Angel Reese's Defensive Player of the Year win looks like WNBA media rewarding its own hype
Angel Reese earned 46 WNBA Defensive Player of the Year votes, but the Atlanta Dream's unchanged 30-14 record raises some serious questions.
TL;DR
- Angel Reese received 46 votes for WNBA Defensive Player of the Year, while Gabby Williams received 20 and A'ja Wilson received only four.
- The author argues that media members may have oversold Reese's defensive capabilities due to a desire for her to be an elite player.
- The Atlanta Dream had the same 30-14 record and a slightly worse defensive rating in the season Reese joined compared to the previous year.
- While Reese contributed to limiting second-chance points and had impressive steal numbers, A'ja Wilson's ability to protect the basket and switch onto guards is highlighted as a superior defensive skill.
- The author critiques the use of team on/off defensive numbers and other advanced metrics in justifying Reese's award, suggesting they can be misleading or influenced by other factors.