“THE DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE YEAR IS IN ATLANTA!” 

Reese becomes the first player in Atlanta Dream history to earn WNBA Defensive Player of the Year honors 

ATLANTA (October 1, 2026) — Atlanta Dream forward Angel Reese has been named the 2026 WNBA Kia Defensive Player of the Year, becoming the first player in franchise history to earn the league’s highest individual defensive honor. 

“I have the trophy, but I definitely want Jordin and Rhyne to sign it because I think they deserve it just as much as I do," said Reese. "I’m grateful for Atlanta, I’m grateful for my teammates and my coaches and all the supporting staff that supports us. This is just the beginning.” 

Reese’s recognition caps a historic first season in Atlanta in which she established herself as one of the WNBA’s most impactful defenders, combining elite versatility, activity and possession-ending rebounding to anchor one of the league’s premier defensive units. 

Earlier this season, Reese made her case clear: “The Defensive Player of the Year is in Atlanta!” 

She was right. 

Reese finished the regular season first in the WNBA in Defensive Win Shares (3.39) while posting a 100.0 defensive rating (4th in WNBA). Atlanta allowed 7.9 fewer points per 100 possessions with Reese on the floor, the largest defensive on/off differential among Dream rotation players. 

Reese’s impact was evident across every defensive measure. She finished the regular season first in the WNBA in Defensive Win Shares (3.39) and fourth in defensive rating (100.0), while Atlanta allowed 7.9 fewer points per 100 possessions with Reese on the floor, the largest defensive on/off differential among Dream rotation players.  

And when possessions ended, Reese finished them. 

She ranked fourth in the WNBA with 7.3 defensive rebounds per game and helped Atlanta hold opponents to a league-low 9.5 second-chance points per game. Her work on the defensive glass was part of a record-breaking rebounding season in which she became the first player in WNBA history to record 500 rebounds in a single season. 

Reese stood at the center of a relentless Atlanta defense that featured three of the league’s premier defensive playmakers in Reese, Rhyne Howard and Jordin Canada. Howard, Canada and Reese finished first, second and third in the WNBA in steals per game, giving the Dream an unmatched three-headed defensive presence capable of pressuring the ball, disrupting passing lanes, switching across positions and creating turnovers at every level of the floor. Together, the trio helped establish Atlanta as one of the WNBA’s most disruptive defensive teams and turned stops into a defining part of the Dream’s identity throughout the regular season. 

The award adds another historic achievement to one of the most decorated seasons in league history for Reese. She set WNBA single-season records for total rebounds, offensive rebounds and double-doubles, while also establishing the league’s single-game rebounding record with 26 rebounds. She earned WNBA Peak Performer honors as the league’s leading rebounder and became the first player in Dream history to earn Eastern Conference Player of the Week honors in three consecutive weeks. 

Reese was also selected to her third consecutive WNBA All-Star Game and helped lead the United States to a gold medal at the 2026 FIBA Women’s Basketball World Cup in Berlin, adding a World Cup championship to a historic season. 

Now, for the first time in franchise history, the WNBA Defensive Player of the Year calls Atlanta home. 

The Defensive Player of the Year is in Atlanta. And she’s just getting started. 

About the Atlanta Dream      
Established in 2008, the Atlanta Dream is the Southeast’s only WNBA franchise, playing its home games at Gateway Center Arena @ College Park. This year the Dream played six home games at State Farm Arena, continuing the organization’s commitment to elevating the game on the biggest stages. Dream games are telecast locally on Atlanta News First (WANF-TV). The Dream has produced 13 WNBA All-Stars, earned 12 playoff bids and made three WNBA finals appearances. For more information about the Dream, visit atlantadream.com and follow @AtlantaDream on Facebook, Instagram, X and TikTok.   

###