UNCASVILLE, Conn. (September 12, 2017) – The WNBA announced today that Connecticut Sun teammates Jasmine Thomas and Alyssa Thomas were both named to WNBA All-Defensive teams Tuesday.
Los Angeles Sparks guard/forward Alana Beard, this season’s WNBA Defensive Player of the Year, led the 2017 WNBA All-Defensive Team. This marked the fourth All-Defensive First Team selection for Beard, who became the second Sparks player to win Defensive Player of the Year (Lisa Leslie, 2004 and 2008).
Jasmine Thomas made the All-Defensive First Team for the first time in her seven-year career after appearing as a Second Team selection for the first time last season. The 2017 All-Star averaged a career-high 1.59 steals (fourth in the WNBA), including a season-high five steals in three straight games from July 8-13.
Alyssa Thomas, an All-Star for the first time this season, was named to the All-Defensive Team Second Team for the first time. The Sun forward averaged career highs with 5.4 defensive rebounds and 1.5 steals, and she set single-game bests in defensive rebounds (13), steals (seven) and blocks (four).
Beard received 11 First Team votes (55 points) from a panel of the WNBA’s head coaches, making her the only unanimous pick. The 12 coaches selected 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.
Joining Beard on the WNBA All-Defensive First Team are Sparks forward Nneka Ogwumike (49 points), Minnesota Lynx center Sylvia Fowles (49 points), Jasmine Thomas (49 points) and New York Liberty forward Tina Charles (22 points).
The WNBA All-Defensive Second Team consists of Phoenix Mercury center Brittney Griner (41 points), Alyssa Thomas (21 points), Minnesota’s Rebekkah Brunson (20 points) at forward and Maya Moore (16 points) at guard, and Indiana Fever guard Briann January (13 points).
2017 WNBA All-Defensive First Team
Player Team Position Points
Alana Beard Los Angeles Sparks Guard 55
Sylvia Fowles Minnesota Lynx Center 49
Nneka Ogwumike Los Angeles Sparks Forward 49
Jasmine Thomas Connecticut Sun Guard 49
Tina Charles New York Liberty Forward 22
2017 WNBA All-Defensive Second Team
Player Team Position Points
Brittney Griner Phoenix Mercury Center 41
Alyssa Thomas Connecticut Sun Forward 21
Rebekkah Brunson Minnesota Lynx Forward 20
Maya Moore Minnesota Lynx Guard 16
Briann January Indiana Fever Guard 13