A’ja Wilson and Alanna Smith Share WNBA Defensive Player of the Year Award
In a historic decision, Las Vegas Aces star A’ja Wilson and Alanna Smith of the Minnesota Lynx have been awarded the WNBA Defensive Players of the Year. This is an unprecedented milestone in the league, marking the first time the award has been shared between two players. Wilson, who has proven to be a dominant force on defense, receives this prestigious recognition for the third time in four seasons. The vote reflected the significant impact of both players on their respective teams. Each player received 29 votes from the 72 media members who participated in the election.Wilson, who also won the award in 2022 and 2023, ties Sheryl Swoopes for third on the list of players with the most defensive awards. Tamika Catchings leads with five, followed by Sylvia Fowles with four. Wilson’s outstanding performance included leading the league with 2.3 blocks per game, ranking third with 7.9 defensive rebounds per game, and finishing fourth with an average of 1.6 steals. For her part, Smith contributed significantly to the Lynx’s defense, who led the WNBA with 97.5 points allowed per 100 possessions. Smith ranked second in combined steals and blocks with 135, and third in blocks per game with 1.9 and in total with 80. Smith follows in the footsteps of Napheesa Collier, who won the award in 2024, making the Lynx the first team to have two different players win the award in consecutive seasons. The anticipation grows as the MVP announcement approaches, where Wilson and Collier are strong contenders. The Lynx secured the top spot for the playoffs, followed by the Aces. In the voting for the best defender, Wilson and Smith surpassed their competitors, with Gabby Williams of Seattle in third place with nine votes, Alyssa Thomas of Phoenix with three, and Collier with two.The award, which has been given since the inaugural WNBA season in 1997, had never been shared before.
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