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 in blocks for the second time during the 2022 season.
No surprises here!
𝐃𝐏🚫𝐘
𝐀𝐋𝐋-𝐃𝐄𝐅𝐄𝐍𝐒𝐈𝐕𝐄 𝐅𝐈𝐑𝐒𝐓 𝐓𝐄𝐀𝐌 @_ajawillson22 // @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 on 50.1% shooting from the field and 37.3% from beyond the arc. Wilson has a defensive rating of 98.5 (top 15 among players who have played in 36 games this season) and leads the league in defensive rebound percentage (24.2%).
Wilson also ranked 8th in steal rate (24.0%) and first in block rate with a whopping 64.2%. Wilson also has a defensive win share rating of 1.32, which ranks eighth among players who have played all 36 games this year.
Wilson and the Aces are scheduled to conclude their semifinal series Wednesday at 10 PM EST after a Game 1 loss to Seattle. Game 2 will air on ESPN2.
