Angel Reese just snagged the WNBA Defensive Player of the Year award for the 2026 season! This news dropped Thursday, October 1, 2026, fresh off her helping the Atlanta Dream lock down their first playoff series win in eight years. Talk about a week.
The Vote Wasn’t Even Close
This wasn’t some nail-biter, either. Reese absolutely dominated the ballot, pulling in a massive 46 out of 74 votes. That’s a huge margin, showing exactly how much respect she’s earned around the league for her defensive prowess. Gabby Williams was next up with 20 votes, which is solid, but nowhere near Reese’s tally. After that, A’ja Wilson picked up four votes, Shakira Austin got two, and both Veronica Burton and Rhyne Howard each netted a single vote. The message from the voters is loud and clear: Reese is *the* defensive force right now.
Reese’s Dream Run
Think about it, this DPOY nod comes literally one day after she helped her Atlanta Dream squad clinch their first playoff series victory in EIGHT YEARS. That’s some serious momentum to be building. It shows her impact isn’t just personal accolades, but it translates directly to team success when it matters most. You know she had to celebrate, too. Reese hit up social media right after the announcement, posting a video to let everyone know how she felt about the honor.
This award isn’t just a trophy; it’s a statement. Angel Reese has officially cemented herself as *the* defensive force in the league. With her and the Dream finding this kind of momentum and success right now, you gotta wonder what else they’re cooking up.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Bleacher Report.
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