The WNBA announced Tuesday that A’ja Wilson has won the 2022 Defensive Player of the Year Award. Wilson also earned his second career All-Defensive selection after leading the W-League in blocks for the second time during the 2022 season.
No surprises here.
𝐃𝐏🚫𝐘
𝐀𝐋𝐋-𝐃𝐄𝐅𝐄𝐍𝐒𝐈𝐕𝐄 @_ajawilson22 // @WNBA pic.twitter.com/rHSBlealFw— Las Vegas Aces (@LVAces) August 30, 2022
Wilson averaged 19.5 points, 9.4 rebounds (including 7.6 defensive rebounds), 2.1 assists, 1.4 steals, and 1.9 blocks per game while shooting 50.1 percent from the field and 37.3 percent from beyond the arc. Wilson holds a 98.5 defensive rating (top 15 among players who have played in 36 games this season) and leads the league in defensive rebounding percentage (24.2 percent).
Wilson was eighth in steal percentage (24.0 percent) and first in block percentage with an impressive 64.2 percent. Wilson also holds a defensive win share ranking of 1.32, which ranks him eighth among players who have played in all 36 games this year.
Wilson and the Aces will look to bounce back from their Game 1 loss to Seattle and settle the semifinal series on Wednesday at 10pm EST. Game 2 will be broadcast on ESPN2.
