WNBA All-Defensive Teams announced: Who made the cut? Biggest snubs?

September 29, 2024

of WNBA The All-Defensive Team was announced on Sunday, and the lineup didn't come as many surprises. Napheesa Collier and A'ja Wilson are in a two-way battle for Defensive Player of the Year, with Collier ultimately coming out on top, while Di'Jonai Carrington solidifies his status as one of the top guard-defenders this season. .

The league's top four defensive teams were each awarded two All-Defensive players. The Connecticut Sun (1st place) was represented by Dijonai Carrington and Alyssa Thomas, and the Minnesota Lynx (2nd place) was represented by Napheesa Collier and Alana Smith. New York Liberty (3rd place) has Brianna Stewart and Jonquel Jones, Seattle Storm (4th place) has Ezzy Magbegor and Nneka Ogwumike. The Las Vegas Aces (No. 5 in the rankings) were represented by two-time Defensive Player of the Year A'ja Wilson, and the Phoenix Mercury (No. 9 in the rankings) were represented by Natasha Cloud.

Here is the complete list of winners:

All-Defensive First Team:

Dijonai Carrington (Sun, CT)
Nafeesa Collier (Minnesota Lynx)
Aja Wilson (Las Vegas Aces)
Ezzy Magbegor (Seattle Storm)
Brianna Stewart (New York Liberty)

All-Defensive Second Team:

Alyssa Thomas (Sun, CT)
Alana Smith (Minnesota Lynx)
Nneka Ogwumike (Seattle Storm)
Jonquel Jones (New York Liberty)
Natasha Cloud (Phoenix Mercury)

Let's take a look at the defensive numbers (and cases) for each first-team member.

Nafeesa Collier

Number of blocks: 1.4 blocks (6th)
Number of stolen bases: 1.9 stolen bases (4th place)
Defensive rating: 91.4 (1st place)
Defensive win share: 3.6 (2nd)

There was a reason Napheesa Collier was named Defensive Player of the Year. She had the league's best defensive rating and formed a frontcourt duo with Alana Smith (Second Team All-Defense) that made opponents miserable.

Aja Wilson

Number of blocks: 2.6 (1st)
Number of stolen bases: 1.8 (5th place)
Defensive rating: 92.3 (2nd place)
Defensive win share: 3.8 (1st)

A'ja Wilson has a strong case for a third straight DPOY award, having more blocks and defensive win shares than any other player, but the ace's inconsistent defense has likely contributed to this. This was likely the main reason Wilson did not receive the award.

Ezi Magbegor

Number of blocks: 2.2 (2nd)
Number of stolen bases: 1.1 (25th)
Defensive rating: 95.9 (7th place)
Defensive win share: 2.7 (8th)

Ezee Magbegor was the WNBA's top shot blocker, but the Storm's defense fell just short of the Suns, Lynx and Liberties. Magbegor also took a step back in the second half of the season, but still solidified his status as one of the WNBA's top rim protectors.

brianna stewart

Number of blocks: 1.3 (6th place)
Number of stolen bases: 1.7 (7th place)
Defensive rating: 93.6 (4th place)
Defensive win share: 3.4 (3rd place)

Brianna Stewart was always an All-Defensive candidate and once again earned the league's top defensive rating. This season, she aims to become a better guard-defender.

“I feel like I've been switching up a lot more this year especially. It's allowed me to guard, make sure I use my length, be able to block shots, and try to make shots,” Stewart said. He told SB Nation. “All you really have to worry about is what the offense is trying to do and how you can disrupt it.”

Dijonai Carrington

Block: (0.4)
Number of stolen bases: 1.6 stolen bases (9th)
Defensive rating: 96.2 (8th place)
Defensive win share: 2.6 (9th)

Carrington's numbers as a guard aren't as impressive as some of the other players on this list. But Dijonai Carrington was regularly called upon to protect the opposing team's best player and led the charge on Connecticut's league-best defense.

It was a great season for Carrington, who started on the bench last year and won Most Valuable Player honors last year. Although some have criticized Carrington's offensive efficiency, she managed to score in double digits while defending 94 feet.

“Some people can rest their defense, but obviously I'm not the type of person who can do that, I can't do that.” want But it definitely takes a toll on you,” Carrington told SB Nation.

The All-Defensive Second Team is headlined by Alyssa Thomas, who earned the Sun's highest defensive rating this season. Alana Smith has helped transform the Lynx's frontcourt. Nneka Ogwumike was often assigned to the opposing team's best player. Jonquel Jones, who enabled Brianna Stewart's defensive abilities as a reliable rim protector, and Natasha Cloud, who wasn't part of an elite defense but had a great individual defensive season.

Who was scorned? If so, who?

Simply put, there really is no one. This was a very clear vote.

Let's start with who was named to the All-Defensive Team in 2023 and was left out this season. Brittney Sykes (Washington Mystics) and Jordan Canada (Atlanta Dream) were both first-team defenders last season, but both were plagued by injuries and both had below-league-average defense, effectively eliminating them from contention. Excluded. Elizabeth Williams (Chicago Sky) was a second-team defender last year but missed most of this season due to injury.

Then there's Bethnia Rainey Hamilton. Although he remains one of the best wing defenders in the game, he missed several weeks recovering from knee surgery. Hamilton has had his share of incidents, but Jones and Stewart have both been the more impactful defenders this season. So none of these omissions are surprising considering the injury situation the players have dealt with.

only 2 players Top 10 defensive ratings DeWanna Bonner (95.7 RTG) and Breonna Jones (96.4 RTG) didn't make the list. While Bonner's numbers are a product of being part of an elite defensive line, Jones has established himself as the league's best defensive rim protector. Angel Reese had a win considering how much better Chicago's defense is on the floor than off it, but considering the Sky's defensive numbers, she's a candidate to be on the final ballot. It was unlikely that it would.