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Janell Burse

When a member of the Seattle Storm's PR staff told Burse before Sunday's game with the Los Angeles Sparks that she could win the WNBA's Player of the Week award with a strong effort, Burse thought, "Okay - more pressure."

After Burse had 13 points and nine rebounds, seven offensive, in the Storm's 77-72 win over the Sparks, however, she did in fact earn her first Player of the Week honors Monday as announced by the league, becoming the first Storm player other than Lauren Jackson ever to win Player of the Week.

"It's so nice to see a player that really goes unnoticed for the most part really be recognized at that level." Noah Graham/NBAE/Getty

"It's so nice to see a player that really goes unnoticed for the most part really be recognized at that level," said Storm Coach Anne Donovan after the team practiced Monday. "(It's) so much deserved. 4-for-5 (shooting) last night and nine boards and huge offensive boards for us that were big possessions. It's nice to see that come through."

If Burse continues playing like she has recently, more recognition may be in the offing. She's one of the top contenders for the WNBA's Most Improved Player award, a candidacy that is supported by Burse's statistics. Amongst players who qualified for league leaderboards last season and are qualified so far this year, Burse's +2.7 improvement in rebounds per game is the largest (teammate Jackson is next best at +2.6) and her +5.4 improvement in points per game ranks third.

With Kamila Vodichkova leaving the Storm as a free agent last winter, Burse has stepped up as a starter. She's also healthy again - or at least healthier - after partially tearing a muscle near her hip and quad last season, in addition to suffering from bursitis in her hip.

"It still bothers me sometimes, but nothing like last year, so that's great," said Burse. "It's probably just something I'm going to have to play with. My trainer at home told me it probably won't ever completely feel like it did before. It's just something I've got to used to playing with."

Burse has also benefited from working for a second full season with Donovan, one of the best post coaches in the game after her exemplary career as a 6-8 center.

"As an ex-post player coach now, she's always telling us little bits of information," said Burse. "It's just a matter of taking it and using it and not letting it go in one year and out the other. She's definitely, every practice, telling me something about how I can get position better, how I can do something better on defense. I just try to use everything she says."

Donovan's advice was particularly important a couple of weeks ago. After getting off to a great start to the season, Burse slowed down as the scouting report on her post moves got out. In a stretch of three games around the All-Star break, Burse had just 10 points and 10 rebounds, struggling with foul trouble, particularly on the offensive end. The Washington Mystics forced Burse into seven turnovers because of their knowledge Burse prefers to pump fake and lead with her shoulder to the middle.

"Some players really take the pump fake to heart when you start learning the game, and JB was one of them - and has had good success with it," said Donovan. "But she's on the scouting report now, and that's the scouting report. It's easy for shot-blockers to get their timing.

"We really focused with her about powering up - even if she's pump-faking, get low so she has some explosion going up to the rim. It took some time to sink in, and she recognized it. We talked about it, watched tape. I think it's really starting to click in now. She's finishing shots."

Over the six games since that loss to Washington - all of them Storm wins - Burse is averaging 13.7 points and 7.8 rebounds, shooting 57.0% from the field. That culminated last weekend in Burse scoring a career-high 27 points on 10-for-12 shooting in Friday's win over Charlotte and following it up with a solid effort against the Sparks, which brought her national recognition.

"When she plays that well and that strong, she's tough to beat." Barry Gossage/NBAE/Getty

"So far this season, it's been a little bit up and down, but when she plays that well and that strong - especially putting the two back-to-back games together like that, on the backboard more than anything - she's tough to beat," said Donovan. "She's playing so much stronger, finishing so much stronger than she did last year. And I think the key is if she can stay out of foul trouble - that's when her numbers go up."

Burse can't single out any one thing that is the reason for her recent surge.

"I think people just go through times when they are struggling - you go through the highs, you go through the lows," she said. "I really can't pinpoint one thing. I know lately I've been more aggressive offensively. I think that helps me. I'm trying to be active on defense and make a conscious effort to box out every time."

It's no coincidence that the Storm offense has been relatively unstoppable since Burse picked up her game. The Storm has posted Offensive Ratings better than 100 points per 100 possessions in each of the last six games, as compared to a season mark of 96.7. (Connecticut is the only WNBA team over 100, at 100.3, for the season.) Burse has made opponents pay for double-teaming Jackson by making open shots and dominating the offensive glass.

"Our quest, always, is to find a comparable post player to Lauren so when the other post player double-teams Lauren, we have somebody else as a scoring threat, and now JB has become that," said Donovan. "It opens up Lauren's game a little bit more; it just helps the whole flow of the offense to have that consistent post player opposite Lauren that can help keep her defender on her."