South Carolina Basketball: A’ja Wilson wins WNBA Defensive Player of the Year Award
By Kevin Miller
South Carolina basketball legend Aja Wilson has so many awards that she likely needs about ten mantles to hold them all. The two-time WNBA MVP won her first WNBA Defensive Player of the Year Award last season (and her second of the two MVPs), and she has already brought home the AP Defensive Player of the Year honor for this season.
On Friday, it was announced that the official WNBA Defensive Player of the Year trophy would go home with Aja Wilson once again. It was a very deserving honor for the Las Vegas Aces star as she led the WNBA in blocked shots, defensive win shares, and defensive rating. She also finished 13th in the league in steals and anchored the best defense in the WNBA.
Frankly, Wilson’s selection as the back-to-back DPOY was obvious. However, that’s not the only award she should win this postseason. In addition to any potential honors for her playoff performance this season, Wilson is the favorite to win another MVP trophy when the award is announced next week.
Wilson and New York Liberty star Breanna Stewart are the two most likely candidates to receive the award for the 2023 season, and Stewart won the AP’s WNBA Player of the Year honor. However, the former South Carolina Gamecock has bested the former UConn Husky in the betting market thus far for the MVP handed out by the WNBA media.
According to most outlets, Stewart was the favorite for the first half of this season (and in the offseason), but Wilson overtook her with strong play down the stretch. The two best players in the WNBA seem to be on a collision course set for the WNBA Finals.
Fellow Dawn Staley disciple Aliyah Boston won the AP Rookie of the Year and is the overwhelming favorite to win the same award from the WNBA media.