Angel Reese Makes History: 2026 WNBA Defensive Player of the Year

Angel Reese came into the 2026 season looking to elevate her game. She leaves the regular season with history — and some new hardware.

The Atlanta Dream star has been named the 2026 Kia WNBA Defensive Player of the Year, earning the award for the first time in her career and becoming the first player in Atlanta Dream history to receive the honor.

Reese earned 46 of 74 votes from a national panel of sportswriters and broadcasters. Golden State’s Gabby Williams finished second with 20 votes, while Las Vegas’ A’ja Wilson received four.

But Reese’s impact went well beyond the voting.

In her first season in Atlanta, she averaged a league-leading 12.1 rebounds per game while recording career highs in steals and blocks. She finished with 77 steals, averaging 1.8 per game, and helped anchor a Dream defense that ranked third in the WNBA in defensive rating.

And then there were the records.

Reese finished the season with a WNBA-record 521 rebounds, including a record 206 offensive rebounds, becoming the first player in league history to reach 500 rebounds in a season. She also established a new single-season mark with 32 double-doubles and set the WNBA single-game rebounding record with 26 rebounds.

Her impact translated to winning as well.

Atlanta finished 30–14, earned the No. 4 seed and has advanced to the WNBA semifinals, where the Dream will face the New York Liberty.

For Reese, the award adds another chapter to a journey that began long before the WNBA.

From St. Frances Academy in Baltimore, to becoming a national champion at LSU, and now a WNBA Defensive Player of the Year with the Atlanta Dream, Angel Reese continues to build a basketball résumé defined by toughness, rebounding, competitiveness and winning.

Now she can add another title:

WNBA Defensive Player of the Year.

Baltimore built. Basketball driven.

Beyond The Score.