Gabby Williams finished second in the voting for the WNBA Defensive Player of the Year, up from third place the previous season. The France captain collected 20 points, well clear of her tally of nine points from the prior year.
The award went to Angel Reese of the Atlanta Dream, the American world champion whose half-brother Mikael Hopkins plays in France's Betclic Élite with Gravelines-Dunkerque. Williams and Reese, who met in the World Cup final, could face each other again in the WNBA Finals. The Dream have already advanced past the first round, while Golden State were taken to a Game 3 by Dallas despite a career-high 36 points from Williams.
The French presence in the WNBA individual votes extended further. Carla Leite placed third and Dominique Malonga fifth in the Most Improved Player balloting.
France also looks set for more individual recognition: Janelle Salaün is the frontrunner for the Sixth Player of the Year award.
