Las Vegas Aces ahead A’ja Wilson (22) celebrates with guard Jackie Younger (0) after scoring through the first half of Sport 2 of a WNBA basketball playoff collection recreation in opposition to the Chicago Sky, Sunday, Sept. 17, 2023, in Las Vegas. Credit score: AP/Ellen Schmidt
Las Vegas Aces star A’ja Wilson was honored because the WNBA Defensive Participant of the Yr for the second time in a row.
She is the eighth participant to win the award a number of occasions.
Wilson obtained 32 of 60 votes from a nationwide media panel. Connecticut Solar ahead Alyssa Thomas was second with 24. No different participant obtained greater than three votes.
In enjoying for the league’s top-rated protection, Wilson additionally led the WNBA in defensive effectivity ranking (93.2) and blocked photographs (2.2). She was third in defensive rebounds per recreation (7.5) and tenth in steals (1.4). That is the third time in 4 years Wilson led the league in blocked photographs.
Wilson additionally was chosen to the league’s defensive first staff for the third time. Additionally making the staff have been the Solar’s Thomas, Brittney Sykes of the Washington Mystics, Breanna Stewart of the New York Liberty and Jordin Canada of the Los Angeles Sparks.
On the second staff have been Betnijah Laney of the Liberty, Ezi Magbegor of the Seattle Storm, Nneka Ogwumike of the Sparks, Napheesa Collier of the Minnesota Lynx and Elizabeth Williams of the Chicago Sky.
Wilson is also in rivalry for league MVP, which will likely be introduced Tuesday earlier than the Aces play the Wings in Sport 2 of their semifinal collection. She has gained that award two of the previous three years.