Angel Reese named WNBA Defensive Player of the Year in first season with Atlanta Dream
The WNBA named Atlanta Dream forward Angel Reese its 2026 Defensive Player of the Year. Newsweek celebrates the award; a Fox News/OutKick column argues the vote overrated Reese relative to A'ja Wilson and Gabby Williams.
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The story, neutrally told
The WNBA announced on Thursday 1 October that Atlanta Dream forward Angel Reese won the 2026 Defensive Player of the Year award. NewsweekN “The WNBA announced Angel Reese as the winner of the 2026 Defensive Player of the Year award on Thursday.” Read at Newsweek ↗ Reese received 46 of the 74 votes; Golden State Valkyries forward Gabby Williams was second with 20 and Las Vegas Aces center A'ja Wilson received four. Fox NewsR “Reese received 46 of the 74 votes for the award announced Thursday. Golden State Valkyries forward Gabby Williams finished second with 20.” Read at Fox News ↗ It is Reese's first major award in three WNBA seasons, and Reese is the first Dream player to win it; this was Reese's first season with Atlanta after two with the Chicago Sky. NewsweekN “It's the first major award Reese has won in her three seasons in the league.”“She is the first Dream player to win Defensive Player of the Year.” Read at Newsweek ↗
Reese averaged 12.1 rebounds, 6.4 points, 2.8 assists and 1.8 steals (third in the league) per game, and became the first WNBA player to record more than 500 rebounds in a season (521, of which 206 were offensive), also setting a league record with 26 rebounds in one game. NewsweekN “becoming the first player in WNBA history to record over 500 rebounds (521) in a season — and, 206 of those were offensive rebounds.”“She averaged 12.1 rebounds per game this season” Read at Newsweek ↗ Reese's mother, Angel Webb Reese, surprised the player with the trophy after the Dream's first-round win on Wednesday; Reese cried and said, "I'm just happy to be in Atlanta." NewsweekN “Her mother, Angel Webb Reese, surprised her daughter with the trophy and a giant bouquet of flowers”“I'm just happy to be in Atlanta.” Read at Newsweek ↗ The Dream swept the Washington Mystics in the first round and face the New York Liberty in the semifinals starting Sunday, in Reese's first postseason. NewsweekN “the Dream swept the Washington Mystics in the first round on Wednesday night. Atlanta will face the New York Liberty in the semifinals starting on Sunday.” Read at Newsweek ↗
A Fox News (OutKick) column by Dan Zaksheske argues the margin was inflated by media enthusiasm, noting Atlanta finished 30-14 both this season and last and ranked third in defensive rating (103.5) this year after ranking second (98.9) in 2025. Fox NewsR “The Dream ranked second in defensive rating, allowing 98.9 points per 100 possessions in 2025.”“They ranked third in defensive rating, allowing 103.5 points per 100 possessions.” Read at Fox News ↗ The column concedes Reese helped Atlanta allow a league-low 9.5 second-chance points per game and led the league in defensive win shares, but says Wilson led in blocks (1.9 per game against Reese's 0.7) and in defensive VPM, and that Williams had a strong case on Synergy tracking. Fox NewsR “Reese helped Atlanta allow a league-low 9.5 second-chance points per game, she averaged an impressive 1.8 steals and she led the league in defensive win shares.”“Wilson led the league in blocks for the fifth consecutive season, averaging 1.9 blocks per game, while Reese averaged just 0.7.” Read at Fox News ↗ It also criticises voters' reliance on team on/off figures, which varied by source (15.5, 13 and 7.9 points), and notes two voters, CBS Sports' Jack Maloney and SB Nation's Noa Dalzell, acknowledged Wilson led in DVPM yet voted for Reese. Fox NewsR “Garcia also leaned on Atlanta’s defensive on/off numbers, citing a 15.5-point difference with Reese off the floor.”“Atlanta’s own award announcement said 7.9.” Read at Fox News ↗
Every sentence links to the reporting it rests on.
Left0 outlets
No left outlet in our sources has covered this story yet.
Centre1 outlet
- Framing
- Celebratory news piece on the award, built around Reese's emotional surprise from a family member, record-setting rebounding and the Dream's playoff run.
- Emphasis
- Records, personal story, Reese's quotes and the upcoming semifinal.
- Leaves out or plays down
- Does not mention vote totals, other candidates or critiques of the voting.
- Charged language
- “Coveted”“heartwarming”“monumental”
Right1 outlet
- Framing
- Opinion column arguing the award reflects media overselling Reese rather than defensive merit, favouring A'ja Wilson and Gabby Williams.
- Emphasis
- Vote totals, Atlanta's identical 30-14 record and slightly worse defensive rating, blocks and defensive VPM, inconsistent on/off numbers, and voters' wording.
- Leaves out or plays down
- Gives little weight to Reese's record-setting rebounding or the personal moment around the award announcement.
- Charged language
- “rewarding its own hype”“vicious little cycle of self-validation”“mebounds”
What every side reports
- Reese won the 2026 WNBA Defensive Player of the Year award, announced Thursday.
- Reese's season included 521 rebounds, 206 of them offensive, and 1.8 steals per game.
- Reese's first season with Atlanta Dream followed time with the Chicago Sky.
Where accounts differ
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Whether Reese was the deserving winner
- Centre
- Newsweek says Reese deserved the award, citing record-setting rebounding and a season that showcased defensive skill.
- Right
- Fox News/OutKick says Reese deserved consideration but that Wilson, and arguably Williams, had stronger cases and the vote reflects media hype.
Angel Reese person
Reese expressed gratitude to family and teammates and said being in Atlanta made Reese happy, wanting to finish the season the right way.
“I just want to finish this off the right way cause I think we deserve it, so thank you guys.” — Newsweek
Atlanta Dream organisation
The Dream gathered after their first-round sweep when Reese received the trophy; Fox says the team's own award announcement cited a 7.9-point defensive on/off figure.
“the Dream gathered together after Wednesday's win” — Newsweek
“Atlanta’s own award announcement said 7.9.” — Fox News
Left0 articles
No coverage yet.
Centre1 article
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Angel Reese Wins Coveted WNBA Award in First Season With Atlanta Dream
Celebratory Warm report on the award and Reese's emotional reaction, endorsing the win as deserved.
Right1 article
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Angel Reese's Defensive Player of the Year win looks like WNBA media rewarding its own hype
Critical Opinion column using voting and statistical comparisons to argue the award reflects media hype rather than clear defensive superiority.
- 1 Oct 19:41 First NewsweekN Angel Reese Wins Coveted WNBA Award in First Season With Atlanta Dream
- 2 Oct 00:36 +4h 56m Fox NewsR Angel Reese's Defensive Player of the Year win looks like WNBA media rewarding its own hype
Times are when each article was published, or when we first saw it if the outlet gave no time.