clock menu more-arrow no yes mobile

Filed under:

Sylvia Fowles is the 2021 WNBA Defensive Player of the Year

Minnesota Lynx center Sylvia Fowles was dominant on defense en route to her fourth Defensive Player of the Year award.

By Zachary Ward
Phoenix Mercury v Minnesota Lynx - Game Two
Sylvia Fowles (left) receiving the 2016 Defensive Player of the Year award.
Photo by David Sherman/NBAE via Getty Images

Minnesota Lynx center Sylvia Fowles is the 2021 Defensive Player of the Year, the WNBA announced Sunday. Fowles has now won the award four times, with the first instance coming a decade ago.

Fowles was second in the league in steals per game with 1.8, an incredible feat for someone at her position. She was also second in the league with 1.8 blocks per game and third with eight defensive rebounds per game.

Joining Fowles on the All-Defensive First Team are Connecticut Sun forward/center Jonquel Jones, Phoenix Mercury forward Brianna Turner, Los Angeles Sparks guard Brittney Sykes and Connecticut Sun guard Briann January. Sykes led the league in steals and made some of the flashiest defensive plays of the season. January was known for shutting down two guards, including holding some of the best scorers in the league well below their scoring averages.

The members of the All-Defensive Second Team are Seattle Storm forward Breanna Stewart, Connecticut Sun forward Brionna Jones, Phoenix Mercury center Brittney Griner, Connecticut Sun guard Jasmine Thomas and Washington Mystics guard Ariel Atkins.

More From Swish Appeal