Brittney Sykes Named WNBA All-Defensive First Team
9/29/2021 6:27:00 AM | Women's Basketball
Syracuse alum finishes second in Defensive Player of the Year Voting
Syracuse alumna and Los Angeles Sparks guard Brittney Sykes was named to the WNBA All-Defensive First Team, announced by the WNBAÂ earlier this week. Sykes received six first-place votes for Defensive Player of the Year, finishing second in the voting for the annual award.Â
This is the second time in her five-year career Sykes has earned All-Defensive Team honors. In her first season with the Sparks in 2020, she was named to the league's Second Team.Â
Sykes led the WNBA in total steals (58) and was tied for first in steals per game (1.8). She guided a Sparks defense that finished third in WNBA defensive rating allowing just 77.1 opponent points per game, the second-best in the league.Â
Pivot Analysis endorsed Sykes as the WNBA's most impactful defender this season and according to their metrics Sykes had the best statistical defensive season for a guard in the past five seasons.Â
Sykes' name became synonymous with highlight-worthy plays including a game-saving block of Sabrina Ionescu to secure an 86-83 over the New York Liberty on Aug. 22 that made ESPN's Sportscenter Top-10 Plays.Â
Sykes played in all 32 games for the Sparks earning 20 starts. She averaged 9.4 points, 4.6 rebounds and 2.2 assists in 29.3 minutes per game. In her sophomore season with the Sparks, Sykes finished the year with 302 points and 146 boards surpassing both 1,500 points and 500Â rebounds in her WNBA career.Â
Sykes played her first three seasons with the Atlanta Dream before making the cross-country move to LA.Â
Members of the All-Defensive Team were selected by a 49-member panel of sportswriters and broadcasters.
Sykes graduated from Syracuse in 2017 and ranked third in program history in career points (1,846) and a program best 137 career starts. She was named WBCA Division I Coaches All-America Honorable Mention in 2017 nd was an ACC All-Defensive Team selection that same season. Sykes helped guide the Orange to the program's first NCAA Sweet Sixteen, Elite Eight and Final Four en route to a Championship Game appearance in 2016.Â
This is the second time in her five-year career Sykes has earned All-Defensive Team honors. In her first season with the Sparks in 2020, she was named to the league's Second Team.Â
Sykes led the WNBA in total steals (58) and was tied for first in steals per game (1.8). She guided a Sparks defense that finished third in WNBA defensive rating allowing just 77.1 opponent points per game, the second-best in the league.Â
Pivot Analysis endorsed Sykes as the WNBA's most impactful defender this season and according to their metrics Sykes had the best statistical defensive season for a guard in the past five seasons.Â
Sykes' name became synonymous with highlight-worthy plays including a game-saving block of Sabrina Ionescu to secure an 86-83 over the New York Liberty on Aug. 22 that made ESPN's Sportscenter Top-10 Plays.Â
Sykes played in all 32 games for the Sparks earning 20 starts. She averaged 9.4 points, 4.6 rebounds and 2.2 assists in 29.3 minutes per game. In her sophomore season with the Sparks, Sykes finished the year with 302 points and 146 boards surpassing both 1,500 points and 500Â rebounds in her WNBA career.Â
Sykes played her first three seasons with the Atlanta Dream before making the cross-country move to LA.Â
Members of the All-Defensive Team were selected by a 49-member panel of sportswriters and broadcasters.
Sykes graduated from Syracuse in 2017 and ranked third in program history in career points (1,846) and a program best 137 career starts. She was named WBCA Division I Coaches All-America Honorable Mention in 2017 nd was an ACC All-Defensive Team selection that same season. Sykes helped guide the Orange to the program's first NCAA Sweet Sixteen, Elite Eight and Final Four en route to a Championship Game appearance in 2016.Â
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