Three Golden State Valkyries just locked up spots on the WNBA All-Defense team, and honestly, are we even surprised? This squad boasts the league’s top defense by major statistical measures, so it feels like a no-brainer. Forward Gabby Williams earned a spot on the All-Defense first team, with guard Veronica Burton and center Kiah Stokes snagging second-team honors.
Williams Is A Defensive Monster
Gabby Williams making the All-Defense first team is a huge deal, even if she finished second in the Defensive Player of the Year voting to Angel Reese. You know who the Valkyries are facing in the WNBA Finals, right? Yeah, that’s gonna be a showdown. This isn’t Williams’ first rodeo either: the 30-year-old is celebrating her second straight first-team selection and her third overall in her career. Her 98.6 defensive rating in the regular season speaks volumes, and she was tied for fourth in the league with 1.6 steals per game. Plus, her 31.8% steal percentage ranks seventh. She is a total nightmare for opposing offenses.
Burton and Stokes Shut Down Everything
Veronica Burton and Kiah Stokes joining Williams on the All-Defense second team just shows how deep this defense runs. Burton and Williams form one of the most impactful point-of-attack duos in the league, absolutely disrupting everything on the perimeter. Burton matches Williams with 1.6 steals per game and has an impressive 95.7 defensive rating, good for sixth in the league. And then there’s Kiah Stokes, the 33-year-old center who cleans up every single mess under the rim. She ranked fourth in the league with 1.7 blocks per game, logging 11 games with at least three blocks. Stokes even led all centers in defensive rating with a stellar 94.5. Her best performance? Guarding A’ja Wilson in the semifinal round against the Las Vegas Aces. Wilson, by the way, was the 2026 WNBA MVP, her third straight and fifth overall. Yeah, Stokes owned that matchup.
Now, this defensive powerhouse is heading to the WNBA Finals to face Angel Reese. You know they’ll be bringing that lockdown intensity to the court. Get ready for a battle.
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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