The WNBA awards are officially kicking off, and the first piece of hardware is off the board: Angel Reese of the Atlanta Dream just snagged her first-ever Defensive Player of the Year award! This isn’t just a win, it’s a statement, and she absolutely dominated the vote.
Reese’s Defensive Reign Kicks Off With a Bang
Angel Reese, a third-year standout, didn’t just win DPOY, she ran away with it, pulling in 46 of 74 votes. That’s a whopping 26 more than second-place Gabby Williams, with A’ja Wilson a distant third. Reese anchored Atlanta’s defense, which finished as the third-best in the entire WNBA during the regular season. Her impact was undeniable: when she was on the court, the Dream limited opponents to 7.9 points per 100 possessions fewer than when she was off it. Talk about making a difference! She led the league in rebounding for the third straight year, and she finished third in steals with 1.8, showcasing a complete defensive game. This is just her first individual award, but it feels like it won’t be her last.
Lynx Leaders Bag Some Hardware Too
Over in Minnesota, the Lynx are cleaning up on the awards front. Cheryl Reeve just added a record fifth Coach of the Year prize to her trophy cabinet. This woman is the league’s all-time winningest tactician, and she totally earned this one. She guided the Lynx through a season filled with departures and a lengthy injury absence for Napheesa Collier, yet still pushed them to the top of the WNBA standings. Reeve crafted a system that fit budding superstar Olivia Miles like a glove, leading the team to a joint-seventh-best record in franchise history.
Speaking of Olivia Miles, she capped off her phenomenal rookie campaign by capturing Rookie of the Year honors! Miles was an absolute highlight machine in her first season, averaging 19.8 points, 4.7 rebounds, and 6.0 assists for first-seeded Minnesota. Her performances did tail off in the postseason, but that regular season run? Pure fire.
What’s Next for WNBA Awards?
It’s exciting to see these awards handed out, but we’re still waiting on some big ones. The WNBA is slated to issue a half-dozen trophies this awards season, and the MVP and Sixth Player of the Year still need to be announced. With stars like A’ja Wilson, Olivia Miles, Caitlin Clark, and Kelsey Mitchell vying for some of sports’ biggest prizes, the coming few weeks are gonna be must-watch. Who’s gonna take home the hardware next? We’re on the edge of our seats!
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Yahoo Sports.
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