With Aces star A’ja Wilson clinching her third MVP honors last weekend, the focus has now shifted to the 2024 WNBA Defensive Player of the Year (DPOY) award. Wilson and Lynx standout Napheesa Collier are currently the frontrunners, sparking intense debates.
Aces coach Hammon speaks out on A’ja Wilson
Last Thursday, Las Vegas head coach Becky Hammon criticized ESPN journalists who disclosed their 2024 WNBA votes. Hammon defended players outside her team, like New York’s Sabrina Ionescu, and particularly questioned the decision to award DPOY to Collier.
“They got the MVP stuff right,” she told the press. “The Defensive Player of the Year? If you have to, as a journalist or a reporter, go down a rabbit hole to find somebody else to be in the conversation, you already have the answer.”
Lynx coach Reeve fires back in support of Napheesa Collier
As the scheduled guest on Monday’s episode of Good Game with Sarah Spain, Minnesota head coach Cheryl Reeve was asked about the controversy surrounding a DPOY vote for Collier.
Reeve, the favorite for 2024 Coach of the Year, explained that while she had not seen Hammon’s press conference, “most people I talk to think [Collier’s] a unanimous decision.”
“You look at the top three or four defensive teams — in A’ja’s case, can you be the Defensive Player of the Year when your defense isn’t in that?” Reeve continued. “She’s had an incredible year, but she can have MVP and Napheesa Collier is Defensive Player of the Year.”
Who deserves to win WNBA Defensive Player of the Year?
Reigning back-to-back DPOY Wilson, with a record-setting 451 rebounds this season, has a strong case for a threepeat. She led the league in blocks per game and achieved a career-high steal rate.
Collier, with slightly lower rebound and block rates compared to Wilson, excels in steals, ranking second in the league. Her ability to defend multiple positions and contribute to Minnesota’s strong defense per possession puts her ahead in the DPOY race.
The decision between the two stars seems to be about individual performance versus team contribution, as Reeve summarized it: “it depends on what you value when you vote.”
