ESPN flips WNBA pick for the third time.
ESPN Changes WNBA Prediction for the Third Time (Within Months) originally appeared on Athlon Sports.
With less than four weeks remaining in the 2025 WNBA regular season, the Defensive Player of the Year (DPOY) race has shifted again.
In June, experts were sold that it was Natasha Cloud's award to lose. At the time, she was leading the way for the undefeated New York Liberty (9-0 to start the season).
In July, the narrative shifted to Napheesa Collier, also the frontrunner for league MVP, who dominated for a Minnesota Lynx team that went 8-2 in June and remain atop the league standings at 27-5.
Now, ESPN’s latest awards tracker lists Gabby Williams of the Seattle Storm as the favorite for DPOY, overtaking Collier and Cloud.
Gabby Williams: 2025 Season Snapshot
Williams, 28, has been a defensive constant for Seattle despite the team’s recent six-game losing streak. Highlights this season include:
- Steals Leader: 2.5 per game — the highest in the WNBA since 2013.
- All-Around Production: 12.5 points, 4.6 rebounds, 4.5 assists, 2.5 steals per game — career highs (except for rpg).
- Efficient in Expanded Role: Averaging 32.6 minutes per game (career-high), shooting 43.9% from the field on 11 attempts (career-high), with a 12.5 PIE (Player Impact Estimate), also a career-high.
- Notable Performance: Set a Storm franchise record with 8 steals in a single game on June 17 against Los Angeles.
THE GABBY WILLIAMS HEIST 🕵️♀️
— WNBA (@WNBA) June 18, 2025
8 STEALS broke the @seattlestorm franchise record vs. the Sparks! pic.twitter.com/t0tzXAPLpV
Williams’ defensive versatility allows her to guard multiple positions, disrupt passing lanes and initiate transition offense.
She has been named to the WNBA All-Defensive Team previously (2022) and was Best Defensive Player at the 2024 Paris Olympics after averaging 14.8 points, 5.4 assists, 4.2 rebounds and 2.8 steals over five Olympic games.
The Storm began 2025 as one of the league’s top defensive units, at one point ranking second in defensive rating, thanks largely to Williams. However, a recent skid has dropped them to fifth.
Williams’ emergence as ESPN’s current DPOY front-runner is built on elite steal rates, measurable impact and the ability to guard across positions.
Whether she can hold off Collier, Cloud or other challengers will depend on both her continued production and Seattle’s ability to stabilize defensively down the stretch.
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This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Aug 15, 2025, where it first appeared.
Category: Basketball
