Congratulations to former Narbonne High standout Ebony Hoffman, who was honored as the WNBA's Most Improved Player on Friday, earning 31 of the 44 votes from a national media panel.
Hoffman, a 6-foot-2 forward who starred at USC before being drafted by the Indiana Fever, received the trophy from league president Donna Orender on Friday before the Eastern Conference semifinal against Detroit.
Chicago's Jia Perkins finished second with five votes and New York's Shameka Christon
was third with two votes.
"This is a big moment for me," said Hoffman, who averaged career highs this season in
points (10.4), rebounds (7.8), assists (1.8), steals (1.4), field goal percentage
(46.5) and 3-point percentage (45.6).
Hoffman is the fifth player in league history, and first in four seasons, to finish among the top
five players in rebounds per game and 3-point percentage in the same season.
"My husband (Ronald Cass) told me if I just dug a little deeper and a little harder this year,
every dream I have will come true," said Hoffman, who was drafted ninth overall by Indiana
in 2004.
During the news conference, Hoffman became emotional and started to cry.
"This is the Ebony you won't see on the court tonight," she joked.
Hoffman wasn't the only former South Bay hoops standout to earn an award on Friday.
L.A. Sparks center Lisa Leslie, a former Morningside High standout, was named the Defensive Player of the Year. Leslie picked up her fourth Olympic gold medal last month in Beijing.
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