Angel Reese Recognized as WNBA Defensive Player of the Year by AP

Angel Reese has been named the Associated Press Defensive Player of the Year for 2026, marking a significant achievement for the Atlanta Dream star and ending A’ja Wilson’s streak of three consecutive wins in this category. This honor adds to a successful season for Reese, during which she also earned a gold medal with Team USA at the World Cup.

Reese's accomplishment was celebrated within the Dream organization. Coach Karl Smesko announced the award to the team, highlighting Reese's impact in her first WNBA playoff game, where she recorded a double-double in a decisive victory against the Washington Mystics. Reese’s recognition makes her the first player from the Atlanta Dream to earn the AP Defensive Player of the Year title.

In the same awards announcement, A’ja Wilson of the Las Vegas Aces secured the AP WNBA Player of the Year award for the third consecutive year, receiving 15 out of 17 first-place votes from a national media panel.

Despite suffering a facial injury towards the end of the regular season, Reese returned in good spirits for the playoffs. The Atlanta Dream cruised to an 83-65 victory over the New York Liberty in their last regular-season game, and Reese’s performance in Game 1 of the playoffs further established her status as a rising star in the league.