WNBA All-Defensive Groups introduced: Who made the reduce? Largest snubs?

The WNBA introduced the All-Defensive Groups on Sunday — and there weren’t a ton of surprises within the lineups. Napheesa Collier and A’ja Wilson have been in a two-way battle for Defensive Participant of the Yr for a lot of the season, with Collier in the end popping out on high, whereas DiJonai Carrington solidified herself as one of many high guard defenders this season.

Every of the high 4 defensive groups within the league was awarded with two All-Defensive gamers — the Connecticut Solar (ranked first) have been represented by DiJonai Carrington and Alyssa Thomas, the Minnesota Lynx (ranked second) by Napheesa Collier and Alanna Smith, the New York Liberty (ranked third) by Breanna Stewart and Jonquel Jones, and the Seattle Storm (ranked fourth) by Ezi Magbegor and Nneka Ogwumike. The Las Vegas Aces (ranked fifth) was represented by two-time Defensive Participant of the Yr A’ja Wilson, whereas the Phoenix Mercury (ranked ninth) by Natasha Cloud.

Right here’s the total listing of gamers who have been named to the All-WNBA crew.

WNBA All-Defensive First Crew:

• DiJonai Carrington (Connecticut Solar)
• Napheesa Collier (Minnesota Lynx)
• A’ja Wilson (Las Vegas Aces)
• Ezi Magbegor (Seattle Storm)
• Breanna Stewart (New York Liberty)

WNBA All-Defensive Second Crew:

• Alyssa Thomas (Connecticut Solar)
• Alanna Smith (Minnesota Lynx)
• Nneka Ogwumike (Seattle Storm)
• Jonquel Jones (New York Liberty)
• Natasha Cloud (Phoenix Mercury)

Let’s check out the defensive numbers (and case) behind every First-Crew Member.

Napheesa Collier

Picture by David Berding/Getty Photos

Blocks: 1.4 blocks (sixth)
Steals: 1.9 steals (4th)
Defensive Ranking: 91.4 (1st)
Defensive Win Shares: 3.6 (2nd)

Napheesa Collier was named Defensive Participant of the Yr for a motive — she had the very best defensive score within the league, and shaped a front-court duo with Alanna Smith (Second Crew All-Protection) that made opponents’ lives depressing. She didn’t have fairly the blocks or steals that Wilson had, however her crew’s defensive score (94.8) was considerably higher than the Aces’ (99.6).

A’ja Wilson, Las Vegas Aces

Picture by Ethan Miller/Getty Photos

Blocks: 2.6 (1st)
Steals: 1.8 (fifth)
Defensive Ranking: 92.3 (2nd)
Defensive Win Shares: 3.8 (1st)

A’ja Wilson had a powerful case for her third consecutive DPOY — liable for extra blocks and defensive win-shares than every other participant within the W — however the Aces protection was inconsistent, and was probably the first motive Wilson didn’t run dwelling with this award. Nonetheless, Wilson had an excellent season on that finish, and her coach, Becky Hammon, plead her case to reporters as to why she ought to win the award.

Ezi Magbegor, Seattle Storm

Picture by Steph Chambers/Getty Photos

Blocks: 2.2 (2nd)
Steals: 1.1 (twenty fifth)
Defensive Ranking: 95.9 (seventh)
Defensive Win Shares: 2.7 (eighth)

Ezi Magbegor was a high shot-blocker within the WNBA, however the Storm’s protection was a step beneath the Solar’s, Lynx’s and Liberty’s. Magbegor additionally took a step again within the latter half of the season, however nonetheless solidifed herself as one of many WNBA’s high rim protectors. The Storm campaigned for her to win Defensive Participant of the Yr, nevertheless it’s a tricky case to make with Wilson and Collier within the combine.

Breanna Stewart, New York Liberty

Picture by Ethan Miller/Getty Photos

Blocks: 1.3 (sixth)
Steals: 1.7 (seventh)
Defensive Ranking: 93.6 (4th)
Defensive Win Shares: 3.4 (third)

Breanna Stewart is a perennial All-Defensive candidate, and possessed one of many league’s high defensive scores as soon as once more. This season, she’s made it some extent to grow to be a greater guard defender, which contributed to the Liberty’s versatility.

“I really feel like this 12 months, particularly, we’re switching much more, which is placing me on guards and attempting to ensure that I’m utilizing my size, I’m capable of block photographs, I’m capable of get steals,” Stewart advised SB Nation. “Actually simply the attention of — what’s the offense attempting to do, and the way can I disrupt it?”

DiJonai Carrington, Connecticut Solar

Picture by Chris Marion/NBAE by way of Getty Photos

Blocks: (0.4)
Steals: 1.6 steals (ninth)
Defensive Ranking: 96.2 (eighth)
Defensive Win Shares: 2.6 (ninth)

As a guard, Carrington’s numbers don’t come out like the remainder of the gamers on this listing. However, DiJonai Carrington was routinely requested to protect opposing crew’s greatest gamers, and led the cost on Connecticut’s league-best protection.

It’s been an unimaginable season for Carrington, who got here off the bench final 12 months and was awarded Most Improved Participant final 12 months. Some have knocked Carrington for her offensive effectivity, however she’s managed to be a double-figure scorer whereas oftentimes guarding 94 toes.

“Some folks can relaxation on protection, however clearly, I’m not somebody who can do this, and I don’t need to do this — nevertheless it positively takes a toll on you,” Carrington advised SB Nation.

Looking on the All-Defensive Second Crew

The WNBA’s All-Defensive Second Crew was headlined by Alyssa Thomas, who had the Solar’s greatest defensive score this season; Alanna Smith, who helped remodel the Lynx’s frontcourt; Nneka Ogwumike, who was usually assigned to opposing crew’s greatest gamers; Jonquel Jones, who made Breanna Stewart’s defensive prowess doable by serving as a dependable rim protector; and Natasha Cloud, who wasn’t part of an elite protection however had an amazing particular person defensive season. No actual surprises there.

Who was snubbed — if anybody?

The brief reply: nobody, actually. This was a fairly clear-cut poll, no less than in accordance with the analytics.

To evaluate if there have been any snubs, let’s begin with who made the All-Defensive Groups in 2023 and was left off this season. Brittney Sykes (Washington Mystics) and Jordin Canada (Atlanta Dream) have been each First Crew defenders final season, however each handled a share of accidents and have been a part of beneath league-average defenses, successfully eliminating them from competition. Elizabeth Williams (Chicago Sky) was a Second Crew defender final 12 months, and in addition missed nearly all of this season because of harm.

Then, there’s Betnijah Laney-Hamilton, who stays top-of-the-line wing defenders within the recreation however missed a number of weeks recovering from knee surgical procedure. Hamilton had a case for the All-Defensive Crew, however Jones and Stewart have been each extra impactful defenders this season. So, given the harm conditions gamers handled, none of those omissions are shocking.

Solely two gamers with Prime 10 Defensive Rankings didn’t make the listing: DeWanna Bonner (95.7 RTG) and Brionna Jones (96.4 RTG). Bonner’s numbers are extra of a product of being part of elite defensive lineups, whereas Jones has a case because the rim protector on the very best protection within the league. Angel Reese had a case contemplating how significantly better Chicago’s protection was along with her on the ground than off of it, however the Sky’s defensive numbers made her an unlikely candidate to land on the ultimate ballots.