As we know, playoff season in the WNBA also means awards season. And even with the unique circumstances of playing the season in the wubble this year, there were still plenty of worthwhile performances that were award-worthy.
Plenty of those came on the defensive end of the floor. Just as there are names throughout the WNBA that give defenses nightmares, there are those that also cause issues for offenses.
Among those were Alysha Clark (Seattle Storm), Betnijah Laney (Atlanta Dream), Brianna Turner (Phoenix Mercury), Alyssa Thomas (Connecticut Sun) and Elizabeth Williams (Atlanta Dream). Those are who made the WNBA’s All-Defensive First Team.
🥇 𝙐𝙉𝘼𝙉𝙄𝙈𝙊𝙐𝙎 🥇
Congratulations to 𝚃𝚑𝚎 𝙴𝚛𝚊𝚜𝚎𝚛 on being the ONLY unanimous 2020 @WNBA First Team All-Defense selection!! 🏆 💪@Alysha_Clark #StrongerThanEver pic.twitter.com/OQhewM42ja
— Seattle Storm (@seattlestorm) September 29, 2020
Two (2!) of the five WNBA All-Defensive First Team honorees rep the ATL
Congrats, @E_Williams_1 and @BetnijahLaney!
📰 » https://t.co/yjU9znsuJC#GoDream pic.twitter.com/agaLUEkpKI
— Atlanta Dream (@AtlantaDream) September 29, 2020
The OG. Our Engine.
No one more deserving. Congrats, @athomas_25!
➡️https://t.co/zD2jTLYuhO pic.twitter.com/4jKKbJl61a
— Connecticut Sun (@ConnecticutSun) September 29, 2020
Our #DPOY 📽️ pic.twitter.com/XhrCQDXc7G
— Phoenix Mercury (@PhoenixMercury) September 29, 2020
Clark was the only unanimous selection.
The All-Defensive Second Team included Breanna Stewart (Seattle Storm), Napheesa Collier (Minnesota Lynx), Ariel Atkins (Washington Mystics), Brittney Sykes (Los Angeles Sparks) and A’ja Wilson (Las Vegas Aces).
Congratulations to @breannastewart on being named to the 2020 @WNBA All-Defensive 2nd Team!! 🏆 💪#StrongerThanEver pic.twitter.com/hsxQsiQpJt
— Seattle Storm (@seattlestorm) September 29, 2020
She’s our MVPhee. 🏆@PHEEsespieces is the fifth Lynx player to be named to one of the @WNBA All-Defensive Teams. pic.twitter.com/cNmpoUGlbu
— Minnesota Lynx (@minnesotalynx) September 29, 2020
𝙎𝙡𝙞𝙢 𝘿𝙚𝙛𝙚𝙣𝙨𝙞𝙫𝙚 𝙍𝙚𝙖𝙥𝙚𝙧
Congrats to @BrittBundlez for being named to the All-Defensive Second Team 🏆
📰 https://t.co/CTAlQ7owxo#GoSparks | #LeadTheCharge pic.twitter.com/GU1DtYk40B
— Los Angeles Sparks (@LASparks) September 29, 2020
But while there was one LA Spark that did make the team, much of the social media chatter among WNBA Twitter revolved around another notable LA Spark that was left off the team.
After being voted WNBA Defensive Player of the Year by media, Candace Parker didn’t make either of the two All-Defensive teams selected by coaches.
This is the first time in WNBA or NBA history that the DPOY wasn’t named to an All-Defensive team
(h/t @mellentuck) pic.twitter.com/QoijrQIIGb
— Bleacher Report (@BleacherReport) September 29, 2020
Players voted Candace Parker the most overrated player last season. Coaches left her off the Defensive First and Second teams this year.
I’ll just say this. Y’all don’t have to like her. But y’all need to put respect on her name. She’s a legend. Period. Said what I said. #WNBA
— Women’s Hoopz (@WomensHoopz) September 29, 2020
All I know @Candace_Parker has been @WNBA ROY, MVP, DPOY, @WNBA Finals MVP/Champion , OLY gold medalist, gave birth to Lailaa, connects WBB and MBB together w her Analysis , without question the most critiqued player in league history ….. all in her career, who can match that?
— brian agler (@brian_agler) September 29, 2020
Candace Parker, despite being named the Defensive Player of the Year for 2020, was completely snubbed from either All-Defensive Team. Many on W Twitter made mention of the fact that the Defensive Player of the Year award is voted on by media while coaches vote for the defensive teams.
It is not the first time Parker has been slighted in her WNBA career – she was left off the 2016 Olympic team and only won a WNBA championship with the Sparks that season (dubiously, though if one asks Lynx fans).
News travels fast among the WNBA’s community – including to Parker herself.
