Angel Reese Named WNBA Defensive Player of the Year
The Atlanta Dream forward secured the award after setting a new league record with 521 rebounds in the 2026 season.
Updated on Oct. 6, 2026 in Basketball
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Angel Reese has been awarded the 2026 WNBA Defensive Player of the Year title after a dominant season with the Atlanta Dream. She earned 46 of 74 votes from the media panel to secure the honor.
Why it matters
The recognition highlights Reese's defensive impact, as she led the league in rebounding while helping the Atlanta Dream achieve the third-best defensive rating in the WNBA. Her performance anchored the team to a 30-14 regular season record.
Reese recorded 521 total rebounds, a new league record, and maintained an average of 12.1 rebounds and 1.8 steals per game. She also set a single-game record with 26 rebounds and recorded 32 double-doubles throughout the season.
The players
Angel Reese
She is a standout professional basketball player for the Atlanta Dream who previously played at LSU.
Gabby Williams
She is a professional basketball player who finished second in the 2026 defensive voting.
A'ja Wilson
She is a prominent WNBA athlete who finished third in the 2026 defensive player voting.
Atlanta Dream
This is a professional WNBA team based in Georgia that finished the 2026 season with a 30-14 record.
The details
Reese surpassed other top defenders to take the award, with Gabby Williams receiving 20 votes and A'ja Wilson receiving four. Behind Reese's defensive efforts, the Atlanta Dream allowed only 9.5 second-chance points per game during their successful 30-14 campaign.
Timeline
Angel Reese was traded to the Atlanta Dream in April 2026.
The 2026 season served as the period for Reese's Defensive Player of the Year performance.
Season Trajectory
This award marks a significant milestone in Reese's career and solidifies the Atlanta Dream as a formidable defensive unit within the league. Her performance provides a new benchmark for frontcourt dominance that will shape future roster construction and defensive strategies across the WNBA.
Fantasy basketball managers should note Reese's league-leading 12.1 rebounds per game and high-frequency double-double production as key metrics for value. Her defensive efficiency directly contributed to the Atlanta Dream's high-seed playoff positioning during the 2026 season.
The takeaway
Reese's historic rebounding campaign demonstrates how a singular defensive presence can anchor a team's championship aspirations. Analysts note that her ability to limit second-chance points is becoming the gold standard for success in the modern WNBA.
Further reading
For more on the league's top performers and trends, visit our Basketball coverage section.
Source note: This article includes information reported by 92 Q.
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