Shakira Austin is making a Most Improved Player case for Washington, averaging 17.0 points and 9.4 rebounds in the regular season's final days; WNBA figures show those averages up 37.1% and 46.9%, while her usage rate fell from 28.3% to 26.0%.
Usage rate measures the share of team possessions a player finishes while on court; Austin produced more as that share shrank, and her scoring and rebounding gains outpaced her increase in minutes. Through Sept. 21, she had 19 double-doubles, fourth in the league, after recording five in her first four WNBA seasons, the league said.
Washington had secured a playoff berth before its final regular-season game, with seeding still in play. The best-of-three opening round begins Sept. 27. The article also cites Carla Leite and Marina Mabrey as other Most Improved candidates.
