Atlanta Dream’s Angel Reese have been name this year’s WNBA Defensive Player of the Year. Angel Reese wins the award for the first time and becomes the first Dream player to earn the honor.
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Reese received 46 votes from a national panel of 74 sportswriters and broadcasters. Golden State Valkyries forward Gabby Williams finished in second place with 20 votes, followed by Las Vegas Aces center-forward A’ja Wilson in third with four votes. Washington Mystics center Shakira Austin finished fourth with two votes, and Golden State guard Veronica Burton and Atlanta guard Rhyne Howard tied for fifth with one vote each.
In her third WNBA season and first with the Dream, Reese ranked third in the WNBA in both steals per game (1.8) and total steals (77), setting career highs in both categories. She also finished third in total defensive rebounds (315) and led the league with 12.1 rebounds per game.
Behind Reese, Atlanta ranked third in the WNBA in defensive rating (103.5). Her rebounding helped the Dream allow a league-low 9.5 second-chance points per game.
Reese set WNBA single-season records with 521 total rebounds and 206 offensive rebounds, becoming the first player in league history to reach 500 rebounds in a season. She also grabbed a WNBA-record 26 rebounds in a road victory over the Los Angeles Sparks on Aug. 24.
The 6-4 Reese posted a WNBA single-season record of 32 double-doubles and was one of only two players to average a double-double this season. She averaged a career-high 16.4 points per game and earned her third consecutive WNBA All-Star selection.
Angel Reese and the Atlanta Dream have advanced to the WNBA Finals after sweeping the NY Liberty in the 2026 WNBA Semifinals. They will face the Golden State Valkyries in Game 1 on October 17.
THE DPOY IS IN THE 🅰️
Angel Reese is YOUR 2026 Kia Defensive Player of the Year! She’s now the FIRST in Atlanta Dream history to receive the honor.
Atlanta, let’s celebrate AR5 ❤️ https://t.co/eKqs7NK7Bj
— Atlanta Dream (@AtlantaDream) October 1, 2026
