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Williams Receives WNBA All-Defensive Team Accolades
9/29/2020 3:59:00 PM | Women's Basketball
NEW YORK, N.Y.— The WNBA announced the 2020 All-Defensive first and second teams Tuesday with former Duke standout Elizabeth Williams of the Atlanta Dream one of five members selected to the first team. Â
Along with Williams on the first team were Betnijah Laney (Atlanta), Brianna Turner (Phoenix) and Alyssa Thomas (Connecticut).
Williams recently finished her fifth WNBA year with the Dream and sixth overall professional season. The 6-3 post player led Atlanta with 30 blocked shots, which was the third-most across the league. Her 1.4 blocks per game also ranked fifth in the WNBA. Williams, a 2015 Duke graduate, became the Dream's all-time blocks leader this past season as she surpassed 300 in her five-year career in Atlanta. Â
On the second team was Breanna Stewart (Seattle), Napheesa Collier (Minnesota), Ariel Atkins (Washington), Brittney Sykes (Los Angeles) and A'ja Wilson (Las Vegas). Â
Williams was the 2015 National Defensive Player of the Year as a senior at Duke, while earning All-America accolades on four occasions and was a four-time ACC Defensive Player of the Year honoree. Â
The WNBA's 12 head coaches selected the All-Defensive first and second teams by position and were not permitted to vote for players from their own teams. Players earned five points for each first team vote and three points for each second team vote. If a player received votes at multiple positions, she was slotted at the position where she received the most votes.
It marks the fifth straight year a Duke alumna has been selected to the WNBA All-Defensive Team – Jasmine Thomas (2019, 2018, 2017, 2016), Alana Beard (2018, 2017, 2016, 2014, 2012, 2009, 2007, 2006, 2005). Former Duke National Player of the Year Lindsey Harding was also selected to the defensive team in 2010.
#GoDuke
2020 WNBA ALL-DEFENSIVE FIRST TEAM
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Position              Player, Team                                     1st Team              2nd Team             Points
Guard                  Alysha Clark, Seattle                      11                          0                             55
Guard                  Betnijah Laney, Atlanta                 7                             4                             47
Forward              Brianna Turner, Phoenix              8                             1                             43
Forward              Alyssa Thomas, Connecticut       6                             3                             39
Center                 Elizabeth Williams, Atlanta          3                             3                             24
                                              Â
2020 WNBA ALL-DEFENSIVE SECOND TEAM
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Position              Player, Team                                     1st Team              2nd Team             Points
Forward              Breanna Stewart, Seattle             3                             6                             33
Forward              Napheesa Collier, Minnesota     3                             5                             30
Guard                  Ariel Atkins, Washington              2                             5                             25
Guard                  Brittney Sykes, Los Angeles        0                             8                             24
Center                 A'ja Wilson, Las Vegas                   3                             2                             21
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Along with Williams on the first team were Betnijah Laney (Atlanta), Brianna Turner (Phoenix) and Alyssa Thomas (Connecticut).
Williams recently finished her fifth WNBA year with the Dream and sixth overall professional season. The 6-3 post player led Atlanta with 30 blocked shots, which was the third-most across the league. Her 1.4 blocks per game also ranked fifth in the WNBA. Williams, a 2015 Duke graduate, became the Dream's all-time blocks leader this past season as she surpassed 300 in her five-year career in Atlanta. Â
On the second team was Breanna Stewart (Seattle), Napheesa Collier (Minnesota), Ariel Atkins (Washington), Brittney Sykes (Los Angeles) and A'ja Wilson (Las Vegas). Â
Williams was the 2015 National Defensive Player of the Year as a senior at Duke, while earning All-America accolades on four occasions and was a four-time ACC Defensive Player of the Year honoree. Â
The WNBA's 12 head coaches selected the All-Defensive first and second teams by position and were not permitted to vote for players from their own teams. Players earned five points for each first team vote and three points for each second team vote. If a player received votes at multiple positions, she was slotted at the position where she received the most votes.
It marks the fifth straight year a Duke alumna has been selected to the WNBA All-Defensive Team – Jasmine Thomas (2019, 2018, 2017, 2016), Alana Beard (2018, 2017, 2016, 2014, 2012, 2009, 2007, 2006, 2005). Former Duke National Player of the Year Lindsey Harding was also selected to the defensive team in 2010.
#GoDuke
2020 WNBA ALL-DEFENSIVE FIRST TEAM
Â
Position              Player, Team                                     1st Team              2nd Team             Points
Guard                  Alysha Clark, Seattle                      11                          0                             55
Guard                  Betnijah Laney, Atlanta                 7                             4                             47
Forward              Brianna Turner, Phoenix              8                             1                             43
Forward              Alyssa Thomas, Connecticut       6                             3                             39
Center                 Elizabeth Williams, Atlanta          3                             3                             24
                                              Â
2020 WNBA ALL-DEFENSIVE SECOND TEAM
Â
Position              Player, Team                                     1st Team              2nd Team             Points
Forward              Breanna Stewart, Seattle             3                             6                             33
Forward              Napheesa Collier, Minnesota     3                             5                             30
Guard                  Ariel Atkins, Washington              2                             5                             25
Guard                  Brittney Sykes, Los Angeles        0                             8                             24
Center                 A'ja Wilson, Las Vegas                   3                             2                             21
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