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WNBA Defense: Is Alana Smith Challenging Aja Wilson?

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  Published in Sports and Competition on Saturday, December 27th 2025 at 21:35 GMT by Sporting News

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Beyond Aja Wilson: The WNBA's Quiet Defensive Revolution & the Rise of Alana Smith

For years, Aja Wilson has been synonymous with defensive dominance in the WNBA. The Las Vegas Aces superstar is a two-time MVP and five-time All-Defensive selection, widely considered the league’s premier defender. However, a recent statistical analysis reveals a surprising challenge to her reign: Alana Smith of the Connecticut Sun. While Wilson remains undeniably impactful, Smith's defensive rating – a metric that measures points allowed per 100 possessions when the player is on the court – has quietly positioned her as potentially the league’s best defender, prompting a fascinating discussion about how we define and measure defense in women's basketball.

The Sporting News article, spearheaded by Alex Azzi, highlights this unexpected development using data from HerHoopStats.com, a valuable resource for advanced WNBA statistics (as described on their website). Wilson’s defensive rating is 97.5 points allowed per 100 possessions. Impressive? Absolutely. But Smith's sits at an astonishing 93.6. This means that when Alana Smith is on the court, the Connecticut Sun allow just 93.6 points every 100 possessions – a significant difference and one that demands attention.

Understanding Defensive Rating & Why It Matters

Before diving deeper into Smith’s performance, it's crucial to understand defensive rating. It goes beyond simple steals and blocks – traditional metrics often used to gauge defensive prowess. Defensive rating accounts for all points allowed while a player is on the court, factoring in field goal attempts, three-point percentage, free throw rate, and more. It’s considered a far more comprehensive measure of overall defensive impact than individual statistics alone. As HerHoopStats explains, it's designed to isolate a player's contribution to their team’s defense. A lower defensive rating is better.

Wilson's dominance has been built on her versatility: she can guard multiple positions effectively, disrupt passing lanes, and alter shots. Her presence alone forces opponents to adjust their offensive strategies. However, the sheer volume of possessions in a WNBA game means that even a slight difference in points allowed per possession accumulates significantly over time. Smith’s lower defensive rating suggests her impact is consistently positive across a larger sample size than Wilson's.

Alana Smith: The Quiet Force

Smith, drafted 13th overall in the 2022 WNBA draft, isn’t a household name like Wilson. She plays a vital role for the Sun as a versatile wing player, often tasked with guarding the opposing team’s best perimeter scorer. Her defensive success isn't solely about individual matchups; it reflects her understanding of team defense, her positioning, and her ability to anticipate opponent actions. The article emphasizes that Smith's impact is largely due to preventing scoring opportunities rather than simply generating steals or blocks. She excels at denying easy baskets and forcing opponents into more difficult shots.

The Sun’s overall defensive improvement this season has been notable, and Smith’s performance has undoubtedly contributed significantly. While the team as a whole isn't currently ranked among the league's best defenses (as detailed on WNBA.com), Smith’s individual impact is undeniable. The article points out that her defensive rating is even more impressive when considering she frequently guards opponents who are often highly targeted by opposing offenses.

The Nuances of Defense & Why Wilson Still Reigns Supreme (For Now)

While the numbers paint a compelling picture, it's important to acknowledge the complexities of evaluating defense in basketball. Defensive rating isn’t perfect; team defensive schemes and the performance of teammates can influence individual ratings. Furthermore, advanced metrics are still relatively new to mainstream WNBA analysis, and their interpretation requires careful consideration.

Wilson’s impact extends beyond quantifiable statistics. Her shot-blocking ability alone is a deterrent for opposing offenses, even if it doesn't always translate into steals or blocks recorded in the box score. She also serves as a vocal leader on defense, directing teammates and organizing defensive rotations – qualities that are difficult to measure statistically. As highlighted by ESPN’s coverage of WNBA players, Wilson's intangible contributions remain invaluable.

The article rightly cautions against declaring Smith the definitive "best defender" just yet. It acknowledges that Wilson’s overall impact is still immense, and that her dominance has been earned over years of consistent excellence. However, Smith’s emergence as a statistical contender forces us to re-evaluate how we assess defensive talent in the WNBA.

A Shifting Landscape & Future Implications

Smith's remarkable performance signals a potential shift in the landscape of WNBA defense. It highlights the growing sophistication of data analysis and its ability to uncover hidden gems within the league. It also underscores the importance of versatile defenders who can impact the game beyond traditional statistics. The rise of players like Smith could lead to more emphasis on defensive schemes and player development, ultimately raising the overall level of competition in the WNBA.

The Sporting News article concludes by suggesting that this statistical revelation isn’t meant to diminish Wilson's accomplishments but rather to celebrate the increasing depth and complexity of talent within the league. It opens a fascinating conversation about how we define defensive excellence and acknowledges that, while Aja Wilson remains a force, Alana Smith is undeniably making her mark as one of the WNBA’s most impactful defenders – and potentially its best.

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