WNBA Defensive Player of the Year (DPOY) Rankings 2024: Top 5 candidates ft. Alanna Smith (Week 8)

The WNBA Defensive Player of the Year race is getting hotter by the day, with at least six players making strong cases to challenge for the award. Some players have established themselves as legit offensive threats, while others have had notable seasons on the defensive end of the court.

This time, we're going to take a look at the five players with the best chances to win the 2024 DPOY award. Elizabeth Williams can still make it back to this list, but this week, she's lost her spot.

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Top 5 WNBA DPOY candidates in 2024 after Week 8

#5, Alanna Smith, Minnesota Lynx

Chicago Sky v Las Vegas Aces

Alanna Smith is one of the best two-way players in the WNBA right now, helping the Minnesota Lynx rank third in the WNBA with a 15-6 record. The forward is averaging 2.0 blocks per game (fourth in the WNBA) and 1.3 steals, boasting a 91.4 defensive rating and a defensive win share of .191.

#4, Breanna Stewart, New York Liberty

New York Liberty v Phoenix Mercury

Breanna Stewart keeps on demonstrating why she's one of the best players in the WNBA, being a threat on both offense and defense. The New York Liberty superstar has established herself as a terrific defender, posting 2.2 spg and 1.4 bpg with a 95.7 DEF RTG and a .177 DWS.

#3, Ezi Magbegor, Seattle Storm

Chicago Sky v Seattle Storm

Ezi Magbegor has taken her game to a different level this season. The Seattle Storm forward/center is averaging 2.6 blocks per game, ranking second in the league. As for steals, she averages 1.6 per game, boasting a 91.0 DEF RTF and a .221 DWS.

#2, Napheesa Collier, Minnesota Lynx

Minnesota Lynx v Phoenix Mercury

Napheesa Collier, alongside Alanna Smith, has led the Minnesota Lynx to a terrific 2024 WNBA season so far. The forward currently ranks third with 2.2 spg, while boasting 1.5 bpg. She currently has a 90.7 DEF RTG and a .248 DEF WS.

#1, A'ja Wilson, Las Vegas Aces

Indiana Fever v Las Vegas Aces

A'ja Wilson, just like Napheesa Collier, is in the top 10 in the steals and blocks categories. The Las Vegas Aces superstar averages 2.7 bpg, good for first in the league, and averages 1.8 spg, seventh in the WNBA. She gets the edge over Collier thanks to these numbers. Wilson also boasts a 100.6 DEF RTG and a .109 DWS.