UNCASVILLE, Conn. — DiJonai Carrington was named the WNBA Most Improved Participant on Wednesday — and acquired her trophy forward of the Connecticut Solar’s Recreation 2 match-up towards the Indiana Fever on the Mohegan Solar Enviornment.
It was a comparatively shut race for Most Improved — Carrington acquired 28 of 67 media votes, with Los Angeles Sparks ahead Dearica Hamby ending in second place with 18 votes, and Minnesota Lynx ahead Bridget Carleton coming in third with 15 votes.
Carrington completed the season averaging 12.7 factors, 5 rebounds, 1.6 assists and 1.6 steals in 29.6 minutes per recreation — all career-highs. She was usually tasked with the sport’s hardest defensive match-ups as nicely, establishing herself as one of many league’s premier defenders.
Beforehand, Carrington informed SB Nation she wasn’t capable of observe all offseason because of damage, and that she wasn’t even certain if she was going to return to Connecticut this season. However, as soon as coaching camp started, Carrington noticed a chance for a bigger position on the workforce and capitalized.
“As soon as we began training, I used to be extra assured that this was going to be the sort position that I had. As soon as I used to be capable of transfer, I used to be able to go after it,” Carrington mentioned. “I received again in basketball form, I felt good. And I imply, y’all noticed that in direction of the start of the season, I used to be able to play. The primary recreation was lower than a month after I used to be capable of run.”
Previous to Carrington receiving the trophy, followers rose to their ft to rejoice Carrington’s profitable 2024 marketing campaign. As a video montage of her highlights performed, Solar veteran DeWanna Bonner motioned for followers to rise to their ft, whereas Carrington’s groups nudged her in a congratulatory style.
Solar head coach Stephanie White mentioned the workforce celebrated Carrington’s accomplishment earlier within the day.
“All people’s extremely pleased with her laborious work and her consistency,” mentioned White, who had advocated for Carrington to win the award on quite a few events.
Stephanie White mentioned the workforce celebrated DiJonai Carrington successful Most Improved:
“All people’s extremely pleased with her laborious work and her consistency… she’s taken what’s a extra conventional path when it comes to pleasure being a rotation participant and dealing her means into the rotation.” pic.twitter.com/5cVT18IGza
— Noa Dalzell (@NoaDalzell) September 25, 2024
Along with the trophy, Carrington may even obtain a money prize of $5,150.
“Being acknowledged for any sort of accolade on this league is particular, as a result of that is the league of one of the best gamers in the entire world, and particularly simply all that I’ve been via injury-wise,” Carrington mentioned a couple of weeks in the past, after she emerged as a finalist for the award. “I actually needed to earn this position on this workforce.”
