At long last, the WNBA has announced its All-Defense First and Second teams, as selected by 72 media voters, and there were no major surprises.
WNBA reveals All-Defense Teams — here’s who voters selected
The league announced which 10 players were named to the First and Second Team All-Defense — and the final ballot almost exactly mirrored ours at SB Nation.
NBAE via Getty Images
Noa Dalzell is a senior writer covering the WNBA and all of women’s basketball for Breakaway, SB Nation’s women’s sports vertical, as well as the Celtics for CelticsBlog.
The following 10 players were chosen for the end-of-season defensive accolade:
First Team All-Defense
Napheesa Collier, Minnesota Lynx
Alanna Smith, Minnesota Lynx
A’ja Wilson, Las Vegas Aces
Gabby Williams, Seattle Storm
Alyssa Thomas, Phoenix Mercury
Second Team All-Defense
Breanna Stewart, New York Liberty
Veronica Burton, Golden State Valkyries
Rhyne Howard, Atlanta Dream
Ezi Magbegor, Seattle Storm
Aliyah Boston, Indiana Fever
How the WNBA’s All-Defense Team compares to my ballot
The WNBA’s official ballot was almost exactly the same as mine — the only difference is that I voted for Phoenix Mercury guard Monique Akoa Makani instead of Boston. I had the same First Team, made up of Collier, Thomas, Wilson, Williams, and Smith.
Boston had a great defensive year and was one of my final candidates for the All-Defensive team. She averaged 1.2 steals and 0.9 blocks per game, and had an individual defensive rating of 100.8.
I considered the following candidates for the Second Team All-Defense and ultimately selected Stewart, Burton, Howard, Magbegor, and Akoa Makani.
I omitted several great defenders due to their team’s lackluster defense — something I may reconsider in future voting years.
If I was simply looking at the league’s most talented defenders, players like Connecticut Sun rookies Leila Lacan and Saniya Rivers would have also been in consideration. Both will make All-Defense teams in the future, as will Chicago Sky sophomore Angel Reese. I actually strongly considered Reese, but her missed time — combined with the Sky’s abysmal team defense — kept her off my ballot. Don’t be surprised if she appears there in the future, though.
Most of the players on the 2025 All-Defense Team were also on the 2024 All-Defense Team, but there are a few exceptions. Collier and Wilson are on the First Team for the second straight year, while Smith and Thomas join the First Team after being on the Second Team last season.
Stewart and Magbegor are on the Second Team this season after being on the First Team last season, while Williams makes her first All-Defense Team appearance since 2022.
Burton, Howard, and Boston all made their first All-Defense team appearances of their careers in 2025.
See More:
