The WNBA has revealed its All-Defense teams, showcasing six players who are part of the ongoing WNBA Finals: three from the Golden State Valkyries and three from the Atlanta Dream.
The All-Defense First Team features Shakira Austin from the Washington Mystics, Rhyne Howard and Angel Reese from the Atlanta Dream, Gabby Williams representing the Golden State Valkyries, and A’ja Wilson from the Las Vegas Aces. Notably, Reese also clinched the title of Defensive Player of the Year.
On the All-Defense Second Team, we have Veronica Burton from the Golden State Valkyries, Jordin Canada from the Atlanta Dream, Sonia Citron from the Washington Mystics, Breanna Stewart from the New York Liberty, and Kiah Stokes from the Valkyries.
The Golden State Valkyries and Atlanta Dream are well-represented
This past season, the Valkyries (99.3), Dream (103.5), and Mystics (104) secured the three top defensive ratings in the WNBA, which explains their strong representation on the All-Defense teams, each boasting at least two players. Interestingly, only Breanna Stewart and A’ja Wilson come from defenses that didn’t rank in the top four.
For Williams and Wilson, this marks their second consecutive appearance on the First Team, while Burton and Stewart are recognized for the second time on the Second Team. Howard made the leap to the First Team after being on the Second Team last year. Austin, Reese, Citron, and Stokes are all first-time honorees, and Canada has made it back to the list for the first time since 2023.
As the WNBA Finals begin on Saturday, fans can expect to see some of the league’s finest defenders in action.
