Angel Reese is officially the 2026 Kia WNBA Defensive Player of the Year.
The Atlanta Dream forward has made franchise history, becoming the first player in Atlanta Dream history to win the WNBA’s Defensive Player of the Year award.
Reese received 46 votes from the national panel of 74 sportswriters and broadcasters.
REESE’S HISTORIC 2026 SEASON
Reese was one of the league’s most disruptive defenders while putting together a historic rebounding season.
She finished the regular season averaging:
- 16.4 PPG
- 12.1 RPG
- 1.8 SPG
- 2.8 APG
Reese also led the WNBA in defensive win shares with 3.39, while ranking sixth in defensive rating at 99.3.
Her impact went beyond traditional statistics. Reese led the league in rebounding and ranked third in steals per game, while her work on the glass helped make Atlanta one of the league’s strongest defensive teams.
Reese finished the season with with 521 total rebounds and 206 offensive rebounds, both WNBA single-season records.
She also grabbed a WNBA-record 26 rebounds in a single game against the Los Angeles Sparks on Aug. 24.
The Atlanta Dream forward has made franchise history, becoming the first player in Atlanta Dream history to win the WNBA’s Defensive Player of the Year award.
Reese received 46 votes from the national panel of 74 sportswriters and broadcasters.
REESE’S HISTORIC 2026 SEASON
Reese was one of the league’s most disruptive defenders while putting together a historic rebounding season.
She finished the regular season averaging:
- 16.4 PPG
- 12.1 RPG
- 1.8 SPG
- 2.8 APG
Reese also led the WNBA in defensive win shares with 3.39, while ranking sixth in defensive rating at 99.3.
Her impact went beyond traditional statistics. Reese led the league in rebounding and ranked third in steals per game, while her work on the glass helped make Atlanta one of the league’s strongest defensive teams.
Reese finished the season with 521 total rebounds and 206 offensive rebounds, both WNBA single-season records.
She also grabbed a WNBA-record 26 rebounds in a single game against the Los Angeles Sparks on Aug. 24.
Behind Reese, Atlanta finished third in the WNBA in defensive rating and allowed a league-low 9.5 second-chance points per game.
FRANCHISE HISTORY
This is the first time an Atlanta Dream player has ever won WNBA Defensive Player of the Year.
Reese’s first season in Atlanta now includes one of the league’s highest individual honors, backed by both her historic rebounding numbers and advanced defensive metrics.
WHAT WE KNOW
🏆 Award: 2026 Kia WNBA Defensive Player of the Year
👑 Winner: Angel Reese
🏀 Team: Atlanta Dream
📊 Voting: 46 of 74 votes
💪 Rebounds: 12.1 RPG — No. 1 in WNBA
🛡️ Steals: 1.8 SPG — No. 3 in WNBA
📈 Defensive Win Shares: 3.39 — No. 1 in WNBA
📊 Defensive Rating: 99.3 — No. 6 in WNBA
🔥 Total rebounds: 521 — WNBA single-season record
🔥 Offensive rebounds: 206 — WNBA single-season record
👑 Single-game rebounds: 26 — WNBA record
🏆 Franchise first: First Dream player to win DPOY
Angel Reese is now a WNBA Defensive Player of the Year — and she did it while rewriting the league’s rebounding record book. total rebounds and 206 offensive rebounds, both WNBA single-season records.
She also grabbed a WNBA-record 26 rebounds in a single game against the Los Angeles Sparks on Aug. 24.
Behind Reese, Atlanta finished third in the WNBA in defensive rating and allowed a league-low 9.5 second-chance points per game.
FRANCHISE HISTORY
This is the first time an Atlanta Dream player has ever won WNBA Defensive Player of the Year.
Reese’s first season in Atlanta now includes one of the league’s highest individual honors, backed by both her historic rebounding numbers and advanced defensive metrics.
WHAT WE KNOW
🏆 Award: 2026 Kia WNBA Defensive Player of the Year
👑 Winner: Angel Reese
🏀 Team: Atlanta Dream
📊 Voting: 46 of 74 votes
💪 Rebounds: 12.1 RPG — No. 1 in WNBA
🛡️ Steals: 1.8 SPG — No. 3 in WNBA
📈 Defensive Win Shares: 3.39 — No. 1 in WNBA
📊 Defensive Rating: 99.3 — No. 6 in WNBA
🔥 Total rebounds: 521 — WNBA single-season record
🔥 Offensive rebounds: 206 — WNBA single-season record
👑 Single-game rebounds: 26 — WNBA record
🏆 Franchise first: First Dream player to win DPOY
Angel Reese is now a WNBA Defensive Player of the Year — and she did it while rewriting the league’s rebounding record book.
