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Angel Reese elevated into the 2026 WNBA Defensive Player of the Year in her first season with the Atlanta Dream

Angel Reese captured the 2026 WNBA Defensive Player of the Year award during her debut campaign with the Atlanta Dream, securing 46 out of 74 total ballots. Gabby Williams took second place in the voting, while A'ja Wilson placed third.

Reese anchored her squad's defensive efforts by averaging 12.1 rebounds and 1.8 steals each contest.

Alongside her defensive accolades, Reese set a league single-season rebounding benchmark with a 26-rebound performance against the Los Angeles Sparks. The Dream finished the regular season with 30 victories as the fourth seed, and they will now advance to face the New York Liberty in the semifinals.

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