"HENDERSON, Nev. -- Las Vegas Aces star A'ja Wilson was voted WNBA Defensive Player of the Year on Thursday for the third time in four seasons, sharing the award this time with Alanna Smith of the Minnesota Lynx. Each player received 29 votes from the 72 media members who participated. It's the first time the award, first given out in the WNBA's inaugural season in 1997, went to more than one player."
"Wilson, who also won the award in 2022 and 2023, tied Sheryl Swoopes for the third-highest number of times capturing top defensive player. Tamika Catchings owns the record with five and Sylvia Fowles is next with four. Wilson led the league with 2.3 blocks per game, was third with 7.9 defensive rebounds per game and finished fourth with an average of 1.6 steals."
A'ja Wilson and Alanna Smith shared the WNBA Defensive Player of the Year award after each received 29 votes from 72 media members. It is the first time the award, established in 1997, was shared. Wilson claimed the honor for the third time in four seasons, tying Sheryl Swoopes for third-most wins; Tamika Catchings leads with five and Sylvia Fowles has four. Wilson led the league with 2.3 blocks per game, averaged 7.9 defensive rebounds and 1.6 steals. Smith ranked second in combined steals and blocks with 135, averaged 1.9 blocks and totaled 80. The Lynx were the top playoff seed and the Aces were second.
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