LAS VEGAS — Aces star A’ja Wilson earned her third WNBA Defensive Player of the Year award in unprecedented fashion Thursday, and coach Becky Hammon wasn’t thrilled with the result.

Wilson and Minnesota Lynx forward Alanna Smith will share the honor, the league announced.

Smith and Wilson received 29 votes each from a national panel of 72 writers and broadcasters.

It’s the first time in WNBA history the award has been shared. Wilson and Smith, a first-time honoree, will each receive $5,150 and a commemorative trophy.

Wilson, 28, was also named Defensive Player of the Year in 2022 and 2023. She is the reigning MVP and is the favorite to win the award for a record fourth time this year.

Wilson played a key role in the Aces’ 16-game winning streak to close the regular season, which helped them secure the No. 2 seed in the playoffs.

Hammon, before the team played the No. 7 Seattle Storm for Game 3 of their first-round playoff series Thursday, was blunt when asked for her thoughts on the Defensive Player of the Year voting.

“I guess I’m just confused by the ‘Co,’ ” Hammon said. “You guys said (Minnesota Lynx forward Napheesa Collier) was the best defensive player last year, and then now she’s not. I mean, I don’t know. I’d love to make the voting public. I don’t know how it came in a tie, but apparently it did. To me, there’s no comparison. A white tailed deer looks really good until an elk walks into the room.”

Seattle Storm forward Gabby Williams finished third with nine votes, followed by Phoenix Mercury forward Alyssa Thomas (three). Collier received two votes.

Wilson led the WNBA in blocks per game (2.3), total rebounds (407) and defensive rebounds (316) this season. She was second in blocks (92) and rebounds per game (10.2) and third in steals (64).

Smith, 29, helped Minnesota post the league’s best defensive rating. She was third in the WNBA in blocks per game (1.9) and total blocks (80).

Wilson’s boyfriend, Miami Heat center Bam Adebayo, expressed skepticism about the voting results on social media. He shared a photo of Wilson intensely pointing to a piece of paper during a postgame news conference on Threads with the caption: “Can somebody explain Co to me right now..?!?”

Wilson, appearing on ESPN’s “NBA Today” soon after Thursday’s announcement, said she hopes to celebrate the shared trophy with a victory over the Storm.

“With the Aces, how we just climbed up the ladder, it really started on the defensive end,” Wilson said. “Everyone’s just fascinated with the blocks, but it’s so much more than that. … So I’m appreciative of this award.”

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