OAKLAND – The league's best defense just got the credit they deserve. Golden State Valkyries forward Gabby Williams has been named to the 2026 WNBA All-Defensive First Team, while guard Veronica Burton and center Kiah Stokes have both been named to the WNBA All-Defensive Second Team, the league announced Thursday.

This is Williams’ second straight WNBA All-Defensive First Team selection and third All-Defensive recognition of her career after earning Second Team honors in 2022. It's Stokes' second All-Defensive Second Team honor after earning one back in 2015 during her rookie season, and it's Burton's second straight Second Team honor.

Williams joins Angel Reese, A'ja Wilson, Rhyne Howard, and Shakira Austin on the All-Defensive First Team, while Burton and Stokes join Sonia Citron, Jordin Canada, and Breanna Stewart on the Second Team.

Williams ranked second in the league in defensive NET points at 25, t-fourth in steals per game with 1.6, seventh in steal percentage at 31.8 (min. 15 GP), and 10th in defensive win share at .162 (min. 15 GP). Williams, who finished second in Defensive Player of the Year voting this season, has been instrumental in Golden State's run to the WNBA Finals as both their closer and best on-ball defender.

“She's like a cat,” coach Natalie Nakase said earlier this season. “She has these defensive instincts where sometimes she'll be in different spots of the game plan, and then she's like, ‘Just trust me, coach, just trust me.' She studies opponents really, really well. Gabby locks in, in terms of film and personnel and game plan.”

Burton led the league in defensive win share (.212) and defensive NET points (29), while ranking t-fourth in steals (1.6), and sixth in defensive rating (95.7 – min. 15 GP). Burton was one of just three guards in the W this past season to average over 1.5 steals per game and 0.5 blocks per game.

Article Continues Below

Stokes ranked fourth in the WNBA in blocks per game with 1.7 and led all centers in defensive rating at 94.5. This is Stokes’ second WNBA All-Defensive Second Team award, and it comes in her first season with Golden State after signing a two-year,$761,250 contract this past offseason.

The Valkyries earned the best defense in the WNBA this past season, leading the league in opponent points per game (75.1), opponent field goal percentage (41.4), opponent points in the paint (31.1), opponent 3-point field goal percentage (32.6), opponent assists per game (18.2), and defensive rating (99.1).

The Valkyries tip off the WNBA Finals against Atlanta this Saturday, Oct. 17, at 12:30 p.m. PT at Chase Center.