The Golden State Valkyries are a defensive marvel. The team is allowing 76.7 points per game this season, by far the best mark in the league. No other team is allowing under 80 points per game, with Washington's defense sitting second at 82.3 allowed per contest.
It makes sense, then, that the Defensive Player of the Year favorite is someone who plays for the Valkyries, just as it makes sense that the team's bench depth allows for the team to dominate the Sixth Player of the Year race. Even if she doesn't necessarily have the counting stats of other contenders, her performance as the linchpin in this elite defense makes her the deserving winner of the award.
Why Gabby Williams is the DPOY favorite over A'ja Wilson
A'ja Wilson looks set to cruise to her fifth MVP award this season, but her quest for a fourth Defensive Player of the Year award won't be quite so easy, because Gabby Williams has put herself in a good spot to take home the trophy.
This is nothing against Wilson, the game's best player overall and a devastatingly good defender. She leads the WNBA in blocks per game and sits 16th in steals per games at the moment, plus is second in defensive rebounds per game. There's no holes in Wilson's play on that end of the floor.
It's just that with everything the Valkyries have done this season, Williams deserves the award to cement what's been an incredible season by this defense.
And while I talk about team defense being part of this, it's not like Williams doesn't have the statistical accolades for the award. She's seventh in the league in steals per game and while she doesn't provide rim protection like Wilson, she does provide stellar defense while also avoiding fouls. Williams averages 2.1 fouls per 40 minutes, the league's best mark, while also ranking second in steals per 40 minutes. Her ability to end possessions via forcing turnovers without sending the player she's guarding to the free throw line is an underrated skill.
Williams also ranks fourth in defensive win shares per 40 minutes and fourth in individual player defensive rating. And yeah, maybe Wilson has a better individual case, but the help defense Williams provides often doesn't show up on the stat sheet. She's out there every night being the best defender on a team that is miles better than any other team in the league on that end. It's one of those things that can't neccessarily be quantified, but that I think very much needs to be factored into award consideration.
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