WNBA Co-Defensive Players of the Year 2025 highlights the rise of defense with Alanna Smith and A’ja Wilson leading a new era.
The 2025 WNBA season just gave us something we’ve never seen before — two players sharing the Defensive Player of the Year award. When the league announced that Minnesota Lynx forward Alanna Smith and Las Vegas Aces superstar A’ja Wilson would be Co-Defensive Players of the Year, it wasn’t just about handing out trophies. It was about recognizing a bigger story that’s been building in women’s basketball: defense is finally taking center stage.
This isn’t just another headline. It’s a statement that the WNBA is valuing stops, blocks, and grit just as much as points on the board. And the timing couldn’t be better, as playoff games are showing just how much defense swings outcomes.
A First in WNBA History
When the news dropped, fans were surprised. A tie? In a league where every award is usually so cutthroat? But if you’ve watched these two this season, it makes sense.
- Alanna Smith wasn’t on many people’s radar as an award winner back in May. But she became the backbone of the Lynx defense. She chased shooters off the line, racked up close to 80 blocks, and her instincts were everywhere. Suddenly, Minnesota’s defense wasn’t just good—it was scary.
- A’ja Wilson needs no introduction. She’s already been a two-time MVP and two-time Defensive Player of the Year. This season, she was still swatting shots, still cleaning the glass, still making guards hesitate to even attack the rim. But what stood out most was how much responsibility she carried while still making defense her signature.
When the votes came in and couldn’t separate them, the league chose history. Two winners. Two styles. One message: defense wins games.
Why This Award Feels Different
Every season, MVPs get the spotlight, scoring leaders dominate highlight reels, and fans love the offensive fireworks. But this award shared by Smith and Wilson feels like a culture shift.
For years, defensive brilliance was overlooked. The box score never told the full story. Now? Defensive hustle is becoming as celebrated as a deep three.
Fans noticed. Social media lit up with debates—who deserved it more, Smith or Wilson? Some said Wilson’s resume made her the obvious choice. Others argued Smith’s breakout season was the best story in basketball. The truth? They both earned it. And that’s exactly why this co-award worked.
The Playoff Factor
This couldn’t have come at a better time. The WNBA’s new 1-1-1 playoff format means one slip in defense can cost you a series. Coaches know it. Players know it. Fans see it too.
Wilson’s Aces are trying to defend their championship while every team takes aim at them. The Lynx, fueled by Smith’s rise, are building their identity around toughness. In both cases, defense is the deciding factor in whether the season keeps going or ends in heartbreak.
What Coaches and Players Are Saying
Even coaches weighed in. One Western Conference scout told reporters, “Alanna Smith made Minnesota a different team this year. They don’t win the same way without her defense.”
Meanwhile, a rival coach simply put it: “A’ja’s defense is the reason you can’t scheme against Vegas. She takes away everything.”
That’s high praise from people who build game plans for a living.
What This Means for the Future of the WNBA
The ripple effect of this co-award is going to last longer than just one season.
- For players: Young stars will see that being a defensive beast can make you just as valuable as being a 20-point scorer.
- For teams: Expect more GMs to draft and sign players who can switch, guard multiple spots, and grind it out on defense.
- For fans: Those jaw-dropping blocks and steals are going to start trending just like buzzer-beaters do.
And let’s be honest—fans love a good defensive stop in crunch time. It’s the kind of play that makes an arena shake.
Not Without Challenges
Of course, defense is still a harder sell in highlight-driven sports. You can put a dunk on Instagram and it gets millions of views. A great rotation? A perfectly timed contest? That’s harder to capture.
But this award might be the start of changing that narrative. The league can lean into promoting its defensive stars, telling their stories, and making defense cool. After all, the NBA’s biggest legends—Bill Russell, Hakeem Olajuwon, Dennis Rodman—were known as much for defense as for offense. Why not the WNBA too?
The Bottom Line
Alanna Smith and A’ja Wilson didn’t just share an award—they might have kicked off a new era. One where the league, the media, and the fans give defense the love it deserves.
The WNBA is growing fast, and this kind of milestone matters. It proves that the league isn’t afraid to embrace history, reward the grind, and celebrate the players who do the dirty work that wins championships.
So next time you’re watching a WNBA game, don’t just wait for the highlight three or the no-look pass. Watch the rotations. Watch the contests. Watch the stops. Because the league just told us: that’s where greatness lives too.
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