Last season, Naz Hillmon sat. She watched her potential stall in minutes she couldn’t earn until the late summer surge that won her Sixth Woman of the Year. The leap from a promising talent to a true star is forged in that private, suffocating failure, that moment a player realizes the work must redefine her. This is the central narrative of the Most Improved Player award. It is rarely about counting stats; it’s about the brutal shift from promising talent to franchise player. It means becoming the anchor, carrying the offense, and forcing a career-changing pivot. The next tier of WNBA talent is here, eyes fixed on the spotlight.
This list focuses on players who were defined by flashes of inconsistency last year. All averaged under 16.0 points per game and are poised for an efficiency and volume jump that fundamentally changes their team’s ceiling.
Aliyah Boston, Center/Forward, Indiana Fever
Boston has already established herself as a foundational player, earning an All-WNBA Second Team nod in 2025 by averaging 15.0 points and 8.2 rebounds per game. However, her full MVP-level potential remains locked behind a single skill: her perimeter jumper.
The Leap: Her shooting profile must modernize. According to WNBA Advanced Stats, her 2025 three-point attempts were a mere 0.7 per game, hitting just 20.7%. If Boston can reliably hit the corner three at a 35% clip or better, she forces defenses to spread. That single shot changes the entire dynamic of the Fever offense and ultimately pushes her toward the league’s most exclusive conversations. Her efficiency in the paint is already elite (53.8% FG), but expanding her range unlocks cleaner driving lanes for herself and her teammates.
Naz Hillmon, Forward, Atlanta Dream
Hillmon won Sixth Woman of the Year in 2025 by being a game-changing spark off the bench. Her second-half dominance, particularly after mid-August, suggests she has fully found her footing in the league, averaging 10.5 points and 7.7 rebounds in her final 10 games.
The Leap: The next step is volume and efficiency in an every-game starting role. Her relentless energy sets her up for a 15-point, 10-rebound season, making her the clear frontrunner for the award. She must prove her 32.1% three-point percentage from 2025 is sustainable under a full starter’s minutes load. Atlanta’s offense elevates when she is a primary threat, using her elite footwork and quickness against slower centers.
DiDi Richards, Guard, New York Liberty
Richards remains one of the premier wing defenders in the WNBA, but she is entering a critical contract year on a New York Liberty team built for contention. The Liberty are rich in star power, but they need Richards to become a fourth reliable scorer to punish the aggressive double teams Breanna Stewart and Sabrina Ionescu consistently face.
The Leap: Richards must make opponents respect her from the perimeter. Her raw scoring numbers of 5.1 PPG are less important than her shooting percentage. If she can push her 3P% above 36% (up from 31% in 2025, per WNBA Stats), her value explodes. This allows her to become a true three-and-D weapon, capable of capitalizing on the open looks the New York super-team generates. A jump in efficiency is far more important than a jump in raw attempts.
Teaira McCowan, Center, Dallas Wings
McCowan is already a dominant presence on the glass, posting massive rebound numbers every season. However, she has struggled with offensive efficiency and defensive consistency outside of the immediate restricted area.
The Leap: McCowan’s challenge is refinement. She is a forceful interior presence and ranks highly in paint scoring. Her ceiling depends entirely on whether she can maintain focus on both ends of the court. Her 62.7% Free Throw mark in 2025 is a glaring inefficiency; fixing this prevents opponents from abusing Hack-a-McCowan strategies. Moreover, her defensive decline in the mid-range hurt the team. Dallas needs her to anchor a top-five defensive unit.
The Summer of Proof
These WNBA Most Improved Player Predictions for 2026 Season are built on the premise that players on great teams (Richards) need to fill a specific, high-leverage role, while stars on rebuilding teams (Boston) must add a modern skill to fully unlock their games.
The contrast between Aliyah Boston’s need for a knockdown jumper and Naz Hillmon’s need for sustained, elite volume will drive the MIP conversation. The player who makes the most visible, high-impact change to her style of play will ultimately take the hardware home. We are tracking a season of potential turning into undeniable reality.
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The Defensive Grind: Who Will Anchor the WNBA in the 2026 DPOY Race?
FAQs
Who are the main WNBA players poised for a big leap in 2026?
Aliyah Boston, Naz Hillmon, DiDi Richards and Teaira McCowan are the core group highlighted as breakout candidates for the 2026 WNBA season.
Why is Aliyah Boston such a strong Most Improved Player candidate?
She already scores efficiently inside, and if she adds a reliable three point jumper, she can unlock the Fever offense and move into real MVP conversations.
What does Naz Hillmon need to show to win Most Improved in 2026?
She must prove that her late season surge and three point shooting can hold up over starter minutes while maintaining her trademark energy on the glass.
How can DiDi Richards change the New York Liberty’s ceiling?
If Richards lifts her three point percentage into the mid thirties, she becomes a true three and D weapon who punishes teams for trapping Stewart and Ionescu.
What is Teaira McCowan’s biggest area for improvement next season?
She needs sharper focus on both ends, especially better free throw shooting and more consistent defense outside the restricted area, to match her interior dominance.
