Angel Reese of the Atlanta Dream just won Defensive Player of the Year, beating out Gabby Williams and A'ja Wilson. In doing so, she is giving the WNBA a picture of its future.
The WNBA is currently ruled by its bigs. A'ja Wilson and the Las Vegas Aces are the defending champions. Breanna Stewart and the New York Liberty just upset the No. 1 seed Minnesota Lynx (themselves built around Napheesa Collier) and look as dangerous as ever. The W continues to run through them until further notice.
2018 marked the passing of the baton to this current generation. The MVP award has been dominated by a few select players for nearly a decade: Stewart won twice, Wilson has four and will earn her fifth any day now. Center Jonquel Jones popped in to win in 2021. That trio is now in their early 30s.
Defensive Player of the Year has been similarly overseen by that same generation. Wilson has three awards to her name. Napheesa Collier broke through in 2024 (she barely beat out Wilson) but, somewhat surprisingly, is the same age as Wilson. A youth movement that was not.
The youth movement has arrived
It has now finally arrived, at least in part. Wilson may still control the league, but the new wave is coming up behind her. And while it is true that much of that wave is filled with guards -- Caitlin Clark, Paige Bueckers, Olivia Miles and JuJu Watkins likely will run the league soon -- the bigs are around as well.
Angel Reese winning Defensive Player of the Year sets the stage for the next wave. Reese is just 24 years old, in her third season in the league. She is the second-youngest player to ever win the award. Her entire career is ahead of her, and she is already redefining what defense looks like. From her rim protection to her ability to defend in space, Reese is special - and with room to grow.
The rest of the ballot brings similar confidence in what is coming. 26-year-old Rhyne Howard received a vote. Shakira Austin received multiple votes, finishing second in Most Improved Player voting as well. She and Reese just went to war in the playoffs and will likely see themselves there in the future.
This year's World Cup roster for Team USA bolsters the point as well. For anyone wondering what the future of the WNBA looks like, watch the highlights from Germany. While Breanna Stewart was the team's best player, the roster was full of the next generation: Reese, Aliyah Boston (24 as well), Kiki Iriafen (23) filled out the frontcourt around Stewart and Collier. Clark, Bueckers, Howard and Citron backed up veterans like Chelsea Gray, Jackie Young and Kahleah Copper.
Now that feeling of a new generation has begun to snatch up major awards. Reese has the W's second most prestigious award, the Defensive Player of the Year. The AP announced its All-WNBA teams and placed both Caitlin Clark and rookie Olivia Miles on the first team, with Reese, Howard and Bueckers on the second team. The future has arrived.
That is fantastic news for the WNBA. The success of the league has been built on the backs of the current stars, but their future will be secured by continual waves of young talent. The NBA has not yet figured out how to hand the baton from Stephen Curry, Kevin Durant and LeBron James. They keep hoping to find the next group.
The WNBA has to feel great about its future, from the dazzling fireworks of the young guards to the defensive brilliance of its young bigs. From Angel Reese to Bueckers to Clark to Boston to the entire Mystics roster: the league is in good hands.
Reese and company may have to wait in line to start winning titles until Wilson is done sitting on the throne. Stewart will have something to say before she is done. The generation of Collier and Gabby Williams is still firmly in their prime.
The trophy case, however, is now open for business. Angel Reese has declared it: the future is now.
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