Aces star A’ja Wilson wins second straight DPOY award

Las Vegas Aces forward A’ja Wilson has been named the WNBA Defensive Player of the Year for the second consecutive season, solidifying her dominance on the court. Wilson, a former standout at South Carolina, joked about her college coach, Dawn Staley’s needling when it came to defense, but she has proven herself, making it harder for Staley to tease her now.

The award marks Wilson’s second consecutive win and makes her the eighth player in the history of the league to achieve this feat. Besides her exceptional defensive skills, Wilson is also a strong contender for the league’s MVP honor, which she has already won in 2020 and 2022.

“Now she’s more like, ‘All right, you got it.’ And I’m like, ‘Thank you, Coach Staley,'” said Wilson, the No. 1 draft pick in 2018. “I always appreciate her. She helped me. She motivates me to this day.”

While winning a defensive award in college was an accomplishment, Wilson acknowledges that winning at the professional level feels different, going against world-class elite women. She is excited to share the recognition with her teammates.

Wilson credited her teammate, Kiah Stokes, stating that the Aces center deserves recognition for her defensive contributions as well.

The announcement came after Wilson received 32 votes from a national media panel of 60. Alyssa Thomas of the Connecticut Sun came in second place for the second consecutive year with 24 votes. Brittney Sykes of the Washington Mystics finished third with three votes, and Betnijah Laney of the New York Liberty received one vote.

In addition to her outstanding individual accomplishment, Wilson, Thomas, and Sykes were named to the WNBA’s all-defensive first team. Joining them were Breanna Stewart of the Liberty and Jordin Canada of the Los Angeles Sparks. Laney earned a spot on the second team alongside Nneka Ogwumike of the Sparks, Napheesa Collier of the Minnesota Lynx, Ezi Magbegor of the Seattle Storm, and Elizabeth Williams of the Chicago Sky.

Wilson’s impressive defensive performance this season includes leading the WNBA with a career-high 2.23 blocks per game. She also ranked third in defensive rebounds per game (7.5) and tenth in steals per game (1.4). The Aces, with Wilson’s contributions, led the league in defensive rating at 99.2.

The 6-foot-4 Wilson attributes her defensive skills to her experience in playing volleyball during her younger years. She believes it taught her quick-jumping ability and the coordination needed to track the ball.

Next, the Aces will begin their WNBA semifinal series against the Dallas Wings on Sunday at 5 p.m. ET, airing on ESPN2.

Wilson’s defense is notable for her prowess in the paint, but she also excels as a primary and help-side defender when needed. Against the Dallas Wings in their four regular-season games, Wilson successfully contested shots from seven different players, ranging from centers to point guards, with a 33% shooting success rate for her opponents.

“It just takes a lot of pride, understanding where I am and knowing the personnel,” Wilson explained her defensive strategy. “I like to take that challenge of ‘Can I guard a 5? Can I guard a 1?’ I try to go out there and prove it every time.

“I’m not trying to be the world’s best shot-blocker, but if I can contain to help my guards or force a missed shot, I’m happy with that. People always say defense starts with the heart. I try to have as much heart as I can.”

ESPN Stats & Information contributed to this report.