In a competitive vote by r/NCAAW members, South Carolina's Raven Johnson secured the 2026 Most Improved Player award with 28.9% of the vote, outpacing Iowa's Ava Heiden (24.4%) and UCLA's Gabriela Jaquez (24.4%). The three-way tie at the top highlights strong competition for the honor. Johnson's improvement this season, coupled with her team's success, made her a standout choice among voters. The award recognizes significant growth in performance and impact during the 2026 season.