Williams Named to WNBA All-Defensive First Team; Burton & Stokes Named To WNBA All-Defensive Second Team

Kalyb Champion

This Is Williams’ Second-Straight WNBA All-Defensive First Team Selection

Golden State Valkyries forward Gabby Williams has been named to the 2026 WNBA All-Defensive First Team, and guard Veronica Burton and center Kiah Stokes have both been named to the WNBA All-Defensive Second Team, the league announced Thursday. The WNBA All-Defensive teams were voted on by a national panel of sportswriters and broadcasters.

Williams ranked second in the WNBA in defensive NET points at 25, t-fourth in steals per game with 1.6, seventh in steal percentage at 31.8 (min. 15 GP), and 10^th in defensive win share at .162 (min. 15 GP). Williams, who finished second in Defensive Player of the Year voting this season, put together seven games of 10+ points and 3+ steals this season, which was tied for the 10^th-most games in the WNBA. This is Williams’ second-straight WNBA All-Defensive First Team selection, and third All-Defensive recognition of her career after earning Second Team honors in 2022.

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Highlights: Gabby Williams Named to All-Defensive First Team

Burton led the league in defensive win share (.212) and defensive NET points (29), while ranking t-fourth in steals (1.6), and sixth in defensive rating (95.7 – min. 15 GP). Burton was one of three guards in the W this past season to average over 1.5 steals per game and .5 blocks per game (also Atlanta’s Rhyne Howard and Dallas’ Azzi Fudd). This is Burton’s second-straight WNBA All-Defensive Team honor after being named to the Second Team in 2025.

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Highlights: Veronica Burton Named to All-Defensive Second Team

Stokes ranked fourth in the WNBA in blocks per game with 1.7, her most BPG since 2015, and led all centers in defensive rating at 94.5. Stokes posted 11 games with three-or-more blocks this season, tied for the most in the league, and her three games of five-or-more blocks were the second most in the W. This is Stokes’ second WNBA All-Defensive Second Team award, and first since her rookie year in 2015.

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Highlights: Kiah Stokes Named to All-Defensive Second Team

The Valkyries earned the best defense in the WNBA this past season, leading the league in opponent points per game (75.1), opponent field goal percentage (41.4), opponent points in the paint (31.1) opponent three-point field goal percentage (32.6), opponent assists per game (18.2), and defensive rating (99.1).

The Valkyries tip off the WNBA Finals against Atlanta this Saturday, October 17 at 12:30 pm PT at Chase Center and airing on NBC, Peacock, 95.7 The Game, ESPN 1320 and the Audacy App.