Angel Reese For Defensive Player of the Year Heats Up After Impressive Showing For Team USA

When Angel Reese was first announced as part of USA Basketball’s FIBA qualifiers team, many felt that she had not proved to be as good as other options in the WNBA.

Sure, her rebounding was top-notch. But fans cited that her scoring struggles did not make sense for the program to consider her. They argued that there were other, more established and efficient young forwards to select from.

However, Team USA director Sue Bird made the call based not just those qualifiers, but also the future. As a highly accomplished former player, she knew what the team needed to build given how good international teams were becoming.

There is a flood of fresh and highly skilled talent coming through college. But even then, there are few who have the motor Angel Reese possesses. That is what led Bird to select her.

After several months of elite performances in the WNBA and helping Team USA win its fifth straight FIBA World Cup gold medal, it seems Bird’s decision was vindicated.

At the same time, it has brought up conversations about whether everyone’s presumption about Reese was proved wrong. Not only has the Maryland native elevated her game, but she also proved to be Team USA’s best defender.

Now, those performances are being taken into consideration. Some journalists with end-of-season award votes are starting to talk about the 24-year-old as a viable Defensive Player of the Year candidate.

NEW: I'm voting Angel Reese for Defensive Player of the Year, and here's why.

The first in my WNBA award explanation series: https://t.co/12KP0AemK9

— Noa Dalzell 🏀 (@NoaDalzell) September 16, 2026

One journalist, Noa Dalzell, noted how the Atlanta Dream forward has not just excelled in Germany, but her statistics and overall impact on the Atlanta Dream far outweigh what the addition of another All-Star does to an already stacked team. Dalzell stated that her DPOY vote will go to Angel Reese.

Angel Reese’s performance for Team USA proved how far she has developed

After Angel Reese was traded to the Atlanta Dream, her critics pointed out that she will likely get a reality check on how much she will need to develop to complement her new All-Star teammates.

Those concerns grew when her past shooting struggles seemed to continue in the preseason. However, that was thankfully the last of it. The LSU alum may not be shooting at the career-best numbers she amassed last season, but at least she is not struggling now and then.

The odd bad game does come about, but that is not uncommon even among the best in the league. But what has been extremely consistent are her rebounding and her defense.

The former is already a well-established part of her game, as she continues to set rebounding records every year she competes. But it is more about her adjustments to on-ball defense that have started to catch the eye.

The Atlanta Dream are already a stout defensive team. But when Angel Reese is off the floor, they concede approximately 15 more points than when she is on. That happens to be the league’s best defensive rating differential.

Her defense might not show up in stocks (steals and blocks), but the way she paces the floor allows her teammates to shut down opposing scorers. That was evident in Germany.

Whenever head coach Kara Lawson wanted a defensive stop, she called upon the Atlanta Dream superstar. Her motor and effort helped Team USA flip the script against France even though they were trailing. That is how impactful Reese has become. So much so that even her critics are beginning to acknowledge her.

Angel Reese and her Dream could battle longtime rival Caitlin Clark and the Fever in the playoffs

The improvements Angel Reese has shown this season will come in handy when the playoffs arrive. The timing may be short, as the 6’3″ forward is just coming off winning the gold medal.

But she and her fellow Atlanta Dream teammates will have to keep the pedal to the metal over the final four games. Two of them are against fellow playoff contenders, the New York Liberty. Therefore, losses could alter the final regular season standings.

If they stay as is, then Reese and her team will face off against Caitlin Clark and the Indiana Fever in the first round. The two teams met last season, again in the first round, and the latter booted the Dream out in impressive fashion.

Neither Clark nor Reese was a part of it; one was out due to injury, and the other was on a different team. This, and their longtime rivalry, brings up the possibility that the series will be competitive. Both will be looking to get the upper hand, knowing it will have a great impact on their image.

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