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| | Thursday, August 17 Phillips wins first most improved award | |||||
| Associated Press NEW YORK -- Tari Phillips of the New York Liberty is the winner of the WNBA's newly created Most Improved Player Award. Phillips received 19 of a possible 62 votes from a media panel. In her rookie season last year with Orlando, Phillips averaged 4.1 points and 2.1 rebounds per game. Selected by Portland in the WNBA expansion draft, she was traded to the Liberty on May 28 for Carolyn Jones-Young and averaged 13.8 points and 8.0 rebounds this season. Other players receiving votes were Becky Hammon of New York; Tracy Reid of Charlotte; Mery Andrade of Cleveland; Elena Tornikidou of Detroit; Kara Wolters and Monica Maxwell of Indiana; Janeth Arcain of Houston; Tamecka Dixon and Mwadi Mabika of Los Angeles; Katie Smith of Minnesota; Adrienne Johnson and Taj McWilliams of Orlando; Brandy Reed of Phoenix; and Tangela Smith of Sacramento. | ALSO SEE Minnesota's Lennox earns Rookie of Year honor Not all offense: Swoopes named top defender Comet cleans up: Swoopes named MVP of WNBA | |||||