A’ja Wilson can do just about anything on the basketball court. The 2025 season merely served to enhance a legacy she has building since she entered the WNBA in 2018 and immediately became an All-Star.<\/p>\n
Last season, Wilson won her record-breaking fourth MVP award and led the Las Vegas Aces<\/a> to their third championship in four years following a 14-14 start. Additionally, Wilson won her third Defensive Player of the Year award; in a unique arrangement, she shared the honor with Minnesota Lynx<\/a> forward Alanna Smith.<\/p>\n But is Wilson really the best defender in the WNBA? By defensive rating, she is. The Aces allowed 96 points per 100 possessions with Wilson on the floor in 2025; it marked the second time in three seasons that Wilson led The W in the category.<\/p>\n However, Wilson has genuine competition as the league’s best defensive stopper.<\/p>\n The stop percentage statistic measures a player’s effectiveness at grabbing steals, recovering blocks and taking charges. Among players with at least 250 minutes played in 2025, Wilson ranked sixth in stop rate, behind Phoenix Mercury<\/a> center Natasha Mack.<\/p>\n Topping the rankings for 2025 is Lynx forward\u00a0Maria Kliundikova. Her Minnesota teammate Smith placed third in the ranking, while Chicago Sky<\/a> guard Ariel Atkins placed second.<\/p>\n WNBA Top 10 \u201cDefensive Stoppers\u201d (Stop%) \ud83d\udcca pic.twitter.com\/flisvY9m5H<\/a><\/p>\n \u2014 E.A.\ud83e\udd34\ud83c\udffe (@crashoutking1) December 22, 2025<\/a> <\/p>\n No one would seriously debate that Wilson isn’t the WNBA’s best, most impactful defender. She has posted a defensive rating under 100 in each of the past seven seasons, the only player in the league to do so.<\/p>\n But while she stands alone in terms of her overall talent, Wilson has company in the WNBA’s defensive elite.<\/p>\n More WNBA news:<\/p>\n