WNBA Defensive Player of the Year (DPOY) Rankings 2024: Top 5 candidates ft. Breanna Stewart (Week 13)

The 2024 WNBA season will end on Sept. 19, and once that happens, individual player achvievement awards will be announced. The MVP race has gotten more interesting since the league resumed play after taking a break for the 2024 Paris Olympics. Other awards like Most Improved Player of the Year could get a photo finish.

That said, it is time to check the top-five candidates to win the 2024 WNBA Defensive Player of the Year award (DPOY).

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Top 5 WNBA DPOY candidates in 2024 after Week 13

#5, Alanna Smith, Minnesota Lynx

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Alanna Smith continues to perform at a high level this season, helping the Minnesota Lynx become a top-three team. The forward had a solid Week 13, posting a 91.0 defensive rating with 1.3 steals and 1.0 blocks per game. She had a diminished role, playing 16.3 minutes, but was still effective for her squad.

#4, Ezi Magbegor, Seattle Storm

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Ezi Magbegor struggled to find consistency last week, barely recording 0.3 steals, and 0.7 blocks in 29.2 minutes per game with the Seattle Storm. She still averages a solid 5.9 DREB, 1.2 steals and 2.2 blocks for the season. The forward/center has had a solid season, but it remains to be seen if she can challenge the top candidates in the next two weeks.

#3, Breanna Stewart, New York Liberty

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Breanna Stewart only recorded 1.0 steal per game this week, but still posted a 111.3 DEF RTG in two games with the New York Liberty. This doesn't change the fact that the she is having a terrific season on the defensive end, grabbing 8.7 DEF REB, 1.8 steals and 1.3 blocks. The Liberty remain the best team in the league and Stewie keeps playing at a high level.

#2, Napheesa Collier, Minnesota Lynx

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Napheesa Collier remains a strong candidate to take down A'ja Wilson as the favorite to bag this award. The Minnesota Lynx star posted a 99.5 DEF RTG, 1.7 blocks and 0.7 steals this week to stay right behind Wilson on this list. The five-year veteran averages 7.4 DREB, 1.9 steals and 1.3 blocks in 28 games with the Lynx.

#1, A'ja Wilson, Las Vegas Aces

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There's not much left to say about A'ja Wilson and the historic WNBA season she's putting on in 2024. The Aces megastar has been on a tear on both ends of the ball in recent days and Week 13 was nothing different. The 28-year-old center posted a 103.3 DEF RTG, grabbed 10.3 DREB and recorded 1.0 steals and 3.0 blocks.

For the season, she's averaging 9.7 DREB, 1.9 steals and 2.7 blocks. She's a strong candidate to win the both MVP and DPOY awards this season.