Kristi Toliver Named 2012 WNBA Most Improved Player of the Year presented by Boost Mobile

NEW YORK, Sept. 27, 2012 � Los Angeles Sparks guard Kristi Toliver is the winner of the 2012 WNBA Most Improved Player presented by Boost Mobile, the league announced today. Toliver received 24 out of 41 votes from a panel of national and local sportswriters and broadcasters. Phoenix Mercury guard/forward DeWanna Bonner was the runner-up (7). Chicago Sky guard Epiphanny Prince (6), Minnesota Lynx forward Rebekkah Brunson forward (2), and Connecticut Sun guard Kara Lawson (2) received the remaining votes.

In her fourth season in the league, Toliver started all but one of 34 games for the Sparks. She posted career highs in scoring (17.5 ppg), assists (4.9 apg), rebounds, (3.2 rpg), and steals (1.3 apg). Toliver also established career highs in field goal percentage (.491) and minutes (31.5 mpg). She scored at least 10 points in all but six games, including an 11-game streak of double-digit scoring (July 5-Sept. 2). She scored 20-plus points in every game played in August and was honored as the WNBA Western Conference Player of the Month presented by Boost Mobile.

Toliver ranked sixth in the league in scoring, fourth in assists and second in free-throw percentage (.901). She scored a career-high 29 points three times throughout the season. The three 29-point performances came in wins against Western Conference foes: Phoenix (93-84 on June 23), Minnesota (96-90 on July 5), and San Antonio (101-77 on Aug. 23), the Sparks� first round opponent of the 2012 WNBA Playoffs presented by Boost Mobile.

Toliver is in her third year with the Sparks, she was drafted third overall in 2009 by the Chicago Sky. Toliver has improved in total points and steals every year since being in the league. She has helped her Sparks squad return to the Playoffs after not qualifying last year. The Sparks finished the 2012 season with a 24-10 record and the second seed in the West for the Playoffs. The Sparks 24 wins is a nine win improvement from last year.

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

Below are the complete voting results for the 2012 WNBA Most Improved Player of the Year Award and a list of past recipients:

2012 MOST IMPROVED PLAYER OF THE YEAR PRESENTED BY BOOST MOBILE RESULTS

MOST IMPROVED PLAYER OF THE YEAR PRESENTED BY BOOST MOBILE