South Carolina women's basketball: A'ja Wilson claims co-Defensive Player of the Year

A’ja Wilson was named WNBA co-Defensive Player of the Year, sharing the award with Minnesota’s Alanna Smith, the league announced on Thursday.

This is the first time in WNBA history that two players shared the award (Wilson informally shared it with her teammate Kiah Stokes in 2023). Both Wilson and Smith received 29 votes. Gabby Williams got nine votes, Alyssa Thomas got three, and Napheesa Collier received two votes.

Wilson, who also won in 2022 and 2023, joins Sheryl Swoopes as a three-time winner. Only Sylvia Fowles (four) and Tamika Catchings (five) have more.

Wilson was also named AP Defensive Player of the Year and Player of the Year.

Wilson finished with 407 total rebounds, the third most ever. She set the single-season record last season with 451 and has two of the five seasons with at least 400 rebounds. Wilson was second in rebounds per game with 10.2.

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Wilson also led the WNBA in blocks per game (2.3) and was third in steals (1.6). She has led the league in blocks five times and is one of only three players to have led the league more than twice.

Wilson is South Carolina’s all-time leading shot blocker and was named the SEC Defensive Player of the Year in 2016 and 2018. Still, Dawn Staley constantly challenged Wilson to be a better defender. In 2016, Staley even said, “I wouldn’t have voted for her,” after Wilson won.

Wilson hasn’t forgotten.

“Considering coach Staley was so hard on me about my defense in college, I’m glad I can have some success at the pro level multiple times,” she told the AP.

The MVP finalists are scheduled to be announced on Friday, September 19. The MVP will be announced on September 21. Wilson is the favorite to win her unprecedented fourth MVP.

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