Coupeville Sports

English basketball coaches were impressed by Makana Stone’s defensive skills. (Photo property Loughborough University)

They respect her game.

Coupeville’s Makana Stone was second in coach voting Tuesday, as England’s Women’s National Basketball League handed out Defensive Player of the Year honors.

Sitota Gines Espinosa of Reading, who led the league in steals, copped the award, finishing with 23 points and five first-place votes.

Stone, who suits up for Loughborough University, pulled in two first-place votes and 14 points.

Esther Little of Ipswich — who has signed to play with Gonzaga — Erica Meyer of Team Solent Kestrels, and Stone’s teammate, Robyn Ainge, round out the top five.

WNBL awards, which started Monday by honoring Loughborough and Thames Valley for best streaming of games, continue through Friday.

The next two days feature the Young (U19) Player of the Year, Coach of the Year, and British Team of the Year.

Stone comes back into play Friday, when she is nominated for Player of the Year and Team of the Year.

After graduating from Whitman College, the former Wolf went overseas, playing in a league where schools are allowed one American player.

Playing in 17 of Loughborough’s 19 games, Stone finished with 270 points, 231 rebounds, 33 assists, 58 steals, and eight blocked shots.