A’ja Wilson and Alanna Smith Share WNBA Defensive Player Award

Las Vegas Aces star A’ja Wilson was named the WNBA Defensive Player of the Year for the third time in four seasons on Thursday. This year, she shares the accolade with Alanna Smith of the Minnesota Lynx. Both players received 29 votes from the 72 media members who participated in the voting process, marking the first instance in the history of the award, which began in 1997, that it has been shared by multiple players.

Wilson, who previously won the award in 2022 and 2023, now ties with Sheryl Swoopes for the third-highest number of Defensive Player of the Year titles. Tamika Catchings holds the record with five titles, while Sylvia Fowles follows with four.

In a standout season, Wilson led the league with an impressive average of 2.3 blocks per game. Additionally, she ranked third in defensive rebounds with 7.9 per game and finished fourth in steals, averaging 1.6 per game. Smith also showcased her defensive prowess throughout the season, finishing second in combined steals and blocks with a total of 135. She averaged 1.9 blocks per game and recorded a total of 80 blocks over the season.

Lynx Capture Top Seed, Aces in Strong Position

The Minnesota Lynx secured the top seed for the upcoming playoffs, while the Las Vegas Aces followed closely in second place. Smith’s recognition as a co-recipient of the defensive award continues a trend for the Lynx, who saw Napheesa Collier named the league’s top defensive player in 2024. This achievement makes the Lynx the first team to have two different players win the award in consecutive seasons.

As the playoffs approach, Wilson and Collier are also considered frontrunners for the Most Valuable Player (MVP) award. The announcement for the MVP winner is scheduled for Sunday. The results of the defensive player voting could provide insight into what may be a closely contested MVP race.

The voting results indicated that Wilson and Smith were significantly ahead of other candidates for the top defensive player title. Gabby Williams from Seattle received nine votes, while Alyssa Thomas from Phoenix garnered three votes, and Collier received two.

Both Wilson and Smith have demonstrated exceptional defensive capabilities, contributing significantly to their teams’ success this season. As the WNBA playoffs draw nearer, their performances will be closely watched as they aim to lead their respective teams to championship glory.