The WNBA Defensive Player of the Year conversation? Honestly, it’s often an afterthought for a lot of fans. But we’re here to talk about who *really* deserves this award because two candidates are making a seriously strong case this season. Are the usual frontrunners actually the most deserving? You gotta check out these numbers.
Angel Reese is a Defensive Force, Even Out of Position
When this season kicked off, Angel Reese was playing out of her natural power forward spot. But with Brionna Jones out for most of the year, it hasn’t even been a problem for Reese or the Atlanta defense. That squad has posted the fourth-best defensive rating in the entire league, clocking in at 106.9. Reese’s impact is screaming loud and clear across the board. In her minutes this season, Atlanta rocks a 102.7 defensive rating, which is the second-best mark in the *entire league* for any player who’s logged at least 1,000 minutes. That’s insane!
But here’s the real kicker: when Angel hits the bench, the Dream defense drops by a whopping 14.2 points per 100 possessions. That’s the largest change of any qualifying player! Sure, on-off data depends on who’s replacing you, and Atlanta has had a depth issue without her. But still, Reese’s ability to anchor such a dominant defense comes down to two things: her rebounding and her knack for forcing turnovers. Atlanta is first in defensive turnover value and second in defensive rebounding value. Basically, Atlanta’s elite defense thrives on controlling possessions, forcing opponents into mistakes, and shutting down second-chance points. Plus, Reese has guarded more pick-and-rolls than anyone else in the league, and teams are only posting a 77.2 defensive rating when the ball handler tries to target her in screens. Seriously, it just doesn’t work trying to attack Angel. She’s also lights out guarding the screener, ranking ninth in forced turnovers per game and second in defensive rebounding percentage. Talk about defensive versatility? Angel has been the gold standard all season.
Veronica Burton’s Unseen Dominance for Golden State
Now, a lot of the credit for the Valkyries’ defensive success has gone to Gabby Williams, but if you’re really digging into the stats, Veronica Burton has been the most impactful defender for Golden State. Get this: the Valkyries boast a 98.6 defensive rating in Burton’s minutes this year. That’s *first in the league*, my friends, and it’s four points ahead of Angel’s 102.7 mark! Her on-off swing might not be as drastic as Reese’s, but that speaks volumes about the infrastructure and abundance of gu.
So, who are we giving the DPOY to? Reese’s game-changing presence and her absolute control over possessions are undeniable. But then you look at Burton, quietly leading the league in defensive rating when she’s on the court. It’s a tough call for sure.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Swish Appeal.
Leave a Reply