Angel Reese and Rhyne Howard Named to First Team; Jordin Canada Earns Second Team Selection

ATLANTA (Oct. 15, 2026) – Three Atlanta Dream players have earned 2026 WNBA All-Defensive Team honors, with Angel Reese and Rhyne Howard named to the All-Defensive First Team and Jordin Canada earning Second Team recognition, the league announced today.

The selections mark just the second time in franchise history that Atlanta has placed two players on the All-Defensive First Team and the third time in franchise history that three Dream players have earned All-Defensive honors in the same season.

Reese, Howard and Canada anchored one of the WNBA’s most formidable defensive units throughout the 2026 regular season, combining for 6.0 steals per game. The trio made WNBA history by becoming the first three teammates to finish as the league’s top three in steals per game, with Howard leading the league at 2.3, followed by Canada at 1.9 and Reese at 1.8. Atlanta also placed three players among the league’s top 10 in defensive win shares, with Reese leading the WNBA (3.4), Howard ranking third (3.2) and Canada ninth (2.6).

Their collective defensive impact helped power a Dream team that ranked among the WNBA’s top three in defensive rating (103.5) while leading the league in points off turnovers (18.1 per game) and allowing the fewest opponent fast-break points (6.9 per game). Atlanta’s ability to generate turnovers, limit transition opportunities and convert defensive stops into offense established the Dream as one of the league’s premier defensive teams.

Reese, the 2026 WNBA Defensive Player of the Year and the first player in Dream franchise history to earn the award, receives her first career All-Defensive Team selection following a record-breaking season. She led the WNBA in defensive win shares (3.4), ranked fourth in defensive rating (100.0) and finished tied for 19th in blocks with 32. The Dream allowed 7.9 fewer points per 100 possessions with Reese on the floor, the largest defensive on/off differential among Atlanta’s rotation players.

Howard earns her second career All-Defensive Team selection and first First Team honor, following a Second Team selection in 2025. She established herself as one of the league’s most disruptive perimeter defenders, leading the WNBA in steals per game (2.3) while setting a new Dream single-season franchise record for steals. Howard also ranked third in the WNBA in defensive win shares (3.2) and 15th in total blocks (39), showcasing her impact across multiple defensive categories.

Canada earns her third career All-Defensive Team selection, adding Second Team honors to two previous First Team selections earlier in her career. She continued to solidify her reputation as one of the WNBA’s premier defensive guards, finishing second in the league with 1.9 steals per game and ninth in defensive win shares (2.6). Her relentless ball pressure, quick hands and ability to disrupt opposing backcourts were instrumental to Atlanta’s defensive identity, consistently setting the tone at the point of attack while helping fuel the Dream’s transition offense.

Together, Reese, Howard and Canada formed the foundation of a Dream defense that led the WNBA in steals, combining elite perimeter pressure with physicality, versatility and a commitment to team defense. Their recognition underscores the collective impact of Atlanta’s defensive identity and the individual excellence that helped power the Dream’s 2026 campaign.

About the Atlanta Dream 
Established in 2008, the Atlanta Dream is the Southeast’s only WNBA franchise, playing its home games at State Farm Arena. 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 four WNBA finals appearances. For more information about the Dream, visit atlantadream.com and follow @AtlantaDream on Facebook, Instagram, X and TikTok. 

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