Aces C A'ja Wilson repeats as Defensive Player of Year

Las Vegas Aces center A'ja Wilson is the WNBA Defensive Player of the Year for the second straight season.

Wilson received 32 of the 60 votes from a nationwide panel of sportswriters and broadcasters. Connecticut Sun forward Alyssa Thomas finished second (24 votes) and Washington Mystics guard Brittney Sykes was third (three votes).

Wilson, 27, led the league and set career highs in both total blocks (89) and blocked shots per game (2.2). She ranked third in defensive rebounds per game (7.5) and 10th in steals per game (1.40).

The two-time WNBA MVP helped the defending champion Aces (34-6) set a single-season record for wins. Top-seeded Las Vegas since has advanced to the WNBA semifinals against the Dallas Wings, starting Sunday.

The 6-foot-4 Wilson also ranked second in the league in rebounding (9.5) and third in scoring (22.8).

Wilson also headlined the WNBA All-Defensive first team, joining Thomas, Sykes, New York Liberty forward Breanna Stewart and Los Angeles Sparks guard Jordin Canada.

The All-Defensive second team featured Liberty guard-forward Betnijah Laney, Seattle Storm center Ezi Magbegor, Sparks forward Nneka Ogwumike, Minnesota Lynx forward Napheesa Collier and Chicago Sky center-forward Elizabeth Williams.