Big East Conference Women's Basketball Defensive Player of the Year

The Big East Conference Women's Basketball Defensive Player of the Year is an annual college basketball award presented to the top women's basketball defensive player in the Big East Conference.

Five players have won the award more than once. Nykesha Sales of UConn, Devereaux Peters of Notre Dame, and Nika Mühl have won twice, and Ruth Riley of Notre Dame and Essence Carson of Rutgers won three times. The award was shared three times. It was given to Jacqui Grant and Aaliyah Lewis in 2017, Olivia Nelson-Ododa and Selena Lott in 2021, and Christina Dalce and Kelsey Ransom in 2024.

UConn have the most winners with seven.

Key †Co-Player of the YearCCoaches selectionMMedia selection

Winners SeasonPlayerSchoolSource(s)1996–97Nykesha SalesUConn1997–98Nykesha Sales (2)UConn1998–99Ruth RileyNotre Dame1999–00Ruth Riley (2)Notre Dame2000–01Ruth Riley (3)Notre Dame2001–02Meghan SaakeMiami (FL)2002–03Ashley BattleUConn2003–04Rebekkah BrunsonGeorgetown2004–05Chelsea NewtonRutgers2005–06Essence CarsonRutgers2006–07Essence Carson (2)Rutgers2007–08Essence Carson (3)Rutgers2008–09Angel McCoughtryLouisville2009–10Sarah MilesWest Virginia2010–11Devereaux PetersNotre Dame2011–12Devereaux Peters (2)Notre Dame2012–13Kelly FarisUConn2013–14Liz StratmanButler2014–15Daisha SimmonsSeton Hall2015–16Aliyyah HandfordSt. John's2016–17Jacqui Grant †DePaulAaliyah Lewis †St. John's2017–18Dionna WhiteGeorgetown2018–19Michelle WeaverButler2019–20Chante StonewallDePaul2020–21Olivia Nelson-Ododa †UConnSelena Lott †Marquette2021–22Nika MühlUConn2022–23Nika Mühl (2)UConn2023–24Christina Dalce †VillanovaKelsey Ransom †Georgetown2024–25Lashae DwyerSt. John's2025–26Sarah StrongUConn

Winners by school School (year joined)WinnersYearsUConn (1979–2013, 2020–present)Following the split of the original Big East, Cincinnati, Louisville, Rutgers, South Florida, and UConn all remained in the football-sponsoring portion that became the American Athletic Conference.81997, 1998, 2003, 2013, 2021, 2022, 2023, 2026Notre Dame (1995–2013)Notre Dame, Pitt, and Syracuse all left for the Atlantic Coast Conference after the 2012–13 season.51999, 2000, 2001, 2011, 2012Rutgers (1995–2013)42005, 2006, 2007, 2008DePaul (2005–present)22017, 2019Georgetown (1979–present)22004, 2024St. John's (1979–present)22016, 2025Butler (2013–present)12018Louisville (2005–2013)1 2009Marquette (2005–present)12021Miami (1991–2004)Miami and Virginia Tech left for the ACC in 2004.12002Seton Hall (1979–present)12015Villanova (1980–present)12024West Virginia (1995–2012)West Virginia left for the Big 12 Conference in 2012.12010Boston College (1979–2005)Boston College left for the ACC in 2005.0—Providence (1979–present)0—Creighton (2013–present)0—Pittsburgh (1982–2013)0—Syracuse (1979–2013)0—Cincinnati (2005–2013)0—USF (2005–2013)0—Virginia Tech (2000–2004)0—Xavier (2013–present)0—

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