Angel Reese earned the 2026 Defensive Player of the Year award on Thursday, marking a first for the Atlanta Dream franchise. The third-year forward claimed 46 of 74 ballots cast by sportswriters and broadcasters, beating out Golden State's Gabby Williams (20 votes) and two-time winner A'ja Wilson (four votes) in one of the more lopsided WNBA DPOY races in recent memory.
Angel Reese Locks Up WNBA DPOY Nod with Record-Breaking Year
Reese's case was built on numbers that pushed past every existing benchmark.
She pulled down 521 rebounds on the season — a WNBA single-season record — while averaging a league-best 12.1 per game. Her 206 offensive boards also broke the previous ceiling, and a 26-rebound outing against the LA Sparks in August topped the single-game record as well.
Beyond the glass, she finished among the league's top three in steals (1.8 per game) and led all players in defensive win shares at 3.39.
But Reese's individual stats only tell part of the story. Atlanta's defensive rating cratered by nearly eight points per 100 possessions without her on the floor, underscoring her impact on the Dream's overall gameplan.
She's led the league in rebounds in all three of her pro seasons, but this year's WNBA awards recognition couldn't come at a better time. With Atlanta through to the next round of the 2026 WNBA playoffs, Reese will be looking to prove exactly why she's deserving of DPOY honors this season.
