Angel Reese wins 2026 WNBA Defensive Player of the Year

sportsOct 1, 202625545

Angel Reese was named the 2026 Kia WNBA Defensive Player of the Year on October 1, 2026, becoming the first Atlanta Dream player in franchise history to win the award. The honor caps Reese's debut season with the Dream, a campaign the league highlighted for exceptional rebounding and defensive intensity. Voters gave Reese 46 of 74 first-place votes; Gabby Williams finished second with 20, and Veronica Burton, A'ja Wilson, Shakira Austin, and Rhyne Howard received the remaining votes. The announcement came one day after Reese helped the Dream win their first playoff series in eight years. Reese led the league in rebounds for a third straight season and became the first WNBA player to record over 500 rebounds in a single season, statistics cited in coverage of the award. With the Dream advancing in the postseason, the team and opponents are expected to adjust strategies and review roster and contract decisions in light of Reese's defensive impact.

WNBA

@wnba.com

DEFENSIVE EXCELLENCE 🏆 Angel Reese is the 2026 KIA Defensive Player of the Year after a standout season with the Atlanta Dream, averaging 16.4 PPG, 12.1 RPG, 2.8 APG, 1.8 SPG! #KIADPOY | #WNBASeason30

2855h ago

Quoting this

kwisatz haderade (#FreeSkylar)65

the worst people in the world will be furious about this and i love that for them.

Malice Walker9

omg! I wanted it for Gabby but I *love* this for Angel! Nobody deserves it more.

I Travel Like Sound Dog8

Breh imagine if she was on the Wings right now.

HERbron James 🐐7

BIG BARBIE! BIG MEBOUNDS! ATL HOE! #wnba

Disgruntled Lesbian5

Look what happens when her talent is not stifled!

NujabWes5

dubs in the mf chat

Them Dawgs Is Hell Don’t They?4

One of the best Atlanta sports trades since the Braves got Fred McGriff

Rob3

Barbie just needed her Dream House 🩷

Krimson the Visible Ninja3

At this point, any Angel slander is just Hater Talk and should no longer be entertained

pbsimpulse9.bsky.social2

Well deserved. She was my pick for DPOY.

Meghan L. Hall

@itsmeghanlhall.bsky.social

Angel Reese is the 2026 Defensive Player of the Year. She received 46 of the 74 votes. Gabby Williams received 20. Here’s the full voting breakdown:

465h ago

🦂 Scorpiono (10/24): Congrats to Angel Reese for winning DPOY! 💐1

Angel deserves everything! She has made so many sacrifices to fit into the Dream gameplan. She has worked hard to be where she is and gets this award! You can see it in her game!! So fucking proud of her! 🤩

Shalom 🙏1

My question is how the heck did gabby get 20 votes??? Did the voters watch her play defense???????

Quoting this

Jazz🤍8

Congrats to AR5 but wtf do you mean Rhyne got 1 vote?!?!?!? The steals leader???? Like current steals leader got one vote?!?!?!?!?!?!? #WNBA #TheW #WBB

Malice Walker6

VB got a DPOY vote! She’s making the all-defensive team, the only question now is whether she’ll be first team or second team.

trust me, i’m a therapist3

rhyne could’ve gotten a lil more love than that now lol

Marisa Ingemi

@mingemi.bsky.social

Angel Reese won the WNBA’s defensive player of the year award. Gabby Williams finished second and Veronica Burton got one vote, too.

375h ago

The IX Sports

@theixsports.bsky.social

Angel Reese is your Defensive Player of the Year for the 2026 WNBA season, with 46 first-place votes. She led the league in rebounds for the third straight season and has become the first WNBA player to record over 500 rebounds in a single season. #WNBA #WomensBasketball #AngelReese

204h ago

TSN

@tsnofficial.bsky.social

ANGEL REESE TAKES HOME DPOY 🏆 Reese has been named the 2026 Defensive Player of the Year, with her mom making the moment even more special by surprising her with the award 🥹❤️

244h ago

Kristen & John | Attack the Baseline Podcast

@atbpod.bsky.social

2026 Defensive Player of the Year voting results: Angel Reese - 46 Gabby Williams - 20 A'ja Wilson - 4 Shakira Austin - 2 Veronica Burton - 1 Rhyne Howard - 1 #WNBA

194h ago

Quoting this

Danielle H5

I love whoever voted for Veronica Burton

Didi is a trans immigrant 🏳️‍⚧️2

I say this with love and respect for Angel: Gabby was robbed

Jason Ounpraseuth2

kind of surprised how wide the voting margin was between Angel and Gabby.

Schwarziest (fuck Trump edition)

@schwarziest.bsky.social

Congrats to Angel Reese on her first playoff series win! #WNBA

1121h ago

Her Hoop Stats

@herhoopstats.com

Yesterday's WNBA Leaders Sep 30 PTS: 45 - Arike Ogunbowale (DAL) REB: 16 - Kiki Iriafen (WAS) AST: 11 - Jordin Canada (ATL) STL: 4 - Allisha Gray (ATL), Gabby Williams (GSV) BLK: 3 - Angel Reese (ATL) 3PM: 5 - Arike Ogunbowale (DAL), Gabby Williams (GSV) Support us at herhoopstats.com

98h ago

Bernie is a failure, and AOC is a poser!!!

@africanprincess7.bsky.social

Alright nah. Congrats to Angel Reese on being named the 2026 DPOY. #WNBA

124h ago

Dana Holtzbert

@danaholtzbert.bsky.social

Angel Reese didn't get a double-double, but then again, she didn't need to. 15 points, 7 boards, 3 blocks (meblocks?) and the win that advances her team to the Semifinal Round. I think she's good with that. #WNBA

1018h ago

Snow Burrow

@bostonjerry.bsky.social

Angel Reese is a generational rebounder, on the same level as Dennis Rodman or Moses Malone.

73h ago

myrrh

@myrrhb.bsky.social

ok i do love 30+ people supporting angel reese bc she grew up in baltimore

822h ago

Still A CT Sun Fan 😭

@keindas.bsky.social

First, no suspension for A'Ja, and now Angel is named DPOY. They are definitely rage typing in all the comments 🤣 #WNBA

84h ago

Ballers News

@ballersnewz.bsky.social

Atlanta Dream forward Angel Reese has been named the 2026 Kia WNBA Defensive Player of the Year. She wins the award for the first time and becomes the first Dream player to earn the honor. #WNBA #AtlantaDream

34h ago

Boogie

@boogiefan87.bsky.social

Hell yeah. And I know some think 3 DPOY candidates on one team looks silly, but I think Kiah should have received at least 1 vote too. #WNBA

74h ago

Briana2

I dont think it looks silly. I said the same about Dream lol. I was hoping Rhy, Jordin, and Angel would get votes. Im still hoping all 3 are somewhere on the all defensive lists.

Annalise Maxine Shaw Keating, Openly Black Attorney at Law1

You know what? Yea. Going to another team truly unlocks something in folks and Kiah was one of them this season

3 sources

espn.comDream's Angel Reese named WNBA Defensive Player of the Year leverageonheroesmedia.comAngel Reese wins WNBA Defensive Player of the Year award after first season with br.app.linkAngel Reese Wins 2026 WNBA Defensive Player of the Year Award, Full Voting Results Announced

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Angel Reese wins 2026 WNBA Defensive Player of the Year

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