HENDERSON, Nev. (AP) — Las Vegas Aces star A’ja Wilson was voted WNBA Defensive Player of the Year on Thursday for the third time in four seasons, sharing the award this time with Alanna Smith of the Minnesota Lynx.

Each player received 29 votes from the 72 media members who participated. It’s the first time the award, first given out in the WNBA’s inaugural season in 1997, went to more than one player.

Wilson, who also won the award in 2022 and 2023, tied Sheryl Swoopes for the third-highest number of times capturing top defensive player. Tamika Catchings owns the record with five and Sylvia Fowles is next with four.

Wilson led the league with 2.3 blocks per game, was third with 7.9 defensive rebounds per game and finished fourth with an average of 1.6 steals.

The Lynx led the WNBA wi

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