5 WNBA Defensive Participant of the 12 months candidates, together with A’ja Wilson and DiJonai Carrington

Defensive Participant of the 12 months is among the hardest awards to find out in skilled basketball. There’s the query of whether or not guards can ever influence a sport defensively the identical manner that submit gamers can (see: DiJonai Carrington), and a dilemma concerning whether or not somebody ought to be capable to earn the honors if their staff’s protection has been underwhelming (see: A’ja Wilson).

There’s additionally a query round how a lot counting stats like blocks and steals matter versus extra superior analytics.

Although it’s not an ideal science, I picked my 5 candidates for Defensive Participant of the 12 months, all of whom ought to be on the All-Protection Group as nicely.

Napheesa Collier, Minnesota Lynx

Picture by Stephen Gosling/NBAE by way of Getty Pictures

Blocks: 1.4 blocks (sixth)
Steals: 1.9 steals (4th)
Defensive Score: 91.4 (1st)
Defensive Win Shares: 3.6 (2nd)

Napheesa Collier is ESPN’s decide for Defensive Participant of the 12 months, and it’s straightforward to grasp why. The Minnesota Lynx have had the second-best protection within the league this, and Collier has the very best defensive particular person ranking of any participant.

The frontcourt partnership between Collier and Alanna Smith has been significantly efficient.

“I’m actually fortunate in that Phee and I play rather well off of one another defensively,” Smith instructed SB Nation. “That was sort of one thing that occurred from the very begin with us. It was identical to, we learn one another rather well and labored collectively rather well on the defensive finish, with out having to do a lot.”

A’ja Wilson, Las Vegas Aces

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Blocks: 2.6 (1st)
Steals: 1.8 (fifth)
Defensive Score: 92.3 (2nd)
Defensive Win Shares: 3.8 (1st)

A’ja Wilson leads the league in blocks and has essentially the most steals of her profession. She has the best Defensive Win Share of any participant within the W, and the second-highest defensive ranking. The most important knock on her candidacy is the very fact the Aces have had the fifth greatest protection this season, under the opposite candidates on this checklist.

Wilson has gained the award in each 2022 and 2023, so if she have been to take this one dwelling, she’d be the first participant in WNBA historical past to win the award three consecutive years. To her, continued success and enchancment is at all times the purpose.

“It doesn’t matter what number of MVPs, it doesn’t matter what number of championships: my factor is to get higher each single yr,” Wilson instructed SB Nation. “I need somebody to say, ‘Rattling, she labored on that. Oh, rattling, she received good at that.’ That’s the most important factor. That’s why it doesn’t come as a shock to me.”

Breanna Stewart, New York Liberty

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Blocks: 1.3 (sixth)
Steals: 1.7 (seventh)
Defensive Score: 93.6 (4th)
Defensive Win Shares: 3.4 (third)

Breanna Stewart is a perennial Defensive Participant of the 12 months candidate, however she’s by no means really gained the award. The Liberty have the league’s third-best protection this season, and Stewart has been an enormous cause why. Her versatility has stood out, and the Liberty have benefitted from having her play alongside Jonquel Jones as a rim protector.

“I believe the place I’ve improved essentially the most defensively is the perimeter, the guard protection,” Stewart instructed SB Nation. “I really feel like this yr, particularly, we’re switching much more, which is placing me on guards and attempting to guarantee that I’m utilizing my size, I’m in a position to block photographs, I’m in a position to get steals. Actually simply the notice of — what’s the offense attempting to do, and the way can I disrupt it?”

Successful the distinction for the primary time would imply so much to the 2x MVP.

“Simply because I do know what I can do offensively, however to essentially sort of proceed to rework into an elite two-way participant is a purpose of mine,” Stewart stated. “And, simply realizing that I used to be making an influence and a distinction on my staff, on each ends of the ground.”

DiJonai Carrington, Connecticut Solar

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Blocks: (0.4)
Steals: 1.6 steals (ninth)
Defensive Score: 96.2 (eighth)
Defensive Win Shares: 2.6 (ninth)

The Connecticut Solar have the very best protection within the league, and DiJonai Carrington is their greatest defender. She’s sometimes tasked with guarding opposing staff’s greatest gamers. Carrington has the fourth-most steals per sport amongst guards. Whereas she’s a bit decrease than the remainder of the pack in Defensive Score and Defensive Win Shares, Carrington is first amongst guards in these classes.

Solar head coach Stephanie White issues Carrington is a worthwhile candidate.

“We have a look at the numbers on a regular basis, and he or she is constantly holding opponents’ greatest perimeter gamers beneath their averages or holding them to poor taking pictures percentages.”

Carrington instructed SB Nation she is conscious of the DPOY marketing campaign for her, however that she’s not attaching her value to it.

“I’m on social media, and I see individuals discussing it, they usually’re doing campaigns and stuff,” Carrington stated. “I’m used to not getting acknowledged or accolades. I’ve simply by no means been the kind of participant that wants the general public recognition, so it might clearly be a tremendous honor and funky, and all of these issues.”

Ezi Magbegor, Seattle Storm

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Blocks: 2.2 (2nd)
Steals: 1.1 (twenty fifth)
Defensive Score: 95.9 (seventh)
Defensive Win Shares: 2.7 (eighth)

Ezi Magbegor has anchored the Seattle Storm’s protection all yr, and the Storm have been stable on that finish (96.6 defensive ranking, good for fourth general). The issue, nevertheless, is that she ranks decrease than Wilson in each class, and decrease than Collier and Stewart in all however one. So, in that sense, it’d be laborious to make a case for her over the opposite submit gamers on this race.

Nonetheless, her teammates and coaches have relentlessly campaigned for her. Gabby Williams mirrored on Magbegor’s defensive influence after a win over the Sparks final week.

“It makes issues so tough when you’ve somebody like that who’s equally tall, equally athletic, equally good defensively, who’s hounding you on the ball… as a result of you possibly can’t do something when Ezi traps you,” Williams stated. “So not solely simply her presence on the rim, however her ball strain, I believe. And likewise, if you — if she’s not blocking photographs, you’re scared to drive as a result of that you’ve got a shot blocker behind. So simply her presence makes it so much simpler for us.”

Storm teammate Skylar Diggins-Smith merely repeated: “DPOY.”

Final 5 Winners:

• 2019: Natasha Howard, Seattle Storm
• 2020: Candace Parker, Los Angeles Sparks
• 2021: Sylvia Fowles, Minnesota Lynx
• 2022: A’ja Wilson, Las Vegas Aces
• 2023: A’ja Wilson, Las Vegas Aces