Atlanta Dream forward Angel Reese confidently declared the 2026 WNBA Defensive Player of the Year resided in Atlanta this season. Turns out, Reese was right.
On Thursday, Oct. 1, the WNBA announced Reese was voted the league's Defensive Player of the Year, becoming the first player in franchise history to win the honor during her first season with the Dream.
“I have the trophy, but I definitely want Jordin (Canada) and Rhyne (Howard) to sign it because I think they deserve it just as much as I do," said Reese. "I’m grateful for Atlanta, I’m grateful for my teammates and my coaches and all the supporting staff that supports us. It’s just the beginning.”
Reese received 46 of the 74 votes from a national panel of sportswriters and broadcasters. Gabby
Williams finished in second place with 20 votes. Las Vegas Aces center A'ja Wilson, who won the DPOY award three times in the past four seasons, came in third with four votes.
The LSU national champion was selected with the No. 7 overall pick in the 2024 draft by the Chicago Sky, where she played two seasons and picked up two All-Star nods. Reese was traded to the Dream in April, taking her game to another level on both sides of the ball.
The 6-foot-4 forward averaged a double-double for the third consecutive season, bolstered by a career-high 16.4 points, 12.1 rebounds, 2.8 assists and a career-high 1.8 steals in 43 regular-season games. She led the league in rebounds and offensive rebounds per game (4.8), while setting new WNBA single-season records in total rebounds (521), total offensive rebounds (206) and double-doubles (32).
Reese's steals average ranked third in the WNBA behind Dream teammates Howard (2.3 steals per game) and Canada (1.9), who all combined to help Atlanta to the third-best defense in the league. Reese posted defensive win shares of 1.98, which also ranked third in the league.
The DPOY honor is the latest accomplishment for Reese, who credited Atlanta head coach Karl Smesko for helping her improve her rebounding and shooting abilities.
"He's very intentional with my development, even with my rebounding," Reese said back in June. "I thought I was a great rebounder before and (he's) very intentional about how I can be … better. He talks about the (Sacramento) Monarchs and how they will win the best rebounding teams in history. He wants me to be a part of that and our team to be that too. … It's just a matter of time you'll be able to see the results."
From one Angel to another 😇
— WNBA (@WNBA) October 1, 2026
Angel Reese’s mom does the honors of surprising her with the 2026 @Kia Defensive Player of the Year Award! #KIADPOY | #WNBASeason30 pic.twitter.com/TrtzIuhnxh
The results were on full display throughout the season. Reese became the fastest player in WNBA history to reach 1,000 career rebounds (79 games) in the Dream's 113-96 win over the Indiana Fever on June 20, outpacing Tina Charles (89 games). Reese went on to set a WNBA single-game record with 26 total rebounds (18 defensive and eight offensive boards) in the Dream's 78-71 win over the Los Angeles Sparks on Aug. 24.
"Anything that goes up is mine," Reese said after the win. "I want to be one of (the best) when I walk away from the game. So just being able to … be consistent every night is something I'm looking forward to doing."
The records don't stop there. Reese became the first WNBA player to surpass 500 rebounds and 200 offensive rebounds in a single season. She also surpassed Alyssa Thomas's double-double record (28 in 40 games) with 32 double-doubles recorded across 43 games.
Another first — Reese is appearing in the first WNBA playoff series of her career as the No. 4 seed Dream lead the No. 5 Washington Mystics 1-0 in the first round of the postseason. Reese secured the first playoff double-double of her career in the Dream's 92-77 Game 1 win over the Mystics on Sept. 27 with 13 points and 12 rebounds.
"She's a competitor and she's fearless and she just has an attack-mode about her," Smeko said on Sept. 27. "First playoff game to have a double-double, really good start for her and hopefully the start of a lot of big nights for her in the playoffs."
2026 WNBA Awards
The WNBA is rolling out the league end-of-season awards throughout the postseason:
- MVP: To be announced
- Rookie of the Year: Olivia Miles, Minnesota Lynx
- Defensive Player of the Year: Angel Reese, Atlanta Dream
- Sixth Woman of the Year: To be announced
- Most improved Player: Jessica Shephard, Dallas Wings
- Kim Perrot Sportsmanship Award: To be announced
- Coach of the Year: Cheryl Reeve, Minnesota Lynx
- All-WNBA Rookie Team: To be announced
- First-team All-WNBA: To be announced
- Second-team All-WNBA: To be announced
- First-team All-Defensive: To be announced
- Second-team All-Defensive: To be announced
WNBA Defensive Player of the Year, by year
- 2026: Angel Reese, Atlanta Dream
- 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: Atlanta Dream All-Star Angel Reese named WNBA Defensive Player of the Year
