'Absolutely my choice': Lynx coach pushes Smith's DPOY claims

• Alanna Smith led the Minnesota Lynx to an 83-71 win over the New York Liberty at the Barclays Center
• Lynx coach pushed Smith's claims for the Defensive Player of the Year award
• The Lynx are first in defensive rankings and Smith ranks second for blocks, averaging two per game

She's the anchor for the best defence in the WNBA and also ranks second for blocks per game, just trailing superstar A'ja Wilson, propelling the league-leading Minnesota Lynx to championship favouritism and now Alanna Smith could be heading towards a Defensive Player of the Year award.

Especially, according to Lynx coach Cheryl Reeve, who pushed the Australian Opals star's claim for the award following a dominant performance as Minnesota beat rivals and defending champions the New York Liberty 83-71 in front of more than 17,000 people at the Barclays Center.

Smith, who averages 2.1 blocks per game, had the tough task of containing Liberty big and Belgian star Emma Meesseman, and she did exactly that. Limiting her opponent's impact on the game to just 11 points, five rebounds and four assists as the Lynx cruised to victory.

In the post-game press conference, Reeve emphasised the importance of Smith's impact when the coaching staff put together their game plans each and every night.

"Every time we start a game plan, we talk about what (Alanna's) influence is going to be," Reeve said.

"This one was an important one, against a player like Emma, who can chew you up and spit you out with her activity and passing the basketball and making everybody else better by getting easy baskets. We had to work really hard not to let that happen."

Reeve even went back to coaching against Smith during her time at the Chicago Sky and how she became the perfect fit alongside Lynx star Napheesa Collier.

"(Alanna), I just know when we were playing against her in Chicago, that's the one that (Napheesa) said 'I don't like playing against her'," Reeve said post game.

"We saw it and her shot blocking... Her and (Napheesa), the first day they played defence together, their synergy was terrific and every move that (Napheesa) made, (Alanna) knew where to be and play off her

"(Alanna's) just really smart, really really smart, and would absolutely be my choice for Defensive Player of the Year."

Lynx guard Kayla McBride echoed her coach's comments about the Olympic bronze medal-winning big the Paris 2024 Games.

"I think (Alanna) does more for us, that doesn't show up in the stat sheet than probably any other player in the league," she said.

"Her ability to put her body on the line, and just the awareness and competition level that she has on a nightly basis, for us it's priceless. We can put her on anybody, you can ask her to switch, you can ask her to hedge, rebound, shoot threes and run the floor as well. There's never a second thought (from her), we know (Alanna's) going to give it to us 100% so I think sheshould be in the (DPOY) conversation.

"Her ability to get deflections, her length, block shots, steals.

"She changed the game (tonight against the Liberty) and it doesn't show up in the stat sheet."

Smith's big game against last year's WNBA Finals opponents included nine rebounds, eight points, seven assists, four steals and three blocks as the Lynx won despite Collier missing the game through injury.

Minnesota are now 6.5 games clear of the Liberty and Atlanta Dream, who are tied in second spot.