Angel Reese proved to be everything Atlanta’s dream needed and more in his first season with the franchise. She now has the material to prove it.
Reese won the WNBA Defensive Player of the Year award on Thursday, the league announced. She received 46 out of 74 votes for this honor.
Gabby Williams finished second to Reese, receiving 20 votes. A’ja Wilson, a three-time defensive player of the year, finished third, earning four votes.
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Although Reese developed a reputation as one of the best rebounders the game has ever seen – leading the league in statistics in each of her three seasons – it didn’t lead to defensive recognition until 2026. Despite her excellence on the glass, Reese was never named to a WNBA All-Defensive team or received any votes for Defensive Player of the Year before this season.
Unsurprisingly, rebounding played a role in Reese ultimately earning that honor this season, as she once again led the WNBA with 12.3 rebounds per game. She also set two records, recording the most rebounds in a single season (521) and the most offensive rebounds in a single season (206). She also set the single-game rebound record after dropping 26 in an August game against the Los Angeles Sparks.
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Her success went beyond that, as the WNBA noted in its release announcing Reese’s victory.
Reese’s impact was evident in every defensive measure. She finished the regular season first in the WNBA in defensive wins (3.39) and fourth in defensive rating (100.0), while Atlanta allowed 7.9 fewer points per 100 possessions with Reese on the floor, the largest defensive on/off differential among Dream rotation players.
With this victory, Reese also becomes the first player in Dream history to win this award.
Reese’s contributions on the court were a big reason why the Dream once again posted one of the best records in the WNBA. With the regular season over – and an award already in hand – Reese will now see if she can add a championship ring to her collection.
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