Angel Reese's historic 2026 regular season has driven overwhelming trader consensus for WNBA Defensive Player of the Year, with her league-leading 12.1 rebounds per game, 1.8 steals, record-setting 500-plus total rebounds, 32 double-doubles, and elite defensive rating anchoring the Atlanta Dream's strong unit after her midseason trade. Her versatility guarding multiple positions, defensive win shares leadership, and measurable impact—opponents scoring far more with her off the floor—have shifted sentiment decisively from earlier frontrunners like Gabby Williams. While her AP award recognition reinforces this positioning, scenarios such as a sharply divergent players' vote, unforeseen late injuries, or exceptional playoff defensive showings from interior anchors like A'ja Wilson could still influence final tallies in a close race among voters.