ATLANTA (October 1, 2026) — Atlanta Dream forward Angel Reese has been named the 2026 WNBA Kia Defensive Player of the Year, becoming the first player in franchise history to earn the league’s highest individual defensive honor.
Reese made her case early. “The Defensive Player of the Year is in Atlanta!” she declared earlier this season. She was right.
“I have the trophy, but I definitely want Jordin and Rhyne to sign it because I think they deserve it just as much as I do,” said Reese. “I’m grateful for Atlanta, I’m grateful for my teammates and my coaches and all the supporting staff that supports us. This is just the beginning.”
A Defensive Anchor
Reese’s recognition caps a historic first season in Atlanta in which she established herself as one of the league’s most impactful defenders, combining elite versatility, activity and possession-ending rebounding to anchor one of the WNBA’s premier defensive units.
The numbers back it up:
- First in the WNBA in Defensive Win Shares (3.39)
- Fourth in the WNBA in defensive rating (100.0)
- 7.9 fewer points allowed per 100 possessions with Reese on the floor, the largest defensive on/off differential among Dream rotation players
Finishing Possessions
When possessions ended, Reese finished them. She ranked fourth in the WNBA with 7.3 defensive rebounds per game and helped Atlanta hold opponents to a league-low 9.5 second-chance points per game. Her work on the defensive glass was part of a record-breaking rebounding season in which she became the first player in WNBA history to record 500 rebounds in a single season.
A Three-Headed Defensive Presence
Reese stood at the center of a relentless Atlanta defense that also featured Rhyne Howard and Jordin Canada. Howard, Canada and Reese finished first, second and third in the WNBA in steals per game, giving the Dream a trio capable of pressuring the ball, disrupting passing lanes, switching across positions and creating turnovers at every level of the floor. Together, they turned stops into a defining part of Atlanta’s identity all season.
One of the Most Decorated Seasons in League History
The award adds to an already historic year for Reese:
- WNBA single-season records for total rebounds, offensive rebounds and double-doubles
- The league’s single-game rebounding record with 26 rebounds
- WNBA Peak Performer honors as the league’s leading rebounder
- First player in Dream history to earn Eastern Conference Player of the Week honors in three consecutive weeks
- Third consecutive WNBA All-Star selection
- Gold medal with the United States at the 2026 FIBA Women’s Basketball World Cup in Berlin
For the first time in franchise history, the WNBA Defensive Player of the Year calls Atlanta home. And she’s just getting started.
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