Aneesah Morrow dribbles the ball down the court for Gold Rush as Kayana Traylor defends against her.

Top 4 Defenders of AU Pro Basketball Season 5

Siera Jones

Mar 16, 2026

Athletes Unlimited Pro Basketball Season 5 showcased elite defensive performances across all positions. From dominant shot-blockers to relentless perimeter defenders, the competition featured stars who made their mark on the defensive end throughout the four weeks in Nashville.

Here’s a breakdown of the players who dominated the defensive stat categories in Season 5.

Blocks Per Game

Kiah Stokes – 3.0

Kiah Stokes stood atop the blocks category, averaging 3.0 blocks per game while wearing the Gold Rush jersey for every week of the season. The veteran center tallied 26 total blocks across the competition and served as a consistent rim protector for every squad she played on.

Stokes recorded a season-high six-block performance in Week Three versus the Rhythm, showcasing her ability to alter shots and disrupt offense in the paint. She also ranked third in the league in rebounds per game with 10.8 while averaging 6.1 points per game.

Other Top Blocks Leaders: Natasha Mack (2.9), Air Hearn (1.0), NaLyssa Smith (1.0), Alaina Coates (0.9).

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Steals Per Game

Ariel Atkins – 2.7

Ariel Atkins totaled a league-leading 27 steals on the season, establishing herself as one of the most disruptive defenders in the competition. Her season high came in Week Two when she racked up six steals and locked down Gold Rush on defense while playing for the Eclipse.

Atkins came close to that season-high mark on two other occasions, posting five steals for Glow in Week One and five steals for Gold Rush in the final week of competition. She also contributed 28 assists throughout the season while averaging 4.0 rebounds per game and 14.9 points per game.

Other Top Steals Leaders: Aneesah Morrow (1.8), Mercedes Russell (1.7), Zia Cooke (1.5), Odyssey Sims (1.4).

Defensive Rebounds Per Game

Aneesah Morrow – 9.3

Aneesah Morrow dominated the glass throughout her debut AU season, averaging 9.3 defensive rebounds per game while maintaining an authoritative presence in the paint. The second-place finisher reached her season-high 19 total rebounds (18 defensive, one offensive) during Week Two versus the Eclipse.

Morrow broke into double figures in the rebounds category six times and averaged 12.3 total rebounds per game, second-best in the league. She also ranked second in the league in steals with 1.8 per game, and was second in points per game with 17.6 while earning six game MVP nods throughout the season.

Other Top Defensive Rebounds Leaders: Natasha Mack (8.5), Kiah Stokes (8.3), Tina Charles (7.1), NaLyssa Smith (5.8).

Defensive Player of the Year: Natasha Mack

Natasha Mack earned Defensive Player of the Year honors after a dominant debut season that saw her lead the league in both blocks per game (2.9) and rebounds per game (12.7). She set a new league single-season blocks record when she reached 29 during Week Four and finished the season with 30 total blocks.

Through 10 appearances, Mack totaled 152 rebounds, 35 blocks, and 14 steals while averaging 10.8 points per game. She reached her season-high six blocks in a single game during Week Two and served as captain of the Glow in Week Three. Mack ranked second overall in leaderboard stat points per game and finished third on the final leaderboard.