NEW YORK — Satou Sabally of the Dallas Wings was named the WNBA's Most Improved Player on Thursday after averaging career bests with 18.6 points, 8.1 rebounds and 4.4 assists per game.
The fourth-year pro set a franchise record with seven consecutive double-doubles early in the season and finished with 14 double-doubles — fifth in the league — and her first career triple-double.
Sallaby and the Wings reached the playoffs for the third consecutive year and won a postseason series for the first time since moving to the Dallas area from Tulsa, Oklahoma, for the 2016 season. They swept Atlanta in a best-of-three and are set to play defending champion Las Vegas in the best-of-five semifinals.
The second overall pick in the draft by Dallas in 2020 out of Oregon, Sabally averaged 11.3 points and 4.8 rebounds in 11 games last season. She shot a career-high 43.5% from the field this season after shooting 39.8% a year ago.
The 25-year-old's 3-point percentage jumped to 36.1% from 23.3% last season.
During a press conference Thursday, Sabally shared that's she's "grateful" for the recognition.
“It’s a type of acknowledgement that I really cherish," she said.
She's happy that being named Most Improved Player shows her growth, what it represents for women's basketball and for her roots too.
The German-American said, "It means a lot for German basketball... to get a significant prize like that is really cool."
"I think it means a lot for the overall thing that I stand for, which is international basketball." Sabally continued. "And basketball in general for women. Having my name on there [the award], and carrying it with me means a great honor."
Fellow German native and Mavs legend Dirk Nowitzki was at Game 3 in Dallas to watch the Wings sweep Atlanta. Sabally said she got some advice about being trapped in pick and rolls.
"It's really great to have a brain like his as a resource," said Sabally.
Here's what Dirk had to say:
Though, when asked what her "ah-ha moment" was that she was going to have a good season. She laughed, "Day one."
"I just came in and I was ready," she told the media.
And the part of her game she's most proud of? Her defense.
Sabally finished ninth in scoring, 10th in rebounding and fourth in steals (1.8 per game) and was an All-Star Game starter for the first time in her second appearance.
"I'm going to take this as my defensive prize," Sabally said smiling.
But at the end of the day, Sabally said she wouldn't be where she is without her teammates and her coaches. She thanked them for "feeding" her the ball and laying down a good foundation and culture in Dallas.
Yet, Dallas’ “Unicorn” – what she’s lovingly nicknamed – said it’s hard to indulge in the moment because she’s still very much focused on her game and her team gearing up to take on the defending champs, Las Vegas Aces in the semifinals of the Playoffs. The Wings tip off against the Aces at 4 p.m. on Sunday, Sept. 24 at at Michelob ULTRA Arena in Las Vegas. You can watch on ESPN2.
See the press conference below:
More Wings coverage: