Atlanta Dream’s standout forward, Angel Reese, clinched the prestigious title of WNBA Defensive Player of the Year after securing 46 votes out of 72 from media representatives on Thursday. Gabby Williams from Golden State secured the second spot with 20 votes, while A’ja Wilson, a star from Las Vegas, claimed the third position. Wilson, the recipient of the award in 2022 and 2023, shared the honor with Alanna Smith from Minnesota last season.
In her debut season with the Dream, Reese, a three-time all-star, played a pivotal role in propelling the team to the WNBA semifinals for the first time since 2018. The upcoming Game 1 of the semifinals will see Atlanta facing off against New York, the first-ever No. 8 seed to oust a No. 1 seed in the league’s 30-year history by sweeping Minnesota.
Noteworthy achievements by the 24-year-old Reese include leading the league with an impressive 12.1 rebounds per game and ranking third with 1.8 steals per game in her third season. Her contributions also significantly boosted the Dream’s defensive prowess, securing them the third-best defensive rating in the WNBA. The six-foot-four forward shattered records with 521 total rebounds, including 206 offensive rebounds in a single season, and set a WNBA milestone with 26 rebounds in one game.
After spending her initial two seasons in Chicago, Reese’s career took a new turn with a trade to the Dream in the off-season. Embracing her new team, she continued her dominance on the court, once again leading the league in rebounding and establishing herself as one of the premier defenders in the WNBA.
