Las Vegas Aces center A’ja Wilson is the 2023 WNBA Defensive Player of the Year
Las Vegas Aces center A’ja Wilson is the 2023 WNBA Defensive Player of the Year. A 6-4 sixth-year league veteran, Wilson also earned the honor last season. This season she garnered 32 votes from a national panel of 60 sportswriters and broadcasters.
Connecticut Sun forward Alyssa Thomas finished in second place (24 votes) for the second consecutive season. Washington Mystics guard Brittney Sykes came in third (three votes). New York Liberty guard-forward Betnijah Laney had one vote.
Wilson’s season highlights:
- Led the league with a career-high 2.23 blocks per game
- Ranked third in defensive rebounds per game (7.5) and was 10th in steals per game (1.40).
- Collected at least 10 defensive rebounds in a game nine times.
- Recorded nine games with at least four blocks and 10 games with at least three steals.
Wilson helped the Aces set a WNBA single-season record for victories (34-6) to earn the top seed in the playoffs. The Aces advanced to the WNBA Semifinals and are set to host game one of the semifinals series against the Dallas Wings on Sunday, Sept. 24 at 5 p.m. ET (ESPN2).
Wilson will receive $5,150 and a trophy designed to commemorate winning the award.
The league also announced the All-Defensive Teams:
2023 WNBA All-Defensive First Team
A’ja Wilson, Las Vegas Aces
Alyssa Thomas, Connecticut Sun
Brittney Sykes, Washington Mystics
Breanna Stewart, New York Liberty
Jordin Canada, Los Angeles Sparks
2023 WNBA All-Defensive Second Team
Betnijah Laney, New York Liberty
Ezi Magbegor, Seattle Storm
Nneka Ogwumike, Los Angeles Sparks
Napheesa Collier, Minnesota Lynx
Elizabeth Williams, Chicago Sky
