SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA – JUNE 24: Gabby Williams #1 of the Golden State Valkyries attempts a basket against Angel Reese #5 of the Atlanta Dream during the first quarter at Chase Center on June 24, 2026 in San Francisco, California. NOTE TO USER: By downloading or using this Photo, User expressly acknowledges and agrees to be bound by the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Eakin Howard/Getty Images) | Getty Images
The WNBA has announced its all-Defensive teams, and six players from the WNBA Finals will be represented: three from the Golden State Valkyries and three from the Atlanta Dream.
The All-Defensive First Team is led by Shakira Austin (Washington Mystics), Rayne Howard (Atlanta Dream), Angel Reese (Atlanta Dream), Gabby Williams (Golden State Valkyries) and A’ja Wilson (Las Vegas Aces). Reese was also named Defensive Player of the Year.
The All-Defensive Second Team includes Veronica Burton (Golden State Valkyries), Jordyn Canada (Atlanta Dream), Sonia Citron (Washington Mystics), Breanna Stewart (New York Liberty) and Kiah Stokes (Golden State Valkyries).
The Golden State Valkyries and Atlanta Dream are well represented
The Valkyries (99.3), Dream (103.5) and Mystics (104) had the three best defensive ratings in the WNBA this past season; all three teams are well represented with at least two players on the All-Defensive teams. Only Breanna Stewart and A’ja Wilson welcome back from a defense that isn’t ranked in the top four in the league.
Williams and Wilson earn second-straight First Team All-Defensive honors, while Burton and Stewart earn second-straight Second Team All-Defensive honors. Howard earned First Team honors after earning Second Team honors last season. Austin, Reese, Citron and Stokes made the All-Defensive team for the first time in their careers, while Canada earned its first honor since 2023.
So when the WNBA Finals wrap up on Saturday, the game’s best defenders will take the court.