Naz Hillmon, Natisha Hiedeman, Dominique Malonga, and Jessica Shepard were all in the mix for Sixth Player of the Year. But from the start, it was clear the real battle was between Hillmon and Hiedeman, with many expecting Hiedeman to run away with it. In the end, though, fate had other plans.

The official X account of ‘Underdog NBA’ recently reported that Naz Hillmon has been named the Sixth Player of the Year. Hillmon got 44 of 72 media votes, while Natisha Hiedeman came 2nd, with 22 votes. Shepard got 4 votes while Malonga and Sami Whitcomb had 1 each. The 25-year-old power forward has created history with this achievement, as it marks not only the first time she has won this award, but it is the first time any player from the Dream has won the award!

All season long, Natisha Hiedeman and Naz Hillmon seemed to be in a tug-of-war for Sixth Player of the Year. Hillmon surged ahead after the All-Star break, posting career highs across the board and shooting 31% from deep after barely attempting threes before 2025, while also ranking 16th in rebounds per game. Hiedeman, meanwhile, outscored her with 8.9 points per game, mirroring her strong 2022 campaign.

When the votes came in, though, the panel sided with Hillmon, but plenty of fans still feel Hiedeman deserved the nod. And the debate even brought into conversation the real definition of a bench player.

Fans React to the ‘Snub’

One social media user wrote, “The part I don’t get is she started almost half the season. Doesn’t make sense bc of that. I love Naz Hilmon just seems like this should dq her from this award.”

Now, the WNBA’s Sixth Woman of the Year honors the player who makes the biggest impact off the bench. The impact isn’t all about scoring. It’s about consistency, efficiency, and changing the flow of a game without starting. And “without starting”, that’s where the differences come in. While Naz Hillmon played in all 44 games of the season for the Atlanta Dream, she also started in 17 of them. Meanwhile, Natisha Hiedeman has been a true ‘Sixth Player’, since she also played in all 44 games of the season but started in 0.

Another individual wrote, “naz hilmon been starting since july 30th…. is the wnba dead a–?” The criticism makes sense when you consider the fact that the last 3 winners of the award did not start in more than 10 games. Tiffany Hayes, who won the Sixth Player of the Year honor last year, played 33 games but started in only 5. Alysha Clark, who won the award in 2023, played 39 games but started in only 1. Brionna Jones, who won the award in 2022, played 36 games and started in only 7.

One social media user wrote, “Wait isn’t Naz a starter?” SB Nation’s Noa Dalzell, who was part of the panel, said she voted for Hiedeman, “because she came off the bench for every game this season. Hillmon, on the other hand, was elevated off the bench midseason, and ultimately only came off the bench for 27 of 44 games this season”. 

So, a “traditional” sixth player is what Dalzell called Heideman. However, we cannot ignore the fact that Hillmon fit the criteria perfectly still. Eligibility rules require that to be considered, a player must have played more games as a reserve than as a starter, which she did.

One individual wrote, “Hiedeman got snubbed, she had multiple 20 point games off the bench. Hillmon was literally a starter for half the season. Istg it’s ri—– af”. According to some supporters, Hillmon stood out due to her ability to deliver both on the offense and the defense. Furthermore, her current stats are far better than the 5.7 points, 4.8 rebounds, and 1.3 assists she had been averaging back in 2024.

Hillmon also holds the edge in plus-minus, ranking third in the league at +7.6, while Hiedeman sits 20th with a +4.3. But, as Dalzell said, “I try to take winning into account as much as possible when making award decisions”. So, by that measure, Hiedeman prevails. The Lynx finished the season with the league’s best record, thanks in large part to their depth.

While Courtney Williams had a strong season, having a reliable backup at point guard proved crucial. On August 22, Williams struggled against the Indiana Fever and was benched, while Hiedeman stepped in, scoring 17 points on 6-of-10 shooting to secure the win. Two nights later, as Williams found her rhythm, Hiedeman played just 13 minutes. It’s a perfect example of Hiedeman’s value as a Sixth Player, as she steps up in key moments while embracing the ebb and flow of her role.

One social media user wrote, “Still think Natisha deserved it more than Naz!” No matter who deserved it more, Hillmon would have certainly felt honored at receiving it. During a recent interview with USA TODAY, the 25-year-old said, “You don’t win Sixth Player of the Year without your teammates being as incredible as they are, allowing me to be who I am this year. Staying confident in me. It’s my team. It’s Sixth Player of the Year for a reason — there’s five others. For me, it’s the eleven others we have on the bench, as well as our coaching staff”.

Overall, the majority of reactions saw netizens disagreeing with the decisions of the sportscasters and the other voters. Though the chance slipped away from her hands, Natisha Heideman can always make another attempt next year. That is, if her prowess doesn’t convince the Minnesota Lynx to move her up the order and make her start more.