WNBA Defensive Player of the Year History
The WNBA Defensive Player of the Year Award has been
presented annually since the league's inaugural season in
1997. It recognizes the player judged to have made
the greatest defensive impact during the WNBA regular season.
Teresa Weatherspoon of the New York Liberty became
the first winner in 1997 and repeated in 1998.
Several of the greatest defensive players in women's basketball history
have won the award multiple times, including Tamika Catchings, Sylvia
Fowles, Sheryl Swoopes, A'ja Wilson, Lisa Leslie, Brittney Griner and
Alana Beard.
WNBA Defensive Player of the Year Winners
| Year |
Player |
Team |
| 2025 |
Alanna Smith |
Minnesota Lynx |
| 2025 |
A'ja Wilson |
Las Vegas Aces |
| 2024 |
Napheesa Collier |
Minnesota Lynx |
| 2023 |
A'ja Wilson |
Las Vegas Aces |
| 2022 |
A'ja Wilson |
Las Vegas Aces |
| 2021 |
Sylvia Fowles |
Minnesota Lynx |
| 2020 |
Candace Parker |
Los Angeles Sparks |
| 2019 |
Natasha Howard |
Seattle Storm |
| 2018 |
Alana Beard |
Los Angeles Sparks |
| 2017 |
Alana Beard |
Los Angeles Sparks |
| 2016 |
Sylvia Fowles |
Minnesota Lynx |
| 2015 |
Brittney Griner |
Phoenix Mercury |
| 2014 |
Brittney Griner |
Phoenix Mercury |
| 2013 |
Sylvia Fowles |
Chicago Sky |
| 2012 |
Tamika Catchings |
Indiana Fever |
| 2011 |
Sylvia Fowles |
Chicago Sky |
| 2010 |
Tamika Catchings |
Indiana Fever |
| 2009 |
Tamika Catchings |
Indiana Fever |
| 2008 |
Lisa Leslie |
Los Angeles Sparks |
| 2007 |
Lauren Jackson |
Seattle Storm |
| 2006 |
Tamika Catchings |
Indiana Fever |
| 2005 |
Tamika Catchings |
Indiana Fever |
| 2004 |
Lisa Leslie |
Los Angeles Sparks |
| 2003 |
Sheryl Swoopes |
Houston Comets |
| 2002 |
Sheryl Swoopes |
Houston Comets |
| 2001 |
Debbie Black |
Miami Sol |
| 2000 |
Sheryl Swoopes |
Houston Comets |
| 1999 |
Yolanda Griffith |
Sacramento Monarchs |
| 1998 |
Teresa Weatherspoon |
New York Liberty |
| 1997 |
Teresa Weatherspoon |
New York Liberty |
WNBA Defensive Player of the Year Facts
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Teresa Weatherspoon won the first WNBA Defensive
Player of the Year Award in 1997 and repeated in 1998.
-
Tamika Catchings holds the record with
five Defensive Player of the Year awards, winning in
2005, 2006, 2009, 2010 and 2012.
-
Sylvia Fowles ranks second with four awards, winning
twice with Chicago and twice with Minnesota.
-
Sheryl Swoopes won three times with the Houston
Comets in 2000, 2002 and 2003.
-
A'ja Wilson has won three Defensive Player of the
Year awards: 2022, 2023 and as a co-winner in 2025.
-
Lisa Leslie, Brittney Griner,
Alana Beard and Teresa Weatherspoon
each won the award twice.
-
The 2025 award was the first tie in WNBA Defensive Player of
the Year history. Alanna Smith and A'ja Wilson each received
29 votes and were named co-winners.
-
Alanna Smith became a first-time winner in 2025, while Wilson's share
of the award gave her the third Defensive Player of the Year honor of
her career.
Most WNBA Defensive Player of the Year Awards
| Player |
Wins |
Years |
| Tamika Catchings |
5 |
2005, 2006, 2009, 2010, 2012 |
| Sylvia Fowles |
4 |
2011, 2013, 2016, 2021 |
| Sheryl Swoopes |
3 |
2000, 2002, 2003 |
| A'ja Wilson |
3 |
2022, 2023, 2025 |
| Teresa Weatherspoon |
2 |
1997, 1998 |
| Lisa Leslie |
2 |
2004, 2008 |
| Brittney Griner |
2 |
2014, 2015 |
| Alana Beard |
2 |
2017, 2018 |
2025 Co-Defensive Players of the Year
The 2025 season produced the first shared Defensive Player of the Year
Award in WNBA history. Minnesota Lynx forward
Alanna Smith and Las Vegas Aces center
A'ja Wilson each received 29 votes from the national
media panel.
Smith helped anchor a Minnesota defense that finished first in the
league in defensive rating. She recorded 80 blocks and 55 steals during
the regular season.
Wilson led the WNBA in blocks per game while also finishing among the
league leaders in rebounds and steals. The award was her third
Defensive Player of the Year honor after winning in 2022 and 2023.
Award History
The WNBA Defensive Player of the Year Award dates to the league's first
season in 1997. The award has recognized dominant perimeter defenders,
elite shot blockers and versatile defenders capable of guarding
multiple positions.
The history of the award also reflects the evolution of WNBA defense.
Early winners such as Teresa Weatherspoon and Sheryl Swoopes were known
for disruptive perimeter defense, while later winners such as Sylvia
Fowles, Brittney Griner and A'ja Wilson combined rim protection,
rebounding and mobility.
