The 2026 WNBA regular season is winding down, but conversations surrounding end of season awards are heating up.
While some categories have a clear frontrunner, like Rookie of the Year where Olivia Miles is the odds-on favorite, the same can't be said about Defensive Player of the Year. Golden State Valkyries' Gabby Williams, Las Vegas Aces' A'ja Wilson and Atlanta Dream
's Angel Reese are in the running, but who'll win?Wilson is the reigning DPOY after sharing the award with Alanna Smith last season. Wilson has won the honor three times (2022, 2023 and 2025) in the past four years. Tamika Catchingsholds the record for the most DPOY awards with five (2005, 2006, 2009, 2010, 2012), followed by Sylvia Fowles' four (2011, 2013, 2016, 2021).
USA TODAY
Sports is taking a look at who might be in line for the award this season. Here are the frontrunners:
WNBA Defensive Player of the Year candidates
Golden State Valkyries F Gabby Williams
Gabby Williams finished second in DPOY voting last season and she's back in the conversation following an All-Star season in Golden State. The 5-foot-11 forward has anchored the league's top-ranked defense, taking on the tough assignment of guarding the best player on the opposing team each and every night. Williams leads the Valkyries in steals with 1.6 per game, which ranks ninth in the league. The 2025 first-team All-Defensive pick has recorded three or more steals in eight games this season. Williams, who played for France, was named the Best Defensive Player at the FIBA Women's World Cup.
Las Vegas Aces C A'ja Wilson
Wilson is hands down the best rim protector in the WNBA, leading the league in total blocks (74), blocks per game (2) and combined steals and blocks (127). She recorded a season-high five blocks in the Aces' 79-69 win over the Los Angeles Sparks on June 2, where she added 25 points and 15 rebounds to her stat line. The 6-foot-4 center has recorded three or more blocks in 10 games this season and grabbed 15 rebounds in four games. Her 18 double-doubles is tied for fourth in the league.
Atlanta Dream G Rhyne Howard
The 6-foot-2 guard is one of the best two-way players in the league, as evidenced by her career year. Howard is averaging career highs in points (18.9), field-goal percentage (41.6%) and 3-point percentage (36.8%), all while leading the league in steals (2.5 per game). Howard has recorded three or more steals in 18 games this season, including two six-steal outings. She ranks second in the league in combined steals and blocks (126), trailing only Wilson.
Atlanta Dream F Angel Reese
Reese is averaging a double-double for the third consecutive season, bolstered by a career-high 16.1 points, 12.4 rebounds, 2.8 assists and a career-high 1.8 steals through 39 games. The 6-foot-4 forward leads the league in rebounds (12.4) and offensive rebounds per game (5.1), in addition to total rebounds (485) and double-doubles (29). She set a WNBA single-season record for double-doubles last month, which she'll likely add to with four regular-season games remaining.
Reese set a WNBA record for the most double-doubles (57) through a player's first 75 career games on June 9. She became the fastest player in WNBA history to reach 1,000 career rebounds in 79 games on June 20, outpacing Tina Charles (89 games). On Aug. 24, Reese set a WNBA single-game record with 26 total rebounds (18 defensive and eight offensive boards) and also set a single-season record with 458 total rebounds. She surpassed the previous mark of 451 rebounds set by Las Vegas Aces center A'ja Wilson in 2024.
Defensive Player of the Year winners
- 2025: A’ja Wilson, Las Vegas Aces and Alanna Smith, Minnesota Lynx
- 2024: Napheesa Collier, Minnesota Lynx
- 2023: A’ja Wilson, Las Vegas Aces
- 2022: A’ja Wilson, Las Vegas Aces
- 2021: Sylvia Fowles, Minnesota Lynx
- 2020: Candace Parker, Los Angeles Sparks
- 2019: Natasha Howard, Seattle Storm
- 2018: Alana Beard, Los Angeles Sparks
- 2017: Alana Beard, Los Angeles Sparks
- 2016: Sylvia Fowles, Minnesota Lynx
- 2015: Brittney Griner, Phoenix Mercury
- 2014: Brittney Griner, Phoenix Mercury
- 2013: Sylvia Fowles, Chicago Sky
- 2012: Tamika Catchings, Indiana Fever
- 2011: Sylvia Fowles, Chicago Sky
- 2010: Tamika Catchings, Indiana Fever
- 2009: Tamika Catchings, Indiana Fever
- 2008: Lisa Leslie, Los Angeles Sparks
- 2007: Lauren Jackson, Seattle Storm
- 2006: Tamika Catchings, Indiana Fever
- 2005: Tamika Catchings, Indiana Fever
- 2004: Lisa Leslie, Los Angeles Sparks
- 2003: Sheryl Swoopes, Houston Comets
- 2002: Sheryl Swoopes, Houston Comets
- 2001: Debbie Black, Miami Sol
- 2000: Sheryl Swoopes, Houston Comets
- 1999: Yolanda Griffith, Sacramento Monarchs
- 1998: Teresa Weatherspoon, New York Liberty
- 1997: Teresa Weatherspoon, New York Liberty
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This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Who will win WNBA Defensive Player of the Year? Breaking down the top candidates
