The WNBA has announced its 2026 All-Defensive Teams:<\/p>\n
Of note, Atlanta Dream forward\/Defensive Player of the Year Angel Reese and Las Vegas Aces center\/five-time WNBA MVP A’ja Wilson are on the first team. New York Liberty forward and eight-time All-Star Breanna Stewart made the second team.<\/p>\n
This year marked Reese’s first-ever All-Defensive team honor. She started 43 games for Atlanta after being traded from the Chicago Sky last offseason and helped the Dream finish second<\/a> in defensive rating. Reese also amassed 7.3 defensive rebounds and 1.8 steals per game for Atlanta, which will face the Golden State Valkyries in the WNBA Finals. Reese’s Dream teammate, guard Rhyne Howard, also made the first team. The four-time All-Star (in just five WNBA seasons) had 2.3 steals per game.<\/p>\n Wilson, this year’s MVP and a three-time Defensive Player of the Year award winner, has made the All-Defensive first team each of the past five seasons. The nine-year pro had 1.9 blocks, 1.4 steals and 7.5 defensive boards per game. Wilson finished third in the DPOY race behind Reese and Golden State forward Gabby Williams.<\/p>\n Speaking of Williams, the two-time All-Star earned First Team honors for the second straight year. She is an incredible defensive presence, averaging 1.6 steals per game last season (and 1.6 SPG in her career). Williams played a huge role in Golden State’s top-ranked defensive efficiency en route to the WNBA Finals.<\/p>\n