"A'ja robbed again" - WNBA fans torn over A'ja Wilson falling short of DPOY to Napheesa Collier

WNBA fans were shocked after learning that A'ja Wilson lost the 2024 WNBA Defensive Player of the Year award to Minnesota Lynx star Napheesa Collier. They were considered the two frontrunners to secure this honor for most of the season, but Wilson appeared to have the upper hand against her USA Basketball teammate.

Shams Charania reported that Collier won the award and Wilson got MVP honors. Caitlin Clark bagged the Rookie of the Year and DiJonai Carrington secured the Most Improved Player of the Year award.

Fans were disappointed after learning that Wilson didn't win the DPOY award.

"A'ja robbed again," one fan said.

"This is absolutely no criticism to anyone in the WNBA. How is A'ja Wilson not the DPOY? Politics played a part in this decision. A-Dub was the best player on both ends of the court. A'ja you earned it. Let's three-peat!" another fan wrote.

"A’ja Wilson would have been the 1st player in league history to win DPOY three years in a row had she won. Her numbers increased from her previous two DPOY seasons, yet she doesn’t win this year? Make it make sense lol," another fan said.

More fans insisted that Wilson deserved better after her dominant season on defense.

"Y’all playin in A’ja Wilson face," another fan said.

A'ja Wilson posted terrific numbers on defense this season

After taking the DPOY award home in the last two seasons, A'ja Wilson picked up where she left off, dominating both ends of the floor. In addition to the 26.9 points, 11.9 rebounds and 2.3 assists she posted this season, she averaged 1.8 steals and 2.6 blocks per game.

She averaged 1.4 spg in the past two seasons while blocking 1.9 and 2.2 bpg, respectively. Wilson grabbed 7.6 and 7.5 defensive rebounds in the past two seasons, eclipsing that with her 9.8 defensive rebounds this campaign.

Napheesa Collier averaged 20.4 ppg, 9.7 rpg and 3.4 apg on offense while putting 1.9 spg and 1.4 bpg on the less glamorous side of the ball. Of those 9.7 rebounds, 7.5 were defensive. She also improved from last season when she grabbed 6.6 DREB, stole 1.6 balls and blocked 1.2 shots per game. She led the league in defensive win shares with .233 while Wilson posted .141.