Angel Reese for DPOY? Why Dream star deserves award over A'ja Wilson originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
The Dream are surging as of late, downing eight of their last 10 opponents to move 2.5 games back of second-place in the league's standings.
Predictably, Angel Reese has been a major part of that upswing. Reese is averaging 16.4 points and 13.7 rebounds since the All-Star break, providing steady offense for an Atlanta side that has tallied at least 96 points in four of its last six games.
And yet, it's on the other side of the floor where Reese has truly shined. The LSU alum hasn't garnered much support for Defensive Player of the Year — bookmakers have Aces standout A'ja Wilson as favorite to land the award.
The metrics suggest that Reese might have a stronger case than her opposite number, however. With that, here's a look at why Reese — not Wilson — is the most deserving candidate for Defensive Player of the Year.
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Angel Reese for DPOY?
Reese's defensive metrics are impressive — she ranks fifth in steals and just outside the top-20 in blocks. Still, her box score figures sit comfortably behind players like Wilson (No. 1 in blocks per game, No. 14 in steals per game) and her teammate, Rhyne Howard (No. 1 in steals per game, No. 15 in blocks per game).
The advanced numbers tell a different tale, though. Reese is arguably the most impactful defender in the league. And based on stats like defensive rating, there aren't many players in her orbit.
According to Yahoo Sports' Nekias Duncan, Reese has the highest defensive rating on-off differential in the league. Atlanta's defense allows nine more points per 100 possession when Reese is out of the game. Reese's defensive rating — an estimate of how many points she allowed per 100 possessions — is 102.0, the fifth-best total in the league. Of the players above her, only Mystics big Shakira Austin has posted similar minute totals to that of Reese, who has tallied 980 minutes of total action prior to the Dream's Aug. 16 matchup with the Fever.
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The film showcases just what makes Reese a special defender. She gets around the floor well and has shown a penchant for blowing up pick-and-rolls. Her quick hands and above-average wingspan help her produce steals in bunches:
1) Whew, the hands of Angel Reese
— Nekias (Nuh-KAI-us) Duncan (@NekiasNBA) August 7, 2026
2) Jaylyn this *has* to be a shot, i'm so sorry pic.twitter.com/A02RJU94H4
Heck of a screen from Awak Kuier on this empty side PnR, but Angel Reese successfully takes away the advantage with the deflection.
— Nekias (Nuh-KAI-us) Duncan (@NekiasNBA) July 30, 2026
Would've been nice to see her rewarded after forcing a switch. You'll see Bri Jones with the "my bad" chest tap at the end of the clip.
To Q2! pic.twitter.com/lJGVeTXYBN
Insane instincts on this steal from Angel Reese pic.twitter.com/Jx0KrDZkna
— Nekias (Nuh-KAI-us) Duncan (@NekiasNBA) June 12, 2026
ANGEL REESE SAYS NO
— Nekias (Nuh-KAI-us) Duncan (@NekiasNBA) May 24, 2026
DREAM COMEBACK COMPLETE pic.twitter.com/n099alhJ4X
Biiiig sequence for the Dream, with Angel Reese stealing the pocket pass and Allisha Gray capping things with an and-one finish pic.twitter.com/kZNafosmtb
— Nekias (Nuh-KAI-us) Duncan (@NekiasNBA) May 24, 2026
She's also a strong interior defender, using her wingspan and pursuit to make life challenging for bigs — even when she gives up a few inches in length.
Big time block from Angel 🚫 pic.twitter.com/RLAxEwdO9M
— Atlanta Dream (@AtlantaDream) June 6, 2026
SHE ON THAT 😤 pic.twitter.com/MnrbXVXKCG
— Atlanta Dream (@AtlantaDream) August 13, 2026
Reese might not be the best defender in the league on a per-possession basis. Valkyries big Kiah Stokes has turned away most comers at the paint this year, surrendering a meager 40.8% field-goal percentage on paint contests. She ranks first among players to have contested 100+ shots in the paint in that metric (Reese comes in at No. 27, surrendering a 50.3% success rate).
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Stokes also ranks highly in points per possession allowed as the screener defender on direct PnRs (0.78, second among players with 200 direct PnRs), defensive win shares (2.1, sixth) defensive rating (98.1, first) and defensive rating on-off differential (-5.8, second). It's unclear whether voters feel compelled to give the title of league's best defender to a player who has played nearly 300 fewer minutes than the likes of Reese and Wilson. It's hard to argue there has been a better defender than Stokes across those 720 minutes, though.
Other notable candidates alongside Reese and Wilson include Valkyries star Gabby Williams and Mystics big Shakira Austin. Howard and Valkyries guard Veronica Burton have also shined this season, although they seem likelier to get down-ballot support than make a real charge for the prize — a non-big hasn't won DPOY since Alana Beard won two straight in 2017 and 2018.
Reese has certainly been aided by an improved situation around her. Howard, Jordin Canada and Allisha Gray have all been considered All-Defensive-caliber defenders at points in their careers. They bring a level of ferocity and technique that eclipses that of Reese's former teammates with the Sky.
Still, Reese is doing her part to push the Dream towards title contention on both end of the floor. Wilson is the odds-on favorite to hoist DPOY for the fourth time in five seasons. But Reese's case is arguably more compelling, even if it does prove fruitless in the end.
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