South Carolina basketball icon A’ja Wilson has added yet another accolade to her already remarkable career. Since entering the WNBA in 2018, Wilson has built a résumé filled with championships, MVPs, and historic milestones—and she isn’t slowing down.
On Thursday, the WNBA announced Wilson as the 2025 Co-Defensive Player of the Year, an honor she now shares with Minnesota Lynx forward Alanna Smith.
A 72-member panel of sportswriters and broadcasters voted on the award. Wilson and Smith tied with 29 votes each, followed by Seattle’s Gabby Williams (nine votes), Phoenix’s Alyssa Thomas (three votes), and Minnesota’s Napheesa Collier (two votes).
Wilson’s defensive dominance was undeniable this season. She led the league in blocks (2.3 per game), player efficiency rating (33.3), defensive win shares (3.1), defensive rating (96.4), and usage percentage (32.1). She also ranked second in rebounds (10.2 per game) and defensive boards (7.9 per game).
WNBA analyst Nekias Duncan highlighted that Wilson was one of just three players to contest over 100 shots at the rim while holding opponents below 50% shooting in those situations.
Offensively, Wilson remained elite. She averaged 23 points and 10 rebounds per game, becoming the only player in league history to average at least 20 points, 10 rebounds, 3 assists, 2 blocks, and 1 steal in a single season.
Though her production dipped slightly compared to her MVP campaign last year, Wilson’s performance still secured her another All-Star selection and multiple end-of-season awards. Just last week, she was named AP Player of the Year and AP Defensive Player of the Year.
Simply put, Wilson continues to redefine greatness in the WNBA—on both ends of the court.
