Angel Reese has been named AP Defensive Player of the Year, earning her first honor after a historic season with Atlanta Dream. The Associated Press announced Reese as its 2026 Defensive Player of the Year, recognizing her outstanding impact throughout Atlanta’s season.
Reese becomes the first Atlanta Dream player to receive the AP Defensive Player of the Year award in franchise history. The achievement adds another major milestone to Reese’s first season with Atlanta, following her offseason move from Chicago.
Throughout 2026, Reese dominated the boards while creating problems for opponents with her rebounding, steals, versatility, and physical presence. She finished the regular season leading the WNBA with 12.3 rebounds per game, securing another rebounding title.
Reese also ranked third across the league in steals, showing her ability to create turnovers and disrupt opposing offensive possessions. Her defensive production helped Atlanta secure its fourth consecutive WNBA playoff appearance after another successful regular season campaign.
Beyond her defensive work, Reese established several remarkable records that further highlighted her influence throughout Atlanta’s historic 2026 campaign. She became the first player in WNBA history to record 500 rebounds during a single regular season.
The Atlanta star also established new WNBA single-season records for total rebounds and offensive rebounds during her impressive campaign. Reese additionally recorded a league-record 32 double-doubles while grabbing 26 rebounds during one game, another historic achievement.
Her performances earned widespread recognition as she collected three consecutive Eastern Conference Player of the Week honors late in September. Reese finished the regular season with league-leading rebounding numbers while maintaining significant defensive influence across Atlanta’s playoff-bound lineup.
The Angel Reese AP Defensive Player of the Year honor also comes alongside recognition for teammate Rhyne Howard. Both players earned selection to the AP All-WNBA Second Team, making them Atlanta’s first teammates recognized on an AP All-WNBA team.
Reese now enters the WNBA playoffs with another major individual achievement, adding to an already historic first season in Atlanta. The Dream will face the Washington Mystics in the opening round, with Reese carrying her record-breaking form into postseason basketball.
For Reese, the AP Defensive Player of the Year award marks another significant chapter in her rapidly growing WNBA career. The article is built around the confirmed AP award and Reese’s documented 2026 achievements.
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