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3h ago

Alanna Smith, A’ja Wilson Named WNBA Co-Defensive Players of the Year

A tie in first-place votes triggered the league’s first shared defensive award under rules that include no tiebreaker.

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Overview

  • Smith and Wilson each received 29 first-place votes from a 72-member media panel.
  • A’ja Wilson secured her third DPOY (2022, 2023, 2025), leading the league in blocks per game (2.3), defensive rebounds (316) and combined steals plus blocks (156).
  • Alanna Smith earned her first DPOY as Minnesota’s defensive anchor; the Lynx posted a league-best 97.5 defensive rating and went 34-10 to claim the No. 1 seed.
  • Other vote recipients were Seattle’s Gabby Williams (9), Phoenix’s Alyssa Thomas (3) and Minnesota’s Napheesa Collier (2).
  • Each winner receives $5,150 and a commemorative trophy, with MVP finalists and additional awards set to be announced in the coming days.