Who will be named Defensive Player of the Year? | FIBA Basketball

MUNICH (Germany) – Voting for this season’s EuroLeague Women Awards is now underway, with fans able to make their picks across the various award categories, including Defensive Player of the Year.

Plenty of players have demonstrated their defensive attributes across the 2025-26 campaign, with a total of 15 players nominated for the award by an expert panel.

The candidates will looking to add their name to an impressive list of former award winners, with two-time winner Gabby Williams chasing the honor of becoming the first player to land the award for a third time, having won it in 2021 and 2025.

Elizabeth Williams of Galatasaray Cagdas Faktoring could also become only the third player to win the award more than once, following in the footsteps of Williams and Alyssa Thomas.

Past Winners

2025: Gabby Williams (Fenerbahce Opet)
2024: Yvonne Anderson (CIMSA CBK Mersin)|
2023: Alyssa Thomas (ZVVZ USK Praha)
2022: Elizabeth Williams (Fenerbahce Safiport)
2021: Gabby Williams (Sopron Basket)
2020: Alyssa Thomas (ZVVZ USK Praha)

Here’s everything you need to know before you cast your vote.

Klara Holm of Spar Girona is among the contenders after leading the steals chart this season with 2.5 per game, closely followed by hometown favorite Helena Pueyo of Casademont Zaragoza on 2.3 per outing.

Four more players are averaging over two steals per game: Mariella Santucci (Umana Reyer Venezia), Laetitia Guapo (Tango Bourges Basket), Coline Franchelin (Flammes Carolo Basket) and Leila Lacan (Basket Landes).

When it comes to rim protection, Awak Kuier of Galatasaray Cagdas Faktoring stands above the rest with 1.6 per game, followed by teammates Dorka Juhasz and Elizabeth Williams on 0.9, a figure also matched by Iliana Rupert of Fenerbahce Opet.

Of course, steals and blocks tell only part of the story when it comes to defensive excellence. Perhaps your pick is an elite on-ball stopper or a player whose presence changes everything at that end of the floor.

Now it’s time to make your choice and cast your vote!

Have you already voted for the other categories?

FIBA