New York Liberty's Leilani Mitchell Named 2010 WNBA Most Improved Player of the Year Presented by Kia Motors

NEW YORK, Aug. 26, 2010 � New York Liberty point guard Leilani Mitchell was named the 2010 WNBA Most Improved Player of the Year presented by Kia Motors, the league announced today. Mitchell received 29 out of 39 votes from a panel of local and national sportswriters and broadcasters, beating out other top candidates that included Atlanta Dream forward Angel McCoughtry, Indiana Fever center Jessica Davenport, and Washington Mystics forward-center Crystal Langhorne and forward Monique Currie.

In her third WNBA season, Mitchell improved her overall performance across every major statistical category, including leading the WNBA in three-point field goal percentage (.486) and finishing second in total three-point field goals made (72). Mitchell increased her scoring output by nearly seven points to 9.3 ppg from 2.4, and increased her assists to 3.8 apg from 2.4. In addition, she tied for seventh in the league in steals (1.6 spg) and shot .441 from the field, up from .300 the previous season.

Leilani Mitchell Gallery More Photos

Acquired via trade from the Phoenix Mercury in May 2008, in exchange for the Liberty�s third round selection in 2009, Mitchell earned the starting point guard position during the 2010 preseason, and thrived in her new role. After starting only seven games in her previous two seasons, the University of Utah product started all 34 games in 2010. In the process, Mitchell helped guide the Liberty to a 22-12 (.647) record during the regular season, a nine-game improvement from the prior year, highlighted by a franchise-record 10-game winning streak and a No. 2 playoff seed in the Eastern Conference.

Against Indiana on Aug. 17, Mitchell posted 19 points, three rebounds and five assists, along with making four out of five three-point attempts, in a key win against New York�s conference rival. The following game she tallied 14 points, eight assists, and hit four out of six three-point attempts in another pivotal win against Tulsa on Aug. 19.

In honor of being named the Most Improved Player of the Year presented by Kia Motors, Mitchell will receive $5,000 and a trophy specially designed by Tiffany & Co.

This marks the second season that Kia Motors, an official WNBA marketing partner, has presented four of the league�s most illustrious season-ending awards � the WNBA�s Most Valuable Player, Defensive Player of the Year, Most Improved Player of the Year, and Sixth Woman of the Year � grouped under the banner of �The WNBA Performance Awards presented by Kia Motors.�

For more information on this year's WNBA Performance Awards presented by Kia Motors, visit www.wnba.com/awards.

Below are the complete results of the 2010 WNBA Most Improved Player of the Year presented by Kia Motors votes and a list of past recipients:

2010 MOST IMPROVED PLAYER OF THE YEAR PRESENTED BY KIA MOTORS RESULTS
Votes	Player	Team
29	Leilani Mitchell	New York Liberty
2	Angel McCoughtry	Atlanta Dream
2	Jessica Davenport	Indiana Fever
2	Crystal Langhorne	Washington Mystics
2	Monique Currie	Washington Mystics
1	Sylvia Fowles	Chicago Sky
1	Scholanda Robinson	Tulsa Shock

MOST IMPROVED PLAYER OF THE YEAR PRESENTED BY KIA WINNERS
Year	Player	Team
2010	Leilani Mitchell	New York Liberty
2009	Crystal Langhorne	Washington Mystics
2008	Ebony Hoffman	Indiana Fever
2007	Janel McCarville	New York Liberty
2006	Erin Buescher	Sacramento Monarchs
2005	Nicole Powell	Sacramento Monarchs
2004	Wendy Palmer/Kelly Miller	Connecticut Sun/Indiana Fever
2003	Michelle Snow	Houston Comets
2002	Coco Miller	Washington Mystics
2001	Janeth Arcain	Houston Comets
2000	Tari Phillips	New York Liberty