Los Angeles Sparks On SI

Sparks Star Finishes As Runner-Up for WNBA Most Improved Player Award

The L.A. star was No. 2 in this year's award voting.
Ben Geffner|
May 27, 2025; Los Angeles, California, USA; LA Sparks guard Sarah Ashlee Barker (13), guard Odyssey Sims (0), guard Kelsey Plum (10), forward Azura Stevens (23) and forward Dearica Hamby (5) react in the second half against the Atlanta Dream at Crypto.com Arena. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-Imagn Images
May 27, 2025; Los Angeles, California, USA; LA Sparks guard Sarah Ashlee Barker (13), guard Odyssey Sims (0), guard Kelsey Plum (10), forward Azura Stevens (23) and forward Dearica Hamby (5) react in the second half against the Atlanta Dream at Crypto.com Arena. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-Imagn Images | Kirby Lee-Imagn Images

Los Angeles Sparks' star forward Azurá Stevens finished as runner-up in this year's WNBA Most Improved Player Award voting — second to Golden State's Veronica Burton, per release.

Stevens received two votes, over 60 less than Burton.

Read more: Sparks' Rickea Jackson Talks Mindset Playing Through Injury, Calls Out Opponents 

The last L.A. player to win the award was Kristi Toliver in 2012.

Stevens impressed throughout her third season with the purple and gold, posting per game averages of 12.8 points, 8.0 rebounds, 2.1 assists, 1.2 steals and 1.1 blocks.

Following the Sparks' 92-88 victory over the Sun on July 13, Stevens discussed both feeling underrated as a player and overall recognition on a league-wide level.

"I don't play for [recognition]. I play for the team. I play for the Sparks. I play for my family, myself, just to go out and put on a good show and be consistent," Stevens said. "That's been one of my goals coming into this year, is to be consistent.

Read more: Former Sparks Guard Signed By Fever Amid Caitlin Clark's Absence   

"So, respectfully, I don't care what the media thinks," she continued. "I'm just trying to do my job and play hard for these guys and for other people.”

Furthermore, a career-best performance against the Chicago Sky in late June cemented Stevens as the first player in WNBA history to post 20-plus points, four-plus blocks and four-plus steals in a single game while shooting over 70 percent from the field.

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Ben Geffner
BEN GEFFNER

Ben Geffner is an award-winning sports journalist and current student at the University of Maryland's Philip Merrill College of Journalism. A greater Los Angeles native now with countless years of extensive and dedicated experience — including beat reporting, writing, play-by-play broadcast, television anchoring, podcasting and video production — Ben remains eager to contribute as credentialed media covering the LA Sparks.

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