WNBA All-Defensive Teams announced: Who made the cut? Biggest snubs?

The WNBA introduced the All-Defensive Groups on Sunday — and there weren’t a ton of surprises within the lineups. Napheesa Collier and A’ja Wilson have been in a two-way battle for Defensive Participant of the 12 months for a lot of the season, with Collier in the end popping out on high, whereas DiJonai Carrington solidified herself as one of many high guard defenders this season.

Every of the highest 4 defensive groups within the league was awarded with two All-Defensive gamers — the Connecticut Solar (ranked first) have been represented by DiJonai Carrington and Alyssa Thomas, the Minnesota Lynx (ranked second) by Napheesa Collier and Alanna Smith, the New York Liberty (ranked third) by Breanna Stewart and Jonquel Jones, and the Seattle Storm (ranked fourth) by Ezi Magbegor and Nneka Ogwumike. The Las Vegas Aces (ranked fifth) was represented by two-time Defensive Participant of the 12 months A’ja Wilson, whereas the Phoenix Mercury (ranked ninth) by Natasha Cloud.

Right here’s the total record of gamers who have been named to the All-WNBA group.

WNBA All-Defensive First Group:

DiJonai Carrington (Connecticut Solar)
Napheesa Collier (Minnesota Lynx)
A’ja Wilson (Las Vegas Aces)
Ezi Magbegor (Seattle Storm)
Breanna Stewart (New York Liberty)

WNBA All-Defensive Second Group:

Alyssa Thomas (Connecticut Solar)
Alanna Smith (Minnesota Lynx)
Nneka Ogwumike (Seattle Storm)
Jonquel Jones (New York Liberty)
Natasha Cloud (Phoenix Mercury)

Let’s check out the defensive numbers (and case) behind every First-Group Member.

Napheesa Collier

Blocks: 1.4 blocks (sixth)Steals: 1.9 steals (4th)Defensive Ranking: 91.4 (1st)Defensive Win Shares: 3.6 (2nd)

Napheesa Collier was named Defensive Participant of the 12 months for a motive — she had the very best defensive score within the league, and fashioned a front-court duo with Alanna Smith (Second Group All-Protection) that made opponents’ lives depressing. She didn’t have fairly the blocks or steals that Wilson had, however her group’s defensive score (94.8) was considerably higher than the Aces’ (99.6).

A’ja Wilson, Las Vegas Aces

Blocks: 2.6 (1st)Steals: 1.8 (fifth)Defensive Ranking: 92.3 (2nd)Defensive Win Shares: 3.8 (1st)

A’ja Wilson had a robust case for her third consecutive DPOY — liable for extra blocks and defensive win-shares than another participant within the W — however the Aces protection was inconsistent, and was doubtless the first motive Wilson didn’t run dwelling with this award. Nonetheless, Wilson had an excellent season on that finish, and her coach, Becky Hammon, plead her case to reporters as to why she ought to win the award.

Ezi Magbegor, Seattle Storm

Blocks: 2.2 (2nd)Steals: 1.1 (twenty fifth)Defensive Ranking: 95.9 (seventh)Defensive Win Shares: 2.7 (eighth)

Ezi Magbegor was a high shot-blocker within the WNBA, however the Storm’s protection was a step beneath the Solar’s, Lynx’s and Liberty’s. Magbegor additionally took a step again within the latter half of the season, however nonetheless solidifed herself as one of many WNBA’s high rim protectors. The Storm campaigned for her to win Defensive Participant of the 12 months, nevertheless it’s a troublesome case to make with Wilson and Collier within the combine.

Breanna Stewart, New York Liberty

Blocks: 1.3 (sixth)Steals: 1.7 (seventh)Defensive Ranking: 93.6 (4th)Defensive Win Shares: 3.4 (third)

Breanna Stewart is a perennial All-Defensive candidate, and possessed one of many league’s high defensive scores as soon as once more. This season, she’s made it some extent to change into a greater guard defender, which contributed to the Liberty’s versatility.

“I really feel like this 12 months, particularly, we’re switching much more, which is placing me on guards and attempting to guarantee that I’m utilizing my size, I’m capable of block photographs, I’m capable of get steals,” Stewart instructed SB Nation. “Actually simply the attention of — what’s the offense attempting to do, and the way can I disrupt it?”

DiJonai Carrington, Connecticut Solar

Blocks: (0.4)Steals: 1.6 steals (ninth)Defensive Ranking: 96.2 (eighth)Defensive Win Shares: 2.6 (ninth)

As a guard, Carrington’s numbers don’t come out like the remainder of the gamers on this record. However, DiJonai Carrington was routinely requested to protect opposing group’s finest gamers, and led the cost on Connecticut’s league-best protection.

It’s been an unbelievable season for Carrington, who got here off the bench final 12 months and was awarded Most Improved Participant final 12 months. Some have knocked Carrington for her offensive effectivity, however she’s managed to be a double-figure scorer whereas oftentimes guarding 94 toes.

“Some individuals can relaxation on protection, however clearly, I’m not somebody who can try this, and I don’t need to try this — nevertheless it positively takes a toll on you,” Carrington instructed SB Nation.

Looking on the All-Defensive Second Group

The WNBA’s All-Defensive Second Group was headlined by Alyssa Thomas, who had the Solar’s finest defensive score this season; Alanna Smith, who helped remodel the Lynx’s frontcourt; Nneka Ogwumike, who was typically assigned to opposing group’s finest gamers; Jonquel Jones, who made Breanna Stewart’s defensive prowess attainable by serving as a dependable rim protector; and Natasha Cloud, who wasn’t part of an elite protection however had an amazing particular person defensive season. No actual surprises there.

Who was snubbed — if anybody?

The brief reply: nobody, actually. This was a reasonably clear-cut poll, at the least in response to the analytics.

To evaluate if there have been any snubs, let’s begin with who made the All-Defensive Groups in 2023 and was left off this season. Brittney Sykes (Washington Mystics) and Jordin Canada (Atlanta Dream) have been each First Group defenders final season, however each handled a share of accidents and have been a part of beneath league-average defenses, successfully eliminating them from rivalry. Elizabeth Williams (Chicago Sky) was a Second Group defender final 12 months, and likewise missed nearly all of this season as a consequence of harm.

Then, there’s Betnijah Laney-Hamilton, who stays probably the greatest wing defenders within the recreation however missed a number of weeks recovering from knee surgical procedure. Hamilton had a case for the All-Defensive Group, however Jones and Stewart have been each extra impactful defenders this season. So, given the harm conditions gamers handled, none of those omissions are stunning.

Solely two gamers with High 10 Defensive Scores didn’t make the record: DeWanna Bonner (95.7 RTG) and Brionna Jones (96.4 RTG). Bonner’s numbers are extra of a product of being part of elite defensive lineups, whereas Jones has a case because the rim protector on the very best protection within the league. Angel Reese had a case contemplating how a lot better Chicago’s protection was along with her on the ground than off of it, however the Sky’s defensive numbers made her an unlikely candidate to land on the ultimate ballots.