Phoenix Mercury center Brittney Griner was named as the 2014 WNBA Defensive Player of the Year after helping her team finish with the best record in league history.

The league honored Griner for her defensive prowess this season where she set the WNBA single-season shot block record with 129 this season, highlighted by her 11 blocks during their game against the Tulsa Shock in June.

Griner, who received 31 of the 38 possible media votes for the award, gladly accepted the honor, saying that being named as the best defensive players is like winning the Most Valuable Player trophy for her.

"Defensive player of the year is MVP in my book," Griner said via ESPN. "Defense is my favorite part of the game and what I want to be known for."

Griner, the first overall pick in the 2013 WNBA Draft, averaged 15.6 points to go along with 8.0 rebounds and 3.8 assists, which is the reason why it is not surprising that Phoenix finished the regular season with an impressive 29-5 record.

First-year coach Sandy Brondello said in an interview that she was not surprised when the league named the former Baylor University star as the top defensive player this season.

"She's 6-foot-8, but has mobility," Brondello said of Griner. "Shot blocking is about anticipation and she does a great job anticipating. She wasn't where she thought she would be last year, but has really developed this past year. She's really just scratched the surface."

For her part, Brondello also got the citation that she deserves for leading the Mercury to an impressive run during the regular season as she was named as the 2014 WNBA Coach of the Year.

"She pays amazing attention to detail. When we go into that game, I know everything my man's going to do," Griner said of Brondello. "She knows every play the other team's going to run. It's amazing being able to go into a game that prepared to play our game. She's definitely been the key to our success."

Brondello, who previously coached the San Antonio Silver Stars in 2010, was also unchallenged in the balloting, getting 33 of the 38 possible votes.

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