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Angel Reese named 2026 WNBA Defensive Player of the Year
Atlanta Dream forward Angel Reese has been named the 2026 WNBA Defensive Player of the Year. Reese secured the honor with 46 votes from a national panel of media members.
Gabby Williams of the Golden State Valkyries finished second in the voting with 20 votes, while Las Vegas Aces star A’ja Wilson placed third with four votes. Reese is the first player in Atlanta Dream franchise history to receive this award.
During her third WNBA season, Reese averaged a league-high 12.1 rebounds per game and recorded 32 blocked shots. She also set league records for total rebounds with 521 and recorded 32 double-doubles. Her defensive presence contributed to the Dream holding the third-best defensive rating in the league and allowing a league-low 9.5 second-chance points per game.
Entities
Angel Reese · Atlanta Dream · A’ja Wilson · Gabby Williams · WNBA
Claims
What the coverage asserts, and how many sources carry each claim.
- [○ 1 SOURCE] Angel Reese set league records for total rebounds (521) and double-doubles (32). srnnews.com
- [● 2 SOURCES] Angel Reese received 46 votes to win the award. srnnews.com · theblast.com
- [● 2 SOURCES] Angel Reese is the first player in Atlanta Dream history to win the Defensive Player of the Year award. srnnews.com · theblast.com
- [● 3 SOURCES] Angel Reese was named the 2026 WNBA Defensive Player of the Year. srnnews.com · theblast.com · www.winnipegfreepress.com
- [● 3 SOURCES] A’ja Wilson finished third in the voting with four votes. srnnews.com · theblast.com · www.winnipegfreepress.com
- [● 3 SOURCES] Gabby Williams finished second in the voting with 20 votes. srnnews.com · theblast.com · www.winnipegfreepress.com
- [● 3 SOURCES] Angel Reese averaged 12.1 rebounds per game, which was a league high. srnnews.com · theblast.com · www.winnipegfreepress.com
- [● 2 SOURCES] The Atlanta Dream ranked third in the WNBA in defensive rating with 103.5. srnnews.com · theblast.com