Dream Star Forward Angel Reese Voted WNBA Defensive Player of the Year
Reese earned 46 of 74 votes after leading the Dream to a 7.9-point defensive differential per 100 possessions, league data confirms.
- On Thursday, the WNBA named Atlanta Dream forward Angel Reese the 2026 Defensive Player of the Year, marking the first franchise player to win the honor with 46 of 74 votes from a national panel.
- Acquired from the Chicago Sky in an April trade, Reese transformed Atlanta's defense, which ranked third in the WNBA in defensive rating and limited opponents to a league-low 9.5 second-chance points per game.
- Reese set WNBA single-season records with 521 total rebounds and 32 double-doubles, establishing herself as an elite defender alongside teammates Rhyne Howard and Jordin Canada who formed a disruptive defensive presence.
- After Wednesday's playoff win, mother Angel Webb Reese surprised her daughter with the trophy, prompting the forward to say, 'I think they deserve it just as much as I do,' about teammates Rhyne and Jordin.
- Coming off a first-round sweep of the Washington Mystics, Atlanta advances to the WNBA Semifinals to face the New York Liberty starting Sunday, October 4, in a matchup that marks the team's first semifinal appearance since 2018.
53 Articles
53 Articles
Angel Reese Makes History As The Atlanta Dream’s First WNBA Defensive Player Of The Year – Because of Them We Can
Angel Reese just added another major milestone to her WNBA career. The Atlanta Dream forward has been named the 2026 Kia WNBA Defensive Player of the Year, becoming the first player in franchise history to earn the honor. The WNBA reports that Reese received 46 of 74 votes from a national panel of sportswriters and broadcasters. WNBA And the way she found out made the moment even sweeter. During a team meeting, Reese’s mom walked into the room c…
Angel Reese Wins 2026 WNBA Defensive Player of the Year
Atlanta Dream star Angel Reese has been named the 2026 WNBA Defensive Player of the Year; the honor was announced Thursday afternoon. Reese edged out Golden State Valkyries guard Gabby Williams, who finished second with 20 votes. Las Vegas Aces standout A’ja Wilson placed third. Wilson won the award in 2022 and 2023, and last season she shared it with Minnesota Lynx forward Alanna Smith. In her first season with the Dream, the three-time All-Sta…
Angel Reese Wins WNBA Defensive Player of the Year Award
Atlanta Dream center Angel Reese won the WNBA Defensive Player of the Year award, the league announced on Thursday. "I told my coaches earlier in the season I am going to be the Defensive Player of the Year," Reese told ESPN. "I don't know if it's going to be this year, I don't know if it's going to be next year, but I'm challenging myself, and I want you guys to challenge me every day to be that. And here it is." Reese set a WNBA record for mos…
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