Houston's Arcain is 2001 Most Improved Player

NEW YORK, Aug. 18 -- Janeth Arcain of the Houston Comets has been named the 2001 WNBA Most Improved Player of the Year.

Janeth Arcain, who hasn't missed a game in her WNBA career, was voted a starter in this year's All-Star Game. (Jeff Reinking/WNBA Photos)

Arcain received 25 of a possible 60 votes from a national panel of sportswriters and broadcasters. Also receiving votes were Charlotte's Allison Feaster, Los Angeles' Latasha Byears, Phoenix's Maria Stepanova, Miami's Elena Baranova, Cleveland's Helen Darling and Merlakia Jones, Orlando's Elaine Powell and Nykesha Sales, Detroit's Astou Ndiaye-Diatta, and Sacramento's Kedra Holland-Corn and Edna Campbell.

The Comets forward averaged 18.5 points (4th in the WNBA), 4.3 rebounds, 2.9 assists and 1.88 steals in the regular season, helping lead Houston (19-13) to the playoffs for the fifth consecutive year. Arcain was also selected to start in the 2001 WNBA All-Star Game, marking her first appearance at the event. In her first four seasons with the four-time WNBA Champion Comets, Arcain averaged 7.9 points, 3.5 rebounds and 1.4 assists.

Arcain, a native of Brazil, has not missed a game in five WNBA seasons (154 games) and started all 32 contests this season. The three-time Olympian, who won silver with the Brazilian Team in 1996 and bronze in 2000, was selected by Houston in the second round (12th overall) of the WNBA Elite Draft in 1997.

Most Improved Player of the Year Janeth Arcain in action: 28.8+ | ISDN+

As the WNBA Most Improved Player of the Year, Arcain will receive a Tiffany-designed trophy and $5,000. The 60-member voting panel consisted of 12 national media representatives, as well as media representatives from each of the league's 16 markets who cover the WNBA regularly.

This is the second season the WNBA Most Improved Player honor has been awarded. Tari Phillips of the New York Liberty received the award in 2000.

Below are the complete results of the 2001 WNBA Most Improved Player of the Year vote:

Most Improved Player of the Year Results

Votes	Player	Team
25	Janeth Arcain	Houston Comets
7	Allison Feaster	Charlotte Sting
6	Latasha Byears	Los Angeles Sparks
5	Elena Baranova	Miami Sol
5	Maria Stepanova	Phoenix Mercury
3	Helen Darling	Cleveland Rockers
2	Merlakia Jones	Cleveland Rockers
2	Elaine Powell	Orlando Miracle
2	Astou Ndiaye-Diatta	Detroit Shock
1	Nykesha Sales	Orlando Miracle
1	Kedra Holland-Corn	Sacramento Monarchs
1	Edna Campbell	Sacramento Monarchs