Angel Reese Makes Atlanta Dream History, Wins WNBA Defensive Player of the Year

Angel Reese has officially become the WNBA’s top defensive player. The league announced Thursday that the Atlanta Dream star has won the 2026 Kia WNBA Defensive Player of the Year award, receiving 46 of 74 votes from the national media panel. Golden State’s Gabby Williams finished second with 20 votes, while Las Vegas star A’ja Wilson received four. Reese becomes the first player in Atlanta Dream history to win Defensive Player of the Year.

Reese’s impact extended well beyond traditional defensive statistics. She finished third in the WNBA in steals at 1.8 per game, while Atlanta posted the league’s third-best defensive rating. Her work on the glass was historic. Reese finished with 521 rebounds and 206 offensive rebounds, both single-season league records, became the first WNBA player ever to reach 500 rebounds in a season and set the single-game record with 26 rebounds.

The award arrives at an ideal moment for Atlanta. The Dream just swept Washington to reach the semifinals for the first time since 2018 and will host New York on Sunday. Reese came to Atlanta in an offseason trade looking to win. One season later, she has a historic individual award and the Dream remain alive in the championship chase.