Forward-center Lauren Jackson of the Seattle Storm was chosen the WNBA Defensive Player of the Year, the league said Friday. Jackson received 20 votes from a national panel of 56 writers and broadcasters. Indiana Fever forward Tamika Catchings, who won the award each of the last two years, was a close second with 16 votes, marking the smallest margin of victory in the 11-year history of the award. Washington Mystics guard Alana Beard received five votes to finish third.