Dallas Wings star forward Satou Sabally has been named the WNBA’s Most Improved Player, the league announced on Thursday.
The star received 37 of 60 votes from a national panel of sportswriters and broadcasters. Los Angeles Sparks guard Jordin Canada finished in second place with 18 votes, and Chicago Sky forward Alanna Smith was third with three votes. Minnesota Lynx star forward Napheesa Collier and Washington Mystics guard Brittney Sykes each received one vote.
Per Release: Satou Sabally has been named the 2023 Kia WNBA Most Improved Player. pic.twitter.com/G7EeZksrqD
— Fiifi Frimpong (@FiifiFrimpong) September 21, 2023
Sabally, the former No. 2 overall pick in the 2020 WNBA draft, averaged career-highs in points (18.6), rebounds (8.1), assists (4.4) and steals (1.8). Her 2023 regular-season averages were a stark improvement from her 11.3 points, 4.8 rebounds, 2.1 assists and 0.5 steals per game in 2022. She also recorded career-highs in field goal percentage and three-point percentage. She also improved her field goal percentage from 40% to 44%. Her three-point shooting improved from 23% to 36%.
The 6-4 forward was selected to her second All-Star Game this season, when she represented the Wings as a starter in Las Vegas. Sabally, who may also receive votes for the WNBA MVP award, helped the Wings secure the No. 4 overall seed after the team finished 22-18. The Wings kicked off their postseason by sweeping the Atlanta Dream.
Sabally’s 2023 season comes after plenty of missed time due to injuries. The star played in just 11 regular-season games in last year’s 36-game season. Sabally took time to rehab and even took a break from basketball activities before the 2023 season, according to an ESPN report.
The rehab clearly helped and aided the star to play the best basketball of her young WNBA career.
Sabally and the Wings will be back in action on Sunday against the Las Vegas Aces for Game 1 of the WNBA Semifinals.
