Alanna Smith Aja Wilson Named WNBA Co Defensive Players Of The Year

Minnesota Lynx forward Alanna Smith and Las Vegas Aces center Aja Wilson have been named the 2025 Kia WNBA Co-Defensive Players of the Year, marking the first time in league history the award has been shared.

Smith and Wilson each received 29 votes from a national panel of 72 sportswriters and broadcasters, the WNBA announced today. Seattle Storm guard Gabby Williams finished second with nine votes, followed by Phoenix Mercury forward Alyssa Thomas with three votes and Minnesota Lynx forward Napheesa Collier with two votes.

This represents Smith’s first Defensive Player of the Year award and Wilson’s third, having previously won in 2022 and 2023.

Smith started all 42 games for Minnesota in her seventh WNBA season, averaging 26.6 minutes per game. The 2024 All-Defensive Second Team selection helped lead the Lynx to the No. 1 seed in the WNBA Playoffs.

Minnesota posted a league-best 97.5 defensive rating with Smith anchoring their defense. She finished second overall in combined steals and blocks with 135, ranked third in blocks per game at 1.9 and total blocks with 80, while adding 55 steals.

Smith, drafted eighth overall in 2019, has evolved into a defensive cornerstone for the Lynx. The team advanced to the semifinals following a 2-0 first-round victory against the Golden State Valkyries.

Wilson started all 40 games for Las Vegas while averaging 31.2 minutes per game in her eighth season. The three-time All-Defensive First Team honoree helped the Aces secure the No. 2 seed following a 16-game win streak to close the regular season.

Wilson led the WNBA in blocks per game at 2.3, total rebounds with 407, defensive rebounds with 316, and combined steals and blocks with 156. She also ranked second in total blocks with 92 and rebounds per game at 10.2.

The dominant two-way player also led the league offensively in 2025, recording 937 total points, 23.4 points per game, 332 field goals made, and 248 free throws made.