The Big Ten Defensive Player of the Year is an award that made its debut in 2000. Stacey Thomas won the first award, and she did so by averaging 3.4 steals that season. The year before that, she averaged 3.7.
Thomas locks down the Big Ten
Thomas had a solid college career, and in her four years, she averaged 13.5 points, 7.4 rebounds, 3.2 steals and 1.9 assists. The Michigan player entered the WNBA after that, as she was drafted by the Portland Fire in the 2000 WNBA Draft. She played three seasons with the Fire, and after that, she spent time with the Phoenix Mercury.