Aces star center A’ja Wilson has earned her third WNBA Defensive Player of the Year award in unprecedented fashion.

Wilson and Minnesota Lynx forward Alanna Smith will share the honor as Defensive Player of the Year, the WNBA announced Thursday.

Smith and Wilson received 29 votes each from a national panel of 72 sports writers and broadcasters.

It’s the first time in league history the award has been shared. Wilson and Smith, a first-time honoree, will each receive $5,150 and a commemorative trophy.

Wilson, 28, won her other Defensive Player of the Year awards in 2022 and 2023, when the Aces won back-to-back titles. She is also the reigning MVP and the favorite to win an unprecedented fourth award.

Wilson starred in the Aces’ 16-game win streak to close the regular season that helped

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