A’ja Wilson and Alanna Smith Share WNBA Defensive Player of the Year Award
Las Vegas Aces star A’ja Wilson was awarded the WNBA Defensive Player of the Year award for the third time in four seasons. On this occasion, Wilson shares the recognition with Alanna Smith of the Minnesota Lynx.
Each player received 29 votes from the 72 media members who participated in the voting. It’s the first time the award, first presented in the inaugural WNBA season in 1997, has been given to more than one player.
Wilson, who also won the award in 2022 and 2023, ties Sheryl Swoopes for third all-time in DPOY awards. Tamika Catchings leads with five, followed by Sylvia Fowles with four.
Wilson led the league with 2.3 blocks per game, was third with 7.9 defensive rebounds, and finished fourth with 1.6 steals.
The Lynx led the WNBA with 97.5 points per 100 possessions. Smith was second in combined steals and blocks with 135, and third in blocks average with 1.9 and total blocks with 80.
Smith is the second consecutive Minnesota player to at least share this award. Napheesa Collier was voted the league’s best defensive player in 2024, making the Lynx the first team to have two different players win the award in consecutive seasons.
Wilson and Collier are the leading candidates for MVP, which will be announced on Sunday.
The Lynx took first place in the playoffs, and the Aces second.
Wilson and Smith far surpassed the others in votes for best defender. Seattle’s Gabby Williams was third with nine votes, Phoenix’s Alyssa Thomas had three, and Collier finished with two.
