LAS VEGAS (FOX5) — The WNBA announced Oct. 15 that Las Vegas Aces forward/center and 2026 WNBA MVP A’ja Wilson has been named to the 2026 WNBA All-Defensive First Team. It marks her fifth-straight first team honor and sixth overall after being named to the second team in 2020.
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Season defensive statistics
For the fifth season in a row and sixth overall, Wilson led the WNBA with a high of 1.9 blocks per game. She also led the league in total blocks with 79, and in stocks, which combines steals and blocks, with 3.3 per game.
Wilson ended the season ranked second in total stocks (137), third in defensive rebounds (7.5 rpg) and fifth in rebounds per game (9.4 rpg) and total defensive rebounds (309). She also ranked fourth in defensive win shares (3.1) and seventh in defensive rating (101.1).
Career milestones
On Aug. 3 at Atlanta, the three-time Defensive Player of the Year broke a tie with Lauren Jackson (586) to secure the No. 6 spot on the league’s all-time blocks list. She finished the season with 612 career blocks.
In 2026, Wilson recorded her 1,000th career stock, becoming the 10th player in league history to reach that mark. Wilson’s 309 defensive rebounds rank No. 8 among all-time WNBA single-season leaders. She holds the No. 1 spot with 372, recorded in 2024. Her 137 total stocks tied as the 11th-most ever recorded in a single season.
2026 WNBA All-Defensive First Team
- Shakira Austin, Washington
- Rhyne Howard, Atlanta
- Angel Reese, Atlanta
- Gabby Williams, Golden State
- A’ja Wilson, Las Vegas
2026 WNBA All-Defensive Second Team
- Veronica Burton, Golden State
- Jordin Canada, Atlanta
- Sonia Citron, Washington
- Breanna Stewart, New York
- Kiah Stokes, Golden State
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