{"id":195718,"date":"2025-09-03T02:54:14","date_gmt":"2025-09-03T02:54:14","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/195718\/"},"modified":"2025-09-03T02:54:14","modified_gmt":"2025-09-03T02:54:14","slug":"seattle-storm-make-case-for-gabby-williams-to-be-dpoy","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/195718\/","title":{"rendered":"Seattle Storm make case for Gabby Williams to be DPOY"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>\u201cI think her defense is something that I\u2019m still in awe of every single game,\u201d center and four-year teammate of Williams\u2019, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.basketball-reference.com\/wnba\/players\/m\/magbeez01w.html?utm_medium=linker&amp;utm_source=www.thenexthoops.com&amp;utm_campaign=2025-09-02_bbr\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">Ezi Magbegor<\/a> said after defeating the Chicago Sky in Seattle. \u201cWhether it\u2019s a key match-up or getting blocks, deflections, rebounds, she\u2019s there. It\u2019s just how she is, and we know that she\u2019s such a huge anchor for us defensively in the guard department, but just for the team as well. So definitely a front runner for the Defensive Player of the Year for me and for us.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>The most eye-catching aspect of Williams\u2019 defense, and a main reason she is in the race for DPOY, is her steals. Williams leads the league with 96 total steals this season \u2014 a franchise record and third most in a single season in WNBA history. To Williams\u2019 teammates, the steals total is one representation of what makes her an excellent defender.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cI don\u2019t know who the candidates are, but looking at the way in which she impacts the game defensively, especially with the steals, being top in the league with that, she\u2019s defending other teams\u2019 most potent guard defenders,\u201d head coach <a href=\"https:\/\/www.basketball-reference.com\/wnba\/players\/q\/quinnno01w.html?utm_medium=linker&amp;utm_source=www.thenexthoops.com&amp;utm_campaign=2025-09-02_bbr\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">Noelle Quinn<\/a> told The Next. \u201cThe versatility defensively, guarding on ball, off ball, size, skill set. Just her knack for the deflections, her knack for just utilizing her athleticism to make plays, I think, is very unique.\u201d<\/p>\n<p class=\"has-fl-body-bg-background-color has-background has-small-font-size\"><strong>Want even more women\u2019s sports in your inbox?<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>Subscribe now to <a href=\"http:\/\/theixsports.com\/subscribe\/\" data-type=\"URL\" data-id=\"https:\/\/www.theixsports.com\/subscribe\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">The IX Sports<\/a> and receive our daily women\u2019s sports newsletter covering soccer, tennis, basketball, golf, hockey and gymnastics from our incredible team of writers. That includes Basketball Wednesday from founder and editor Howard Megdal.<\/p>\n<p>Readers of The IX Basketball now save 50% on their subscription to The IX.<\/p>\n<p>Former WNBA MVP <a rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.basketball-reference.com\/wnba\/players\/o\/ogwumnn01w.html?utm_medium=linker&amp;utm_source=www.thenexthoops.com&amp;utm_campaign=2025-09-02_bbr\">Nneka Ogwumike<\/a> and guard <a rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.basketball-reference.com\/wnba\/players\/w\/wheeler01w.html?utm_medium=linker&amp;utm_source=www.thenexthoops.com&amp;utm_campaign=2025-09-02_bbr\">Erica Wheeler<\/a> pointed to Williams\u2019 unique \u201cknack for the ball\u201d as what makes her special and allows her to record so many steals.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cI think that she has an instinct that a lot of people don\u2019t have. She has a knack for the ball on the defensive end,\u201d Ogwumike said. \u201cThere\u2019s a lot of people that have a knack for the ball on the offensive end, but she can kind of find the ball and know where it\u2019s going.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cShe\u2019s always in the right place to get steals,\u201d Wheeler told The Next. \u201cTypically, when you have a bigger frame you just use muscles but she\u2019s fast and has a bigger frame. So, for me, it\u2019s her being in the right place at the right time to be able to get those steals.\u201d<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.basketball-reference.com\/wnba\/players\/s\/sykesbr01w.html?utm_medium=linker&amp;utm_source=www.thenexthoops.com&amp;utm_campaign=2025-09-02_bbr\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">Brittney Sykes<\/a>, who<a href=\"https:\/\/www.thenexthoops.com\/features\/how-brittney-sykes-bolsters-seattles-championship-chances\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"> joined the Storm via trade one month ago<\/a>, was all too familiar with Williams\u2019 defensive prowess and \u201cknack for the ball\u201d, having played against her for a decade, but says she has been even more impressed since playing alongside Williams.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cI played against Gabby more than I played with her, so that was one of the guards, when I see them in front of me, I\u2019m like, \u2018I can\u2019t fuck around,\u2019\u201d Sykes told The Next. \u201cEven as her teammate, she gets some steals and I\u2019m like, \u2018how do you even premeditate that type of movement?\u2019 But it\u2019s just one of those things where it\u2019s a given talent. It\u2019s a God given talent that she has and I\u2019m happy to watch her. \u2026\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cEven as an opponent, I was like, \u2018damn, how\u2019d she see that?\u201d Or, the way she runs through passes, like, you really got to have some good timing and good, like, premeditated assumption that you\u2019re going to go get this ball. She cleans it every time. Like I warn every guard, do not not do your work early if you have Gabby in your lane. So many pick sixes I\u2019ve seen throughout her career so I\u2019m just like, \u2018bro, can we not be on the highlight.\u2019\u201d<\/p>\n<\/p>\n<p>Calling her \u201cGrabby\u201d for all the steals she racks up, point guard <a rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.basketball-reference.com\/wnba\/players\/d\/diggisk01w.html?utm_medium=linker&amp;utm_source=www.thenexthoops.com&amp;utm_campaign=2025-09-02_bbr\">Skylar Diggins<\/a> highlighted Williams\u2019 defensive versatility as a separating factor.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cI think her ability to defend multiple positions,\u201d Diggins said. \u201cI mean, she played the five in college. She got recruited as a point guard. I think just her versatility, her athleticism, gives her the ability to guard a lot of people that\u2019s solid and that affords us some opportunities that we could switch. She always gets the toughest offensive player, and we really rely on her on that side of the basketball. So, all year, just her ability to create deflections, her ability to block shots, to get steals and help us convert on the offensive end, we rely on her heavily for that.\u201d<\/p>\n<p class=\"has-fl-body-bg-background-color has-background has-small-font-size\"><strong>Your business can reach over 3 million women\u2019s sports fans every single month!<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>Here at <a href=\"http:\/\/thenexthoops.com\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">The IX Basketball<\/a> and <a href=\"http:\/\/theixsports.com\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">The IX Sports<\/a>, our audience is a collection of the smartest, most passionate women\u2019s sports fans in the world. If your business has a mission to serve these fans, reach out to our team at <a href=\"https:\/\/www.thenexthoops.com\/wnba\/seattle-storm\/seattle-storm-make-case-for-gabby-williams-wnba-defensive-player-of-the-year-2025\/mailto:BAlarie@theixsports.com\" data-type=\"mailto\" data-id=\"https:\/\/www.thenexthoops.com\/wnba\/seattle-storm\/seattle-storm-make-case-for-gabby-williams-wnba-defensive-player-of-the-year-2025\/mailto:BAlarie@theixsports.com\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">BAlarie@theixsports.com<\/a> to discuss ways to work together.<\/p>\n<p>Single-season steals record in her sights<\/p>\n<p>It is not just the fact that Williams leads the league in steals that is impressive, it\u2019s how she is getting those steals and how much she has separated herself from the rest of the league.<\/p>\n<p>As her teammates pointed out, Williams showcases many different aspects of her defensive prowess in how she gets her steals. She utilizes her athleticism and quick hands in combination with intelligent anticipation and awareness. Even the steals that may seem like just quick reactions rely on a kind of \u2018sixth sense\u2019 for the ball on defense.<\/p>\n<\/p>\n<p>With 96 steals, the former UConn Husky has a 33-steal advantage over the next closest player, the largest gap between first and second place in total steals for a season in WNBA history. Only twice has a player had an advantage of even 20 steals over second place and that was <a href=\"https:\/\/www.basketball-reference.com\/wnba\/players\/c\/catchta01w.html?utm_medium=linker&amp;utm_source=www.thenexthoops.com&amp;utm_campaign=2025-09-02_bbr\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">Tamika Catchings<\/a> in 2005 and 2006 (23-steal gap). Catchings was named DPOY in both of those seasons.<\/p>\n<p>Williams also leads the league with a WNBA single-season record of 38 games with at least one steal. She has 28 multi-steal games, tied for second most in WNBA single-season history. Williams also has 16 games with at least three steals and eight games with four or more steals.<\/p>\n<p>With two games left to play, Williams has a very good chance of breaking <a rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.basketball-reference.com\/wnba\/players\/w\/weathte01w.html?utm_medium=linker&amp;utm_source=www.thenexthoops.com&amp;utm_campaign=2025-09-02_bbr\">Teresa Weatherspoon<\/a>\u2019s record of 100 total steals set in 1998. Catchings holds the second-place record for 99 steals in 2009.<\/p>\n<p>Williams and her teammates are aware of the record, but her teammates may be more invested in her breaking it (Sykes told Williams between our conversations that she needs her to break the record so she can \u201ctalk shit\u201d to Weatherspoon.)<\/p>\n<p>Meanwhile, Williams says she doesn\u2019t know the exact numbers and isn\u2019t focused on it. \u201cSteals are something that, sometimes you can have five, sometimes you can have zero,\u201d Williams said. \u201cSo most important is just getting the wins right now.\u201d<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.amazon.com\/s?k=becoming+caitlin+clark&amp;i=stripbooks&amp;crid=3IV6QD76CV5IH&amp;sprefix=becoming+caitlin+clark%2Cstripbooks%2C175&amp;ref=nb_sb_noss_1\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\" noreferrer noopener\"><img loading=\"lazy\" data-recalc-dims=\"1\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"328\" height=\"250\" src=\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/Untitled-design-13.png\" alt=\"Photo of the cover of &quot;Becoming Caitlin Clark,&quot; a new book written by Howard Megdal.\" class=\"wp-image-46452 size-full\"  \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p><strong>\u201cBecoming Caitlin Clark\u201d<\/strong> <strong>is out now!<\/strong><\/p>\n<p class=\"has-small-font-size\">Howard Megdal\u2019s newest book is here! \u201cBecoming Caitlin Clark: The Unknown Origin Story of a Modern Basketball Superstar\u201d captures both the historic nature of Clark\u2019s rise and the critical context over the previous century that helped make it possible, including interviews with Clark, Lisa Bluder (who also wrote the foreword), C. Vivian Stringer, Jan Jensen, Molly Kazmer and many others.<\/p>\n<p>Underrated defensive contributions<\/p>\n<p>Beyond the flashy statistics, Storm players and coaches also identified several underrated aspects of Williams\u2019 defense.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cThe deflections, the anticipation, the rotations, the contesting, flying around sometimes,\u201d Quinn said. \u201cIf we\u2019re kind of disrupting with traps and all that she\u2019s able to cover so much ground and kind of keep us in possessions. The back tap sometimes, those deflections matter for us as well. So, I think just the hand activity and her athleticism to move around.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/p>\n<p>Ogwumike praised Williams\u2019 help-side defense specifically as an unsung part of her defensive contribution.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cThere\u2019s a lot of different intangibles that come with, I guess, the tangible things that you see on the stat sheet, but she has a way of kind of closing out messy defensive possessions with some great help side anticipation,\u201d Ogwumike said.<\/p>\n<p>Though Diggins pointed it out as a key feature of her defensive ability, Sykes thinks Williams\u2019 ability to guard positions one through four is underrated.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cJust having her size on the perimeter but also being able to going into the post and have her switch and veer \u2026 you can\u2019t do that with most guards,\u201d Sykes said. \u201cYou can\u2019t sit there and go, \u2018hey, we\u2019re going to switch with the guard, and we\u2019re going to let you guard the post.\u2019 [She]\u2019s the only one.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Wheeler says she believes the most underrated aspect of Williams\u2019 defense is her blocks. Williams has a career-high 21 blocks in 42 games played.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cShe\u2019s meeting 6\u20195 players at the rim and blocking they ball,\u201d Wheeler said, likely referencing Williams\u2019 block of <a rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.basketball-reference.com\/wnba\/players\/s\/smithal01w.html?utm_medium=linker&amp;utm_source=www.thenexthoops.com&amp;utm_campaign=2025-09-02_bbr\">Alanna Smith<\/a> in Minnesota days earlier. \u201cPeople don\u2019t even know, Gabby can\u2019t even bend her damn knee and she\u2019s still getting up there blocking shots.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/p>\n<p>Are guard defenders underrepresented?<\/p>\n<p>The last six\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.wnba.com\/history-defensive-player-of-the-year\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">winners of the DPOY award<\/a>\u00a0have been front court players \u2014 <a href=\"https:\/\/www.basketball-reference.com\/wnba\/players\/c\/collina01w.html?utm_medium=linker&amp;utm_source=www.thenexthoops.com&amp;utm_campaign=2025-09-02_bbr\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">Napheesa Collier<\/a> (2024), A\u2019ja Wilson (2023 and 2022), <a href=\"https:\/\/www.basketball-reference.com\/wnba\/players\/f\/fowlesy01w.html?utm_medium=linker&amp;utm_source=www.thenexthoops.com&amp;utm_campaign=2025-09-02_bbr\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">Sylvia Fowles<\/a> (2021), <a href=\"https:\/\/www.basketball-reference.com\/wnba\/players\/p\/parkeca01w.html?utm_medium=linker&amp;utm_source=www.thenexthoops.com&amp;utm_campaign=2025-09-02_bbr\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">Candace Parker<\/a> (2020), and <a href=\"https:\/\/www.basketball-reference.com\/wnba\/players\/h\/howarna01w.html?utm_medium=linker&amp;utm_source=www.thenexthoops.com&amp;utm_campaign=2025-09-02_bbr\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">Natasha Howard<\/a> (2019). The last guard to win was <a href=\"https:\/\/www.basketball-reference.com\/wnba\/players\/b\/beardal01w.html?utm_medium=linker&amp;utm_source=www.thenexthoops.com&amp;utm_campaign=2025-09-02_bbr\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">Alana Beard<\/a> with the Los Angeles Sparks in 2018 and 2017. The WNBA has had a lot of talented interior defenders, but the award distribution also represents how difficult it is to be recognized as a good guard defender.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cI think it is [harder to be recognized as a guard] because a lot of the other things that come into play defensively is rebounding and a lot of time guards aren\u2019t going to lead in that area,\u201d Quinn told The Next. \u201cAnd then blocks, what was the last guard to lead the league in blocks? \u2026 A lot of it is also where our defense sits. I don\u2019t know where we are as of late, but we\u2019ve been top three within the last few weeks, so it\u2019s difficult to sometimes quantify or qualify how guards impact through numbers if you\u2019re only looking at steals.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Naturally, post players are going to pull in more rebounds. Not a single guard is among the top 20 players in\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/stats.wnba.com\/leaders\/?Season=2025&amp;SeasonType=Regular%20Season&amp;StatCategory=REB\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">rebounds per game<\/a>\u00a0in 2025. No guard is in the top 15 in\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/stats.wnba.com\/leaders\/?Season=2025&amp;SeasonType=Regular%20Season&amp;StatCategory=DREB\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">defensive rebounds per game<\/a>\u00a0in 2025. That being said, Williams does\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/stats.wnba.com\/player\/1628931\/traditional\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">average<\/a>\u00a04.4 rebounds per game (37th in the WNBA), 3.8 of those being defensive (27th\u00a0in the W, 5th\u00a0among guards).<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" data-recalc-dims=\"1\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"1024\" src=\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/20250709_DSC8218_chrisposs-Edit-1024x1024.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-50335\"  \/>Connecticut Sun center Tina Charles grabs a rebound in front of Seattle Storm guard\/forward Gabby Williams during the WNBA game between the Seattle Storm and the Connecticut Sun at Mohegan Sun Arena in Uncasville, Conn. on July 9, 2025. (Photo Credit: Chris Poss | The Next)<\/p>\n<p>As a guard who has been top 15 in block in the league multiple years but never been named to an All-Defensive team, Diggins knows too well how difficult it is to be recognized for your defense as a guard in the WNBA.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cThey look at big girls for doing big girl things. You big, you\u2019re supposed to get rebounds, you big, you supposed to block shots,\u201d Diggins said. \u201cI don\u2019t know if they just expect that out of guards, but I think yes, the demands of a two-way player are very [high] in this league. If you look at the guards around the league, for her to get the toughest match-up every night, it says a lot about her, her tenacity, just her athleticism and defense.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Sykes, a brilliant defender in her own right who has been named to the WNBA All-Defensive First Team (2021) and Second Team (2020 and 2022), thinks that voters need to look at different criteria to properly determine the best defender in the league.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cI\u2019m always going to say it \u2014 if you are above 6\u20192, you should get rebounds. That doesn\u2019t make you a DPOY player,\u201d Sykes told IX. \u201cAnd I do think that DPOY, we should look at analytics rather than stats. We should look at if a person is stopping a person from their average, how the team does, how the team net, all that science shit. I think we should put that into DPOY talk, because it can\u2019t just be because I\u2019m tall and I get rebounds and I protect the paint and I block a couple shots, and I get a couple post steals. No shade, but all shade, come and see me.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Looking at some of those more advanced analytics, Williams stands out. Williams is\u00a0first in the league with 6.9 defensive win shares this season,\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/stats.wnba.com\/players\/defense\/?sort=DEF_WS&amp;dir=-1&amp;Season=2025&amp;SeasonType=Regular%20Season&amp;PerMode=Totals\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">per WNBA.com<\/a>, and ranks first in\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.espnanalytics.com\/wnba-net-ptsWAR\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">ESPN\u2019s defensive wins above replacement metric<\/a>\u00a0with 2.5 dWAR. She also leads the WNBA with 122 deflected passes this season according to Genius Sports \u2014 the next highest is <a rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.basketball-reference.com\/wnba\/players\/h\/hambyde01w.html?utm_medium=linker&amp;utm_source=www.thenexthoops.com&amp;utm_campaign=2025-09-02_bbr\">Dearica Hamby<\/a> with 96.<\/p>\n<p>Williams has also held the league\u2019s top five guard scorers (by points per game) \u2014 <a href=\"https:\/\/www.basketball-reference.com\/wnba\/players\/m\/mitchke01w.html?utm_medium=linker&amp;utm_source=www.thenexthoops.com&amp;utm_campaign=2025-09-02_bbr\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">Kelsey Mitchell<\/a>, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.basketball-reference.com\/wnba\/players\/p\/plumke01w.html?utm_medium=linker&amp;utm_source=www.thenexthoops.com&amp;utm_campaign=2025-09-02_bbr\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">Kelsey Plum<\/a>, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.basketball-reference.com\/wnba\/players\/b\/bueckpa01w.html?utm_medium=linker&amp;utm_source=www.thenexthoops.com&amp;utm_campaign=2025-09-02_bbr\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">Paige Bueckers<\/a>, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.basketball-reference.com\/wnba\/players\/i\/ionessa01w.html?utm_medium=linker&amp;utm_source=www.thenexthoops.com&amp;utm_campaign=2025-09-02_bbr\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">Sabrina Ionescu<\/a> and <a href=\"https:\/\/www.basketball-reference.com\/wnba\/players\/g\/grayal01w.html?utm_medium=linker&amp;utm_source=www.thenexthoops.com&amp;utm_campaign=2025-09-02_bbr\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">Allisha Gray<\/a> \u2014 to a combined 25.9% (14-for-54) FG% in half-court match-ups. That is the lowest FG% allowed by any defender in the WNBA this season (minimum 200 match-ups) per Genius Sports tracking data provided by the Seattle Storm.<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" data-recalc-dims=\"1\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"781\" src=\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/USATSI_26688163_168388602_lowres.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-50340\"  \/>Dallas Wings guard Paige Bueckers dribbles the ball against Seattle Storm guard\/forward Gabby Williams at Climate Pledge Arena in Seattle on July 22, 2025. (Photo Credit: Stephen Brashear-Imagn Images)<\/p>\n<p>Limiting those averages is one of the aspects of Williams\u2019 defense that reminds Ogwumike of the way Beard played in the two years she won DPOY while the two were teammates in Los Angeles. In 2017, Beard led the league with 2.1 steals per game (71 total), but in 2018 she was fourth with 1.5 per game, actually behind Ogwumike\u2019s 1.6 steals per game that season.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cI was there for the two years that Alana Beard was DPOY and I\u2019ve never seen anyone defend like that before,\u201d Ogwumike said. \u201cShe was not only leading in steals [in 2017] but I think they took into account how she was able to limit the average of the people that she was defending. And I see remnants of that in Gabby. She\u2019s playing some defense on mostly the biggest star that is in their back court.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Standing out in a talented defensive team<\/p>\n<p>Another factor that could make it difficult for Williams to earn recognition is that there are three other All-Defensive team candidates (not including her) on the team in Sykes, Diggins and Magbegor. Wheeler and Ogwumike are no slouches defensively either.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cYou think about Ezi\u2019s impact behind the defense, the blocks. You think about Nneka\u2019s ability to defend and rebound. Then you think about Slim and what she can do on and off the ball, as well as you throw Sky[lar] in the mix,\u201d Quinn said, praising her team\u2019s defenders. \u201cEnd of the day, before our roster kind of shifted to add Slim [Sykes] and to have Dom [Malonga] play more minutes, Gabby was still kind of the anchor in that area and still doing the things that she\u2019s statistically doing now. But you get enamored by, you know, what Ezi can do behind that, and don\u2019t realize what\u2019s happening in front of that.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Seattle\u2019s\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/stats.wnba.com\/teams\/defense\/?sort=DEF_RATING&amp;dir=-1\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">defensive rating is top four in the WNBA this season<\/a>, but the presence of so many talented defenders can make Williams\u2019 individual contribution difficult to quantify and easy to miss when it isn\u2019t flashy.<\/p>\n<p>However, Williams\u2019 teammates disagree. Sykes specifically pointed to the differences in each of their top three guard defenders \u2014 Williams, Diggins and herself.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cI think we\u2019re all different type of defenders,\u201d Sykes explained. \u201cSky[lar] is more on the ball, in your face. I\u2019m long lanky so I give a little length, but I give the deception of you have nowhere to go. Gabby, she\u2019s bigger, stronger, taller. So that right there you\u2019re dealing with athleticism, then you\u2019re dealing with a hybrid. Like, that\u2019s so annoying. So, I\u2019m glad we\u2019re on the same team. And I do think that she deserves it. DPOY needs to go back to the guards.\u201d<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" data-recalc-dims=\"1\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"819\" src=\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/20250728_DSC6284_chrisposs-Edit-1024x819.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-50333\"  \/>Connecticut Sun guard Leila Lacan shoots over Seattle Storm guard\/forward Gabby Williams during the WNBA game between the Seattle Storm and the Connecticut Sun at Mohegan Sun Arena in Uncasville, Conn. on July 28, 2025. (Photo Credit: Chris Poss | The Next)<\/p>\n<p>Diggins similarly disagreed that the talented defenders around William should affect how her defense is viewed.<\/p>\n<p>\u00a0\u201cI don\u2019t know about all that,\u201d Diggins said. \u201cI think she\u2019s been elite at this level since she came in the league. And that\u2019s one thing that you can rely on her, is her defensive prowess. And so, I mean, we all try to step up to her level, and I think she definitely sets the bar for us there.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Whatever the drawbacks to standing out defensively may be, Williams\u2019 defense itself benefits from playing with so many talented defenders.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cI think it also pushes me because I\u2019m supposed to be the like leader of it, so I can\u2019t ever slack you know,\u201d Williams said. \u201cI can\u2019t ever watch my teammates work harder than me, like, I have to be the leader for them, and when they\u2019re not feeling it I have to be more than myself too. It definitely has pushed me because I\u2019m also learning from them as well. I mean, we have a team full of vets, so everyone has a lot of experience, and they\u2019re all teaching me something new that I haven\u2019t learned before.\u201d<\/p>\n<p class=\"has-fl-body-bg-background-color has-background has-small-font-size\"><strong>Order \u2018Rare Gems\u2019 and save 30%<br \/><\/strong><br \/>Howard Megdal, founder and editor of The Next and The IX, wrote this deeply-reported story. Rare Gems follows four connected generations of women\u2019s basketball pioneers, from Elvera \u201cPeps\u201d Neuman to Cheryl Reeve and from Lindsay Whalen to Sylvia Fowles and Paige Bueckers.<\/p>\n<p>If you enjoy his coverage of women\u2019s basketball every Wednesday at The IX, you will love \u201cRare Gems: How Four Generations of Women Paved the Way for the WNBA.\u201d <a data-type=\"link\" data-id=\"https:\/\/bit.ly\/rare-gems-the-ix\" href=\"https:\/\/bit.ly\/rare-gems-the-ix\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Click the link below to order<\/a> and enter <strong>MEGDAL30<\/strong> at checkout to save 30%!<\/p>\n<p>How watching film has made Williams even better<\/p>\n<p>Williams has always been recognized as a talented, top defender in the WNBA, but this season has been her best by far because of her increased film work.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cAs I\u2019m getting older and less athletic, but smarter, I\u2019ve been really becoming obsessive with watching film, reading shooting charts, \u2026 being able to predict and manipulate the game on defense,\u201d Williams told <a href=\"https:\/\/www.basketball-reference.com\/wnba\/players\/b\/birdsu01w.html?utm_medium=linker&amp;utm_source=www.thenexthoops.com&amp;utm_campaign=2025-09-02_bbr\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">Sue Bird<\/a> and Megan Rapinoe during the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.thenexthoops.com\/features\/from-a-game-in-canada-to-a-statue-unveiling-the-storm-get-busy-making-history\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">live recording<\/a> of their podcast A Touch More, regarding what has been clicking defensively for her this season. \u201cLike, I know in this play, this player is going to go here and that can, I don\u2019t know that could be a steal, that could be a switch or whatever. So, I think I\u2019m really proud of myself for kind of being more in tune with the off the court preparation for my defensive performances.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Williams told The Next that her obsession began when she was playing in Lyon, France for ASVEL Femin\u00edn (2022-2024). That team didn\u2019t watch any games back or study film, which was frustrating for Williams. So, she decided to do it on her own and hired someone to break it down with her outside of the team. That experience made her realize what a difference watching film makes.<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" data-recalc-dims=\"1\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"683\" src=\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/USATSI_26859975.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-50341\"  \/>Atlanta Dream guard Allisha Gray dribbles defended by Seattle Storm guard\/forward Gabby Williams during the second half at Rogers Arena in Vancouver on Aug. 15, 2025. (Photo Credit: Anne-Marie Sorvin-Imagn Images)<\/p>\n<p>\u201cIt just makes the game easier,\u201d Williams said. \u201cPlaying with that Lyon team and having to do a lot of it on my own actually taught me a lot of useful skills that I have now.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>With the Storm, Williams doesn\u2019t have to rely on hiring outside experts. Williams gave credit to Nick Saenz and Peter Feeney, Seattle\u2019s manager and assistant manager of video and analytics, for always being available and willing to get her any data she needs.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cI can text them 20 minutes before the game \u2026 like \u2018hey let me actually get film of this player, let me get this shot chart but break it up this way, break it up by wins and losses, break it up by last five games,\u2019 and they give it to me instantly. So that\u2019s helped a lot,\u201d Williams said.<\/p>\n<p>While Williams is very self-aware of how film has helped her improve, Quinn has also noticed her growth this season.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cShe\u2019s been able to be so athletic throughout her entire career that she can kind of gamble and not be solid in certain actions,\u201d Quinn told The Next. \u201cAnd I think this year, she\u2019s more locked into not just utilizing her athleticism to defend, but utilizing her smarts to understand tendencies, personnel and how she can still be athletic but be, not conservative, but solid. And that comes with a lot of film work and understanding of who she is within our defense. So, I do see growth in that area.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>What winning DPOY would mean<\/p>\n<p>Awards are never guaranteed, and Williams isn\u2019t getting ahead of herself or focusing on it. At the same time, Williams admitted that winning the award would be incredibly meaningful to her.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cI looked up a lot to Alana Beard, especially when I was in college. And watching her win DPOY I was like, I\u2019m going to be that player one day. I\u2019m going to be that three guard that gets it,\u201d Williams said. \u201cIt\u2019d be a very full circle moment, just the way that I looked up to Alana Beard.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cIt would mean everything. Everyone knows, kind of, my journey in this league, and having to fight for a lot of respect and everything. I mean, I\u2019ve talked about it before that, like, my offense had to get good for people to start talking about my defense. And I think that just goes to talk about, like, how hard it is to kind of get recognized and respected in this league. So, if I can just get that, it would, it would feel really amazing.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Even if Williams doesn\u2019t eventually win 2025 WNBA DPOY, she should be considered a lock for the All-Defensive first team and the most concrete league-wide recognition of her defense to this point in her career.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"\u201cI think her defense is something that I\u2019m still in awe of every single game,\u201d center and four-year&hellip;\n","protected":false},"author":3,"featured_media":195719,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[49],"tags":[2602,68757,48329,42925,9769,2337,21902,1494,30231,62,67,132,68,232,95783],"class_list":{"0":"post-195718","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-wnba","8":"tag-brittney-sykes","9":"tag-defensive-player-of-the-year","10":"tag-erica-wheeler","11":"tag-ezi-magbegor","12":"tag-gabby-williams","13":"tag-nneka-ogwumike","14":"tag-noelle-quinn","15":"tag-seattle-storm","16":"tag-skylar-diggins","17":"tag-sports","18":"tag-united-states","19":"tag-unitedstates","20":"tag-us","21":"tag-wnba","22":"tag-wnba-defensive-player-of-the-year"},"share_on_mastodon":{"url":"https:\/\/pubeurope.com\/@us\/115138112001003662","error":""},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/195718","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/3"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=195718"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/195718\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/195719"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=195718"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=195718"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=195718"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}