Semis Game Recap

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Game Recap: Lynx vs. Mercury (9/28/25)

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Game Recap: Mercury vs. Lynx (9/23/25)

Awards

NEW YORK, Sept. 18, 2025 – Minnesota Lynx forward Alanna Smith and Las Vegas Aces center A’ja Wilson have been named the 2025 Kia WNBA Co-Defensive Players of the Year, the WNBA announced today. This is the first Kia WNBA Defensive Player of the Year Award for Smith, and the third for Wilson (2022, 2023).
Smith and Wilson received 29 votes each from a national panel of 72 sportswriters and broadcasters. Seattle Storm guard Gabby Williams finished in second place with nine votes, Phoenix Mercury forward Alyssa Thomas was third with three votes, and Minnesota Lynx forward Napheesa Collier was fourth with two votes.
This marks the first time in league history that the award has been shared by multiple players.
Smith, in her seventh WNBA season, started all 42 games she appeared in for Minnesota and averaged 26.6 minutes per game. A 2024 WNBA All-Defensive Second Team selection, Smith was instrumental in leading the Lynx to the No. 1 seed in the WNBA Playoffs presented by Google.
Anchoring the league’s top-ranked defense, Smith powered Minnesota to a league-best 97.5 defensive rating. She finished second overall in combined steals and blocks (135), ranked third in both blocks per game (1.9) and total blocks (80), and tied for 10th in total steals (55).
Drafted eighth overall in 2019, Smith has developed into a defensive cornerstone for the Lynx, helping lead the team to the semifinals following a 2-0 series victory against the Golden State Valkyries in the first round.
Wilson, in her eighth season, started all 40 games she appeared in for Las Vegas while averaging 31.2 minutes per game. She helped the Aces secure the No. 2 seed in the WNBA Playoffs following a 16-game win streak to close the regular season. A three-time All-Defensive First Team honoree, Wilson now adds a third Kia WNBA Defensive Player of the Year award to her decorated trophy case.
Wilson led the WNBA in blocks per game (2.3), total rebounds (407), defensive rebounds (316), and combined steals and blocks (156). She also ranked second in total blocks (92) and rebounds per game (10.2). Demonstrating her all-around defensive impact, Wilson ranked third in total steals (64) and fourth in steals per game (1.6).
Already one of the most dominant two-way players in league history, Wilson also delivered on the offensive end in 2025, leading the WNBA in total points (937), points per game (23.4), field goals made (332), and free throws made (248).
Behind the efforts of Smith and Wilson, Minnesota and Las Vegas have earned the top two seeds in the WNBA Playoffs presented by Google.
In honor of being named the 2025 Kia WNBA Co-Defensive Players of the Year, Smith and Wilson will each receive $5,150 and a trophy designed to commemorate the achievement.
Below are the voting results for the 2025 Kia WNBA Defensive Player of the Year Award and a list of past recipients.
2025 KIA WNBA DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE YEAR VOTING RESULTS
<table style="border-collapse: collapse;width: 100%;height: 144px">
<tbody>
<tr style="height: 24px">
<td style="width: 33.3333%;height: 24px">Player</td>
<td style="width: 33.3333%;height: 24px">Team</td>
<td style="width: 33.3333%;height: 24px">Votes</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 24px">
<td style="width: 33.3333%;height: 24px">Alanna Smith</td>
<td style="width: 33.3333%;height: 24px">Minnesota Lynx</td>
<td style="width: 33.3333%;height: 24px">29</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 24px">
<td style="width: 33.3333%;height: 24px">A’ja Wilson</td>
<td style="width: 33.3333%;height: 24px">Las Vegas Aces</td>
<td style="width: 33.3333%;height: 24px">29</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 24px">
<td style="width: 33.3333%;height: 24px">Gabby Williams</td>
<td style="width: 33.3333%;height: 24px">Seattle Storm</td>
<td style="width: 33.3333%;height: 24px">9</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 24px">
<td style="width: 33.3333%;height: 24px">Alyssa Thomas</td>
<td style="width: 33.3333%;height: 24px">Phoenix Mercury</td>
<td style="width: 33.3333%;height: 24px">3</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 24px">
<td style="width: 33.3333%;height: 24px">Napheesa Collier</td>
<td style="width: 33.3333%;height: 24px">Minnesota Lynx</td>
<td style="width: 33.3333%;height: 24px">2</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
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KIA WNBA DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE YEAR AWARD WINNERS
1997 – Teresa Weatherspoon, New York
1998 – Teresa Weatherspoon, New York
1999 – Yolanda Griffith, Sacramento
2000 – Sheryl Swoopes, Houston
2001 – Debbie Black, Miami
2002 – Sheryl Swoopes, Houston
2003 – Sheryl Swoopes, Houston
2004 – Lisa Leslie, Los Angeles
2005 – Tamika Catchings, Indiana
2006 – Tamika Catchings, Indiana
2007 – Lauren Jackson, Seattle
2008 – Lisa Leslie, Los Angeles
2009 – Tamika Catchings, Indiana
2010 – Tamika Catchings, Indiana
2011 – Sylvia Fowles, Chicago
2012 – Tamika Catchings, Indiana
2013 – Sylvia Fowles, Chicago
2014 – Brittney Griner, Phoenix
2015 – Brittney Griner, Phoenix
2016 – Sylvia Fowles, Minnesota
2017 – Alana Beard, Los Angeles
2018 – Alana Beard, Los Angeles
2019 – Natasha Howard, Seattle
2020 – Candace Parker, Los Angeles
2021 – Sylvia Fowles, Minnesota
2022 – A’ja Wilson, Las Vegas
2023 – A’ja Wilson, Las Vegas
2024 – Napheesa Collier, Minnesota
2025 – Alanna Smith, Minnesota (Co-Winner)
2025 – A’ja Wilson, Las Vegas (Co-Winner)
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About Kia America
Headquartered in Irvine, California, Kia America continues to top automotive quality surveys. Kia is recognized as one of the TIME World&#8217;s Most Sustainable Companies of 2024. Kia serves as the &#8220;Official Automotive Partner&#8221; of the WNBA and NBA and offers a range of gasoline, hybrid, plug-in hybrid, and electric vehicles sold through a network of nearly 800 dealers in the U.S., including several cars and SUVs proudly assembled in America*. 
For media information, including photography, visit <a href="http://www.kiamedia.com">www.kiamedia.com</a>. To receive custom email notifications for press releases the moment they are published, subscribe at <a href="https://urldefense.com/v3/__http:/www.kiamedia.com/us/en/newsalert__;!!PMETyfE!LQ_AWgu_xS8m2ZdpIVOeFIM6CjzB7GXan16p-xQBBSMFDqSqBaxovepbT109Px9yCDy8QlykRUjGqeA$">www.kiamedia.com/us/en/newsalert</a> 
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Minnesota Lynx's Alanna Smith and Las Vegas Aces’ A'ja Wilson Named 2025 Kia WNBA Co-Defensive Players of the Year

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Golden State Valkyries vs. Minnesota Lynx - Game Highlights

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AP Recap

MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — Napheesa Collier scored 20 points to lead five players in double figures and the Minnesota Lynx breezed to a 101-72 victory over the Golden State Valkyries on Sunday in Game 1 of the best-of-three first-round WNBA series.
Collier hit 7 of 11 shots with a 3-pointer and all five of her free throws, adding six rebounds.
Natisha Hiedeman made two 3-pointers and scored 18 for the Lynx, while Kayla McBride added 17. Jessica Shepard had 12 points and eight rebounds and Courtney Williams pitched in with 11 points and four steals.
Veronica Burton and Cecilia Zandalasini both scored 14 to lead Golden State. Burton added seven assists and three steals but also had seven of the Valkyries’ 16 turnovers. Janelle Salaün had 13 points and eight rebounds and Temi Fágbénlé scored 12 before fouling out.
Burton hit two 3-pointers for Golden State in an 11-4 run to start the game and the Valkyries led 28-21 after one quarter.
<div class="FreeStar Advertisement" data-module="">
<div id="93avfqg34d8" class="fs-feed-ad" data-freestar-ad="__336x280 __336x280" data-google-query-id="CPiJ8pW22Y8DFSkHTwgdvMIFlw">McBride had two baskets in a 12-3 run to begin the second period and Minnesota moved in front 33-31. McBride had 14 points by halftime and Collier scored 11 for a 47-39 lead.</div>
<div data-freestar-ad="__336x280 __336x280" data-google-query-id="CPiJ8pW22Y8DFSkHTwgdvMIFlw">
Alanna Smith hit a 3-pointer with 8:47 left in the third quarter for a 52-42 advantage and Minnesota led by double digits the rest of the way. DiJonai Carrington sank two 3-pointers and Williams hit one in the final 70 seconds as the Lynx took a 79-58 lead into the final period.
The Valkyries are still looking for their first win over the Lynx in their first year in the league after losing all four regular-season matchups — three by double digits.
Minnesota’s 34-10 record led the league. Golden State will host Game 2 on Wednesday.
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Game Recap: Golden State Valkyries vs. Minnesota Lynx (First Round, Game 1)

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Minnesota Lynx vs. Golden State Valkyries - Game Highlights

Game Preview/Recap

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Game Recap: Valkyries vs. Lynx (9/11/25)

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Game Recap: Lynx vs. Fever (9/9/25)

Latest

Alanna Smith

WNBA CAREER
Two-year WNBA player out of Stanford…owns career averages of 3.6 points and 2.8 rebounds
Has appeared in 37 total games in two season with Phoenix, 19 of which came in 2020
Scored a career-high 14 points twice in 2020 (July 29 at Indiana and August 28 vs. Washington)
Notched career highs in rebounds (eight, August 28 against Washington) and assists (four, August 23 against Washington) in 2020
Missed final 14 games in 2019 after suffering an ankle injury and undergoing surgery
Holds career playoff averages of 2.5 points and 1.0 rebounds in two games
2022 SEASON
<a href="https://fever.wnba.com/news/fever-sign-alanna-smith/">Signed by the Indiana Fever</a> to a training camp contract on February 21, 2022.
2020 SEASON
Appeared in 19 games during her second season with the Mercury…missed final three games of the season with an ankle injury
Averaged career bests in scoring (6.1 ppg), rebounding (3.6 rpg) and assists (1.2 apg) in 2020, while also shooting a career high in field goal percentage (42.2 percent)
Scored a career-high 14 points twice in 2020 (July 29 at Indiana and August 28 vs. Washington)…scored 10+ points five times on the season
Grabbed a career-high eight rebounds on August 28 against Washington…recorded at least rebounds in all 19 games she appeared in
After missing final three games of the regular season, appeared in both of the Mercury’s two playoff games, averaging 2.5 points and 1.0 rebounds in 8.0 minutes per game
2019 SEASON
Appeared in 18 games in her rookie season
Missed Phoenix’s final 14 games after suffering an ankle injury on August 1
Averaged 1.1 points and 1.9 rebounds in 2019
Scored a season-high seven points on three-of-seven shooting at Minnesota on June 6 in 18 minutes off the bench
Grabbed a career-best six rebounds in just 12 minutes of action on June 9 at Indiana
COLLEGE CAREER
Career averages of 11.9 points and 5.9 rebounds in 143 games at Stanford
Finished career at Stanford ranked tenth in scoring (1,703) and second in blocks (225)
Averaged career highs in scoring (19.4) and rebounds (8.6) during her senior season&#8230;shot51.1 percent from the field and 39.7 percent from three-point range
One-of-two players in the country to average 19.0 points, 8.0 rebounds and 2.0 blocks per game during 2018-19 season
Named Second Team All-America by both the AP and espnW and was an All-PAC 12 First Team member in 2019
Named the 2019 PAC-12 Scholar-Athlete of the year
Joined Elena Delle Donne, Maya Moore and Breanna Stewart as the only players in the past
20 years to finish college careers with totals of at least 1,600 points, 150 three-pointers and 200 blocks
Only NCAA women’s basketball player to accumulate 70 three-pointers, 70 blocks and 600 points in a season in last 20 years&#8230;only player on men’s side to do it in that span is Shane Battier for Duke in 2000-01.
INTERNATIONAL
Member of the Australian National Team under Mercury head coach Sandy Brondello
Named to the 2020 Australian National Team that will compete in the summer Olympics in Tokyo
Played in 12 games for the Shinhan S-Birds in South Korea during 2019-2020 WNBA offseason before&#8230;averaged 11.8 points, 6.8 rebounds and 1.8 blocks&#8230;notched three double-doubles in the 12 games including a 28-point, 11-rebound outing in her first game with the team on December 12
Won silver with the 2018 FIBA World Cup Australian team
PERSONAL
Born in Tasmania, Australia to Simone and Darren Smith
Father played professionally in the NBL for 12 years
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