Player award.
Carla Leite (Portland Fire)
As a rookie, Carla Leite played well with the Golden State Valkyries. But they didn’t protect her in the expansion draft, and she was picked up by the Portland Fire. This ended up being the best thing for Leite.
There has been no sophomore slump; instead, Leite has taken a leap forward.
She is averaging 15.1 points, 2.4 rebounds and 5.8 assists per game, doubling her point and assist numbers from her rookie campaign. Leite is now a certified starter and has dramatically improved her 3-point shooting, going from 17.3 percent in her first year to 39.5 percent on her attempts from beyond the arc this season.
A player growing from year one to two isn’t a surprise.
How much Leite has improved, though, is impressive. Golden State did not go out of their way to ensure she remained on their roster, and she’s not only proving that decision unwise, but also showing off her untapped potential to any other skeptics.
Marina Mabrey (Toronto Tempo)
People who are locked into women’s basketball always knew Marina Mabrey was a hooper.
Now, she’s playing so loudly that everyone has been put on notice. When her shot is going, she has no peer and is unrivaled.
The best example of this was her 53-point performance in a win over the Los Angeles Sparks. She tied for the most points in a WNBA game with that total, matching the record with A’ja Wilson and Liz Cambage.
While that was a nuclear moment, she’s remained hot all year long.
Mabrey is averaging 21.6 points and shooting 40.4 percent from 3-point range; these are career-best marks for her in both categories, helping her earn her first-ever All-Star selection.
There’s still plenty of time for things to change, but right now these three players have stood out due to their improvement.
Other players are also making a case, such as Seattle Storm star sophomore Dominque Malonga, but right now it’s Shepard at the top, and everyone else is competing for second place in MIP consideration.
