MINNEAPOLIS/ST. PAUL – The WNBA today announced that Minnesota Lynx forward Alanna Smith has been named the 2025 Kia WNBA Co-Defensive Player of the Year. Smith shares the honor with A’ja Wilson of the Las Vegas Aces, as both players received 29 votes from a national panel of 72 sportswriters and broadcasters. This marks the first time in WNBA history that two players have received the same number of votes for a key individual award. 

This is Smith’s first Defensive Player of the Year honor, and she becomes the third Lynx to receive the award, joining Napheesa Collier (2024) and Sylvia Fowles (2016, 2021). The Lynx become the first team in WNBA history to have two different players from the same team with Defensive Player of the Year in consecutive seasons. 

Smith wrapped up her second season in Minnesota by appearing in 42 games (all starts), averaging 9.6 points on 48.5% shooting from the floor, 5.1 rebounds, 2.9 assists, 1.9 blocks and 1.3 steals in 26.3 minutes per game. She finished third in the WNBA in blocks per game (1.9) and total blocks (80), posting career-highs in both categories. Smith’s 80 blocks established a new single-season franchise record for the Lynx and made her just the eighth player in WNBA history to record 80 or more blocks in a single season.

The 6-4 forward recorded at least three blocks in 11 games and registered at least one block in 38 of her 42 appearances this season. Smith posted a career-high 26 points and six blocks on June 24 against Washington, becoming the 12th player in WNBA history to record at least 25 points and six blocks in a game.  

The Hobart, Australia native helped lead the Lynx to first in the WNBA in defensive rating (97.5), while allowing the second-fewest opponent fast-break points (8.7) and third-fewest opponent points in the paint (34.2). Minnesota also held opponents to 42.3% shooting from the field and 76.7 points per game, the second-lowest in the WNBA this season. 

Originally selected by the Phoenix Mercury with the eighth overall pick of the 2019 WNBA Draft, Smith was named to the WNBA All-Defensive Second Team in 2024. In her two seasons with the Lynx, she holds averages of 9.9 points on 47.8% shooting from the floor, 5.3 rebounds, 3.0 assists, 1.7 blocks and 1.3 steals per game.