The nominees on the 2021 Naismith Women’s Defensive Player of the Year Watch List are as follows: 

Chasity Patterson  
Patterson has had an impressive start to the season, leading the nation by forcing 60 steals through just 15 games. The Houston native has started all 15 contests, averaging 12.2 points per game on 46% shooting from the field. She is a 30.6% 3-point shooter and has collected 2.4 rebounds per game. She’s also dished out 51 assists on the year. 

Elissa Cunane  
Cunane is averaging a team-leading 16.2 points and 7.5 rebounds per game and is shooting 58.2 percent (57-of-98) from the floor. All three of those numbers rank in the top 10 in the ACC this season, with her field-goal percentage ranking third in the league. 

N'dea Jones 
She paces the Southeastern Conference in total rebounds (159), and leads a defense that allows only 60.7 points per game. Jones has helped the Aggies outrebound their opponents in 13 games this season, they are 13-0 in those outings.

Kate Cain 
Cain has started 104 consecutive games for the Big Red. She leads the Big Ten with 3.1 blocks per game this season. She owns 18 games with at least five blocked shots in her Nebraska career and 54 games with at least three rejections. In addition to her block totals Cain also owns more than 500 career defensive rebounds and more than 50 career steals. She is also closing in on 1,000 career points.

Arella Guirantes 
Arella is one of the top scorers in the nation and is accompanying another outstanding offensive campaign with her best career performance on the defensive end of the court. Guirantes has 3.1 steals per game and 2.4 blocked shots per game, ranking 15th and 27th in the nation. Guirantes comes into the week ranked 15th in the nation with 22.5 points per contest. She is one of just two players to rank in the country's Top 30 in points, steals and blocks per game