Bears vs. Packers. Kendrick vs. Drake. Samantha vs. the rest of the SATC cast.
Rivalries are awesome.
The opportunity to watch evenly matched foes battle passionately always creates chills and thrills. That excitement builds as naturally as it does rapidly, often resulting in a flurry of adjacent activity. Whether it influences trends on social, inspires T-shirt shops on Etsy, or makes for heated dinnertime conversations, beef is good for business.
Recently, the women&#8217;s game experienced massive growth in large part due to the fiery play of <a href="https://www.espn.com/wnba/player/_/id/4433403/caitlin-clark" data-player-guid="5ec40e1c-3104-322e-b80f-f358ea26aad4">Caitlin Clark</a> and <a href="https://www.espn.com/wnba/player/_/id/4433402/angel-reese" data-player-guid="198d799e-9709-3062-8402-34f309bf151e">Angel Reese</a>. Viewership for the highly anticipated rematch of the 2023 women&#8217;s national championship game grabbed over 16 million viewers at its peak. That&#8217;s more eyeballs drawn than for any basketball game (college or professional) since the 2018 NBA Eastern Conference finals (Cavaliers vs. Celtics). Guess we can see you, afterall.
Boom moments in sports &#8212; the ones that spill over into the zeitgeist, driving forward the edges of interest &#8212; don&#8217;t just materialize out of nowhere. They require elite talent and commensurate investment. That&#8217;s how the buy-in happens.
We are interested in watching Clark shatter records because she dared to smash them &#8212; and because a researcher bothered to track the numbers.
We&#8217;re intrigued by what Reese wore to the Met Gala because she has the ability to turn around and log 13 points in her second preseason game &#8212; and because an assistant at Vogue had the good sense to include her on the invite list.
We are wondering if the Liberty can put an end to the Ace&#8217;s dominance because New York had the audacity to build a super team &#8212; and because bookmakers at ESPN BET decided to post a futures prop.
This relationship isn&#8217;t adversarial like a rivalry, but it does require a similar back-and-forth in order to engender success. That&#8217;s what makes the ESPN fantasy game so enjoyable. Through drafting a squad, users gain a connection to the players on their roster. Managers are exposed to personal journeys, narratives and athletic feats that might not have previously been on their radars.
The W has been alive with this energy and commitment long before the current rookie class leaned into NIL deals or gained giant social followings. We know Caitlin Clark&#8217;s name because Maya Moore hooped so hard. Through fantasy we don&#8217;t just get to watch the next generation share the court with their heroes, we get to personally invest in a historic torch passing.
So, are you ready? Time to draft, tweak and overthink our way to newfound fandom and fun.
<hr />
<img decoding="async" class="floatleft imageLoaded" src="https://a.espncdn.com/combiner/i?img=/i/teamlogos/wnba/500/ind.png&amp;w=110&amp;h=110" alt="" width="31" />
<h3><a href="https://www.espn.com/wnba/player/_/id/4433403/caitlin-clark" data-player-guid="5ec40e1c-3104-322e-b80f-f358ea26aad4">Caitlin Clark</a>, G, <a href="https://www.espn.com/wnba/team/_/name/ind/indiana-fever" data-clubhouse-guid="bfef1bdd-c2d1-310d-dd9f-645b90575da9">Indiana Fever</a></h3>
If pressure makes diamonds then Clark is going to be iced out. There might not be a rookie playing any sport or entering any league for whom the bar is higher. For instance, <a href="https://www.espn.com/nfl/player/_/id/4431611/caleb-williams" data-player-guid="dd15176c-3004-333f-beaa-149216c42968">Caleb Williams</a> is currently presenting the shortest odds to win NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year (on ESPN BET) at +185. Meanwhile, Clark is the (mega) heavy WNBA ROY favorite, sitting at -750 odds. Both athletes broke college records, but Clark&#8217;s dominance doesn&#8217;t just hint at professional prosperity, it demands nothing but excellence.
So, are we being realistic in our expectations? Can Clark finish as a top-10 fantasy producer in her rookie effort?
Well, let&#8217;s dig into that historic college career. During her time at Iowa, Clark became the first player in Division I history (men&#8217;s or women&#8217;s) to reach 3,000 points and 1,000 assists. Her penchant for doling out dimes could provide immediate value. Clark averaged 8.2 APG (assists per game) as a Hawkeye. Interestingly, Ticha Penicheiro holds the record for the most APG logged by a rookie in a WNBA season at 7.5 APG (1998). Regression from the college game to the pros is expected, however. The Fever have managed an average of at least 5 APG on three separate instances (<a href="https://www.espn.com/wnba/player/_/id/4001679/julie-allemand" data-player-guid="1edef572-e3fd-f1c7-db55-e7c6fee64967">Julie Allemand</a> in 2020 and <a href="https://www.espn.com/wnba/player/_/id/2491214/erica-wheeler" data-player-guid="10a2cf09-7845-e376-c86e-0fa06cbdd524">Erica Wheeler</a> in 2019 and 2023).
Clark&#8217;s scoring might take time to translate at the next level. Just three players in WNBA history &#8212; <a href="https://www.espn.com/wnba/player/_/id/3149391/aja-wilson">A&#8217;ja Wilson</a>, Seimone Augustus and Cynthia Cooper &#8212; have recorded 20 PPG in their first-year campaigns. Tamika Catchings holds the Fever&#8217;s rookie record for PPG in a season at 18.6 (2002). Additionally, Clark will be sharing the court with <a href="https://www.espn.com/wnba/player/_/id/4432831/aliyah-boston" data-player-guid="bcc663d0-9e0f-34d5-8298-d1922f84e7d2">Aliyah Boston</a>, <a href="https://www.espn.com/wnba/player/_/id/3142191/kelsey-mitchell" data-player-guid="65441aab-bd32-abef-f1f9-6a95b381c955">Kelsey Mitchell</a> and <a href="https://www.espn.com/wnba/player/_/id/4398776/nalyssa-smith" data-player-guid="92bac4f9-e4db-67c6-0354-24c06720f754">NaLyssa Smith</a>. She might be on the floor for 30 minutes per game, but she&#8217;s not going to take every shot.
ESPN&#8217;s fantasy game awards one fantasy point for every point, 3-point shot made and assist. So while Clark&#8217;s talent as an ace long-range shooter is the most buzzed about part of her game, it&#8217;s her ability to shine as a facilitator that figures to push her fantasy production. A top-10 finish seems lofty, but an average of 30 fantasy points per game appears within reason.
<img decoding="async" class="floatleft imageLoaded" src="https://a.espncdn.com/combiner/i?img=/i/headshots/wnba/players/full/2529140.png&amp;w=350&amp;h=254&amp;transparent=true" alt="" width="100" />
<h3><a href="https://www.espn.com/wnba/player/_/id/2529140/alyssa-thomas" data-player-guid="908608e9-31d4-62f2-dfe2-9fee9024e7e2">Alyssa Thomas</a>, F, <a href="https://www.espn.com/wnba/team/_/name/conn/connecticut-sun" data-clubhouse-guid="7c72e7ee-5064-b766-2b39-95b57e3d9a08">Connecticut Sun</a></h3>
Thomas put together a Herculean effort, finishing second in MVP voting and carrying the Sun into a <a href="https://www.espn.com/wnba/player/_/id/2999101/jonquel-jones" data-player-guid="d5154a93-4a46-71af-8b55-f69328b84b54">Jonquel Jones</a>-less era last year. The Maryland product recorded a career campaign, ranking among the league&#8217;s top-three producers in rebounds per game (9.9), assists per contest (7.9) and steals per outing (1.8). She became the first player to finish as the WNBA leader in both total assists and total rebounds in a season. Additionally, Thomas registered a league-record 28 double-doubles and 6 triple-doubles. Her effectiveness across so many areas resulted in a top-five finish for fantasy managers.
What Thomas managed a decade into her professional career was nothing short of remarkable. It is worth noting, however, that Connecticut lost <a href="https://www.espn.com/wnba/player/_/id/3058895/brionna-jones" data-player-guid="1d62bb30-f780-da28-7d86-3cc9b29d7ae7">Brionna Jones</a> to a ruptured Achilles 13 games into the season. Jones has been a full-go at training camp and logged 10 minutes in the team&#8217;s preseason action versus the Liberty. While she may be on a slight minutes restriction in May, Jones is assumed to have made a full recovery. Her return should require less of Thomas and result in a slight reduction of playing time. It&#8217;s, therefore, not realistic to expect another top-five fantasy finish from the 32-year-old forward.
<img decoding="async" class="floatleft imageLoaded" src="https://a.espncdn.com/combiner/i?img=/i/headshots/wnba/players/full/1068.png&amp;w=350&amp;h=254&amp;transparent=true" alt="" width="100" />
<h3><a href="https://www.espn.com/wnba/player/_/id/1068/nneka-ogwumike" data-player-guid="759b52cb-27bf-059a-9407-ea76a87edb14">Nneka Ogwumike</a>, F, <a href="https://www.espn.com/wnba/team/_/name/sea/seattle-storm" data-clubhouse-guid="2da9bce5-382a-83d9-132c-b6c59d0e8eb9">Seattle Storm</a></h3>
Ogwumike, 33, has been crushing the court since entering the league in 2012. An eight-time All-Star, she shows no signs of slowing down. That&#8217;s a good thing for the Storm, a team she&#8217;ll join after spending the entirety of her 12-year career in Los Angeles with the Sparks.
And Ogwumike made that last season count, too. She&#8217;s coming off one of the most productive seasons of her career, posting numbers that rivaled those of her MVP effort back in 2016. Averaging 19.1 points per game (No. 6 overall), 8.8 rebounds per contest (No. 6 overall) and 2.7 assists per outing, Ogwumike emerged as fantasy&#8217;s eighth-most productive player.
While 2023 was on the up, it&#8217;s not an outlier of a campaign. Ogwumike has thrived as a model of consistency, registering a field goal percentage of 50+ for 12 consecutive seasons. In fact, the legendary Sylvia Fowles is the only other player in WNBA history to sink 50% of her shots in more seasons (15). The body of Ogwumike&#8217;s work suggests that she will continue to swish and collect boards all the way to a top-15 fantasy finish.
<img decoding="async" class="floatleft imageLoaded" src="https://a.espncdn.com/combiner/i?img=/i/headshots/wnba/players/full/3904576.png&amp;w=350&amp;h=254&amp;transparent=true" alt="" width="100" />
<h3><a href="https://www.espn.com/wnba/player/_/id/3904576/marina-mabrey" data-player-guid="1bce47f0-de18-db37-1f24-f707afb155a8">Marina Mabrey</a>, G, <a href="https://www.espn.com/wnba/team/_/name/chi/chicago-sky" data-clubhouse-guid="3b4b0e25-5d0c-1ce2-ab25-580273be43e4">Chicago Sky</a></h3>
Mabrey emerged as a trending sleeper pick last spring. The Notre Dame product, who was coming off of a career effort with the Wings, was expected to retain a prominent role in the Sky&#8217;s rebuild. Mabrey delivered, averaging (new) career-highs in points per game (15.0) and 3-point shots made (2.3). As a result she cleared 1,000 total fantasy points and finished as the 25th most productive fantasy player.
The ascent doesn&#8217;t appear to have hit its peak, either. Consistency, particularly from beyond the arc, has been a hallmark for Mabrey. In fact, she&#8217;s one of just four players to collect at least 60 3-pointers in each of her last three campaigns. Additionally, Mabrey&#8217;s PPG have gone up each season, increasing from 4.0 in 2019 to 15.0 in 2023.
The exits of <a href="https://www.espn.com/wnba/player/_/id/2998938/kahleah-copper" data-player-guid="6e7575ee-bfdd-009a-f348-3cc2bde0ae32">Kahleah Copper</a> (traded to Mercury) and <a href="https://www.espn.com/wnba/player/_/id/2987891/courtney-williams" data-player-guid="af31f6fd-c336-4832-e8bc-60604765de83">Courtney Williams</a> (signed with Lynx) and subsequent arrivals of Reese and <a href="https://www.espn.com/wnba/player/_/id/4433405/kamilla-cardoso" data-player-guid="4a4b0ff3-1dd7-31fc-8a29-220b6a17722c">Kamilla Cardoso</a> shouldn&#8217;t have a negative effect on Mabrey&#8217;s production. Rather, the rookies&#8217; presence could allow for more defensive rebounding and fast breaks, boosting the team&#8217;s pace of play (the Sky were the fifth-slowest team in 2023) and Mabrey&#8217;s efficiency. Consider the 27-year-old a solid fifth-round pick (six-team league) for fantasy purposes.
<img decoding="async" class="floatleft imageLoaded" src="https://a.espncdn.com/combiner/i?img=/i/headshots/wnba/players/full/3065570.png&amp;w=350&amp;h=254&amp;transparent=true" alt="" width="100" />
<h3><a href="https://www.espn.com/wnba/player/_/id/3065570/kelsey-plum" data-player-guid="2e8112d2-f7f5-33dd-0ab1-7a41c4134037">Kelsey Plum</a>, G, <a href="https://www.espn.com/wnba/team/_/name/lv/las-vegas-aces" data-clubhouse-guid="c97eb968-6e82-9785-a302-0bb1a1c1d064">Las Vegas Aces</a></h3>
Plum materialized as one of the league&#8217;s brightest stars after balling her way to a breakout in 2022. As such, expectations were understandably high heading into last spring. Plum&#8217;s numbers regressed, however, as the Washington product&#8217;s points per game declined from 20.2 to 18.7 PPG. Fantasy investors who anticipated another top-five finish appear to have cooled on the two-time All-Star as a result, allowing Plum to fall to the third round of most drafts. That seems like a bit of a knee-jerk reaction, though.
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While Plum&#8217;s counting numbers did dip, she in fact logged the most efficient season of her six-year career. The 29-year-old posted a 48 FG% and averaged a career-high 1.1 SPG. Additionally, Plum collected 16 20-point games last year, giving her a grand total of 35 such contests over the last two seasons. For context, that&#8217;s the fifth-most outings of 20+ points made by any WNBA player during that span. Finally, Plum&#8217;s accuracy from downtown continued to dazzle, as she sank at least 95 3-pointers in back-to-back efforts.
Heading into a contract year on a team poised to make history with a potential three-peat, Plum figures to remain a key producer. Her proven ability as a dynamic long-range shooter offers fantasy managers time-tested upside. She may not best her 2022 stats, but she&#8217;s likely to flirt with them, projecting as a top-10 fantasy option.

fantasy-womens-basketball-facts-vs-feelings

Fantasy Women's Basketball: Facts vs. Feelings on Caitlin Clark, Kelsey Plum and more

<img decoding="async" loading="lazy" class="alignnone size-full wp-image-180274" src="https://cdn.wnba.com/sites/4/2023/08/COVERIMAGE_WNBABETS.png" alt="" width="1440" height="510" srcset="https://cdn.wnba.com/sites/4/2023/08/COVERIMAGE_WNBABETS.png 1440w, https://cdn.wnba.com/sites/4/2023/08/COVERIMAGE_WNBABETS-300x106.png 300w, https://cdn.wnba.com/sites/4/2023/08/COVERIMAGE_WNBABETS-1024x363.png 1024w, https://cdn.wnba.com/sites/4/2023/08/COVERIMAGE_WNBABETS-768x272.png 768w" sizes="(max-width: 1440px) 100vw, 1440px" />
Below, you&#8217;ll find our updated rankings of the top 75 players for <a href="https://www.espn.com/fantasy/womens-basketball/">fantasy women&#8217;s basketball</a> in 2023.
These rankings are based on ESPN&#8217;s default women&#8217;s basketball settings which award one point for each point, assist, and rebound, a bonus point for making a three-pointer, and two points each for blocks and steals.
Updated: Aug. 21
Player, Team, Positional Rank (Snellings rank, Moody&#8217;s rank, Last week&#8217;s rank) 
1. <a href="https://www.espn.com/wnba/player/_/id/2998928/breanna-stewart">Breanna Stewart</a>, NY, F1 (AS: 1 | EM: 1 | LW: 1) 
2. <a href="https://www.espn.com/wnba/player/_/id/3149391/a'ja-wilson">A&#8217;ja Wilson</a>, LV, F2 (AS: 2 | EM: 2 | LW: 2) 
3. <a href="https://www.espn.com/wnba/player/_/id/2529140/alyssa-thomas">Alyssa Thomas</a>, Conn, F3 (AS: 3 | EM: 3 | LW: 5) 
4. <a href="https://www.espn.com/wnba/player/_/id/2987869/jewell-loyd">Jewell Loyd</a>, Sea, G1 (AS: 4 | EM: 5 | LW: 3) 
5. <a href="https://www.espn.com/wnba/player/_/id/4281929/satou-sabally">Satou Sabally</a>, Dal, F4 (AS: 7 | EM: 4 | LW: 8) 
6. <a href="https://www.espn.com/wnba/player/_/id/3917450/napheesa-collier">Napheesa Collier</a>, Min, F5 (AS: 5 | EM: 7 | LW: 5) 
7. <a href="https://www.espn.com/wnba/player/_/id/1068/nneka-ogwumike">Nneka Ogwumike</a>, LA, F6 (AS: 6 | EM: 8 | LW: 6) 
7. <a href="https://www.espn.com/wnba/player/_/id/3904577/arike-ogunbowale">Arike Ogunbowale</a>, Dal, G2 (AS: 8 | EM: 6 | LW: 3) 
9. <a href="https://www.espn.com/wnba/player/_/id/4066533/sabrina-ionescu">Sabrina Ionescu</a>, NY, G3 (AS: 9 | EM: 9 | LW: 7) 
10. <a href="https://www.espn.com/wnba/player/_/id/2529130/natasha-howard">Natasha Howard</a>, Dal, F7 (AS: 10 | EM: 10 | LW: 12) 
11. <a href="https://www.espn.com/wnba/player/_/id/4398674/rhyne-howard">Rhyne Howard</a>, Atl, G4 (AS: 11 | EM: 11 | LW: 9) 
12. <a href="https://www.espn.com/wnba/player/_/id/2529122/chelsea-gray">Chelsea Gray</a>, LV, G5 (AS: 12 | EM: 14 | LW: 17) 
13. <a href="https://www.espn.com/wnba/player/_/id/2490553/brittney-griner">Brittney Griner</a>, Phx, C1 (AS: 14 | EM: 13 | LW: 12) 
14. <a href="https://www.espn.com/wnba/player/_/id/4065870/jackie-young">Jackie Young</a>, LV, G6 (AS: 13 | EM: 15 | LW: 10) 
15. <a href="https://www.espn.com/wnba/player/_/id/4420318/ezi-magbegor">Ezi Magbegor</a>, Sea, C2 (AS: 18 | EM: 12 | LW: 15) 
16. <a href="https://www.espn.com/wnba/player/_/id/3065570/kelsey-plum">Kelsey Plum</a>, LV, G7 (AS: 15 | EM: 17 | LW: 16) 
17. <a href="https://www.espn.com/wnba/player/_/id/4432831/aliyah-boston">Aliyah Boston</a>, Ind, F8 (AS: 16 | EM: 21 | LW: 17) 
18. <a href="https://www.espn.com/wnba/player/_/id/2491877/elena-delle-donne">Elena Delle Donne</a>, Wsh, F9 (AS: 19 | EM: 19 | LW: 21) 
19. <a href="https://www.espn.com/wnba/player/_/id/869/dewanna-bonner">DeWanna Bonner</a>, Conn, F10 (AS: 17 | EM: 22 | LW: 14) 
19. <a href="https://www.espn.com/wnba/player/_/id/2988756/brittney-sykes">Brittney Sykes</a>, Wsh, G8 (AS: 21 | EM: 18 | LW: 23) 
21. <a href="https://www.espn.com/wnba/player/_/id/585/diana-taurasi">Diana Taurasi</a>, Phx, G9 (AS: 26 | EM: 16 | LW: 23) 
22. <a href="https://www.espn.com/wnba/player/_/id/3058901/allisha-gray">Allisha Gray</a>, Atl, G10 (AS: 23 | EM: 20 | LW: 19) 
23. <a href="https://www.espn.com/wnba/player/_/id/2998938/kahleah-copper">Kahleah Copper</a>, Chi, G11 (AS: 20 | EM: 25 | LW: 19) 
24. <a href="https://www.espn.com/wnba/player/_/id/2529458/cheyenne-parker">Cheyenne Parker</a>, Atl, F11 (AS: 22 | EM: 26 | LW: 22) 
24. <a href="https://www.espn.com/wnba/player/_/id/2999101/jonquel-jones">Jonquel Jones</a>, NY, F12 (AS: 25 | EM: 23 | LW: 26) 
26. <a href="https://www.espn.com/wnba/player/_/id/3904576/marina-mabrey">Marina Mabrey</a>, Chi, G12 (AS: 24 | EM: 31 | LW: 29) 
26. <a href="https://www.espn.com/wnba/player/_/id/3142191/kelsey-mitchell">Kelsey Mitchell</a>, Ind, G13 (AS: 28 | EM: 27 | LW: 27) 
28. <a href="https://www.espn.com/wnba/player/_/id/3142250/jordin-canada">Jordin Canada</a>, LA, G14 (AS: 27 | EM: 29 | LW: 30) 
29. <a href="https://www.espn.com/wnba/player/_/id/981/courtney-vandersloot">Courtney Vandersloot</a>, NY, G15 (AS: 33 | EM: 24 | LW: 27) 
30. <a href="https://www.espn.com/wnba/player/_/id/4398776/nalyssa-smith">NaLyssa Smith</a>, Ind, F13 (AS: 30 | EM: 30 | LW: 25) 
30. <a href="https://www.espn.com/wnba/player/_/id/3913903/teaira-mccowan">Teaira McCowan</a>, Dal, C3 (AS: 32 | EM: 28 | LW: 36) 
32. <a href="https://www.espn.com/wnba/player/_/id/2987891/courtney-williams">Courtney Williams</a>, Chi, G16 (AS: 29 | EM: 32 | LW: 31) 
33. <a href="https://www.espn.com/wnba/player/_/id/2529137/natasha-cloud">Natasha Cloud</a>, Wsh, G17 (AS: 31 | EM: 33 | LW: 34) 
34. <a href="https://www.espn.com/wnba/player/_/id/4433635/diamond-miller">Diamond Miller</a>, Min, G18 (AS: 35 | EM: 34 | LW: 33) 
35. <a href="https://www.espn.com/wnba/player/_/id/2529205/kayla-mcbride">Kayla McBride</a>, Min, G19 (AS: 34 | EM: 37 | LW: 38) 
36. <a href="https://www.espn.com/wnba/player/_/id/3906949/jessica-shepard">Jessica Shepard</a>, Min, F14 (AS: 36 | EM: 38 | LW: 31) 
37. <a href="https://www.espn.com/wnba/player/_/id/3146151/ariel-atkins">Ariel Atkins</a>, Wsh, G20 (AS: 39 | EM: 36 | LW: 36) 
37. <a href="https://www.espn.com/wnba/player/_/id/3913881/alanna-smith">Alanna Smith</a>, Chi, F15 (AS: 40 | EM: 35 | LW: 40) 
39. <a href="https://www.espn.com/wnba/player/_/id/2566081/elizabeth-williams">Elizabeth Williams</a>, Chi, C4 (AS: 38 | EM: 41 | LW: 39) 
40. <a href="https://www.espn.com/wnba/player/_/id/4398911/shakira-austin">Shakira Austin</a>, Wsh, C5 (AS: 37 | EM: 43 | LW: 34) 
41. <a href="https://www.espn.com/wnba/player/_/id/1054/tiffany-hayes">Tiffany Hayes</a>, Conn, G21 (AS: 42 | EM: 39 | LW: 40) 
42. <a href="https://www.espn.com/wnba/player/_/id/3058892/lexie-brown">Lexie Brown</a>, LA, G22 (AS: 41 | EM: 44 | LW: 44) 
43. <a href="https://www.espn.com/wnba/player/_/id/2491214/erica-wheeler">Erica Wheeler</a>, Ind, G23 (AS: 46 | EM: 40 | LW: 43) 
44. <a href="https://www.espn.com/wnba/player/_/id/3142010/azura-stevens">Azura Stevens</a>, LA, F16 (AS: 45 | EM: 42 | LW: 47) 
45. <a href="https://www.espn.com/wnba/player/_/id/2593770/betnijah-laney">Betnijah Laney</a>, NY, F17 (AS: 43 | EM: 47 | LW: 42) 
45. <a href="https://www.espn.com/wnba/player/_/id/3907781/sophie-cunningham">Sophie Cunningham</a>, Phx, G24 (AS: 44 | EM: 46 | LW: 45) 
47. <a href="https://www.espn.com/wnba/player/_/id/2566106/dearica-hamby">Dearica Hamby</a>, LA, F18 (AS: 47 | EM: 48 | LW: 48) 
48. <a href="https://www.espn.com/wnba/player/_/id/2998927/moriah-jefferson">Moriah Jefferson</a>, Phx, G25 (AS: 49 | EM: 50 | LW: 54) 
49. <a href="https://www.espn.com/wnba/player/_/id/2490514/tianna-hawkins">Tianna Hawkins</a>, Wsh, F19 (AS: 55 | EM: 45 | LW: 69) 
50. <a href="https://www.espn.com/wnba/player/_/id/887/sami-whitcomb">Sami Whitcomb</a>, Sea, G26 (AS: 48 | EM: 54 | LW: 51) 
50. <a href="https://www.espn.com/wnba/player/_/id/4432830/jordan-horston">Jordan Horston</a>, Sea, G27 (AS: 53 | EM: 49 | LW: 52) 
52. <a href="https://www.espn.com/wnba/player/_/id/4282173/michaela-onyenwere">Michaela Onyenwere</a>, Phx, F20 (AS: 52 | EM: 52 | LW: 48) 
53. <a href="https://www.espn.com/wnba/player/_/id/2327695/rebekah-gardner">Rebekah Gardner</a>, Chi, G28 (AS: 56 | EM: 51 | LW: 56) 
53. <a href="https://www.espn.com/wnba/player/_/id/4066585/crystal-dangerfield">Crystal Dangerfield</a>, Dal, G29 (AS: 51 | EM: 56 | LW: 53) 
55. <a href="https://www.espn.com/wnba/player/_/id/3906753/natisha-hiedeman">Natisha Hiedeman</a>, Conn, G30 (AS: 50 | EM: 58 | LW: 50) 
56. <a href="https://www.espn.com/wnba/player/_/id/3054590/nia-coffey">Nia Coffey</a>, Atl, F21 (AS: 54 | EM: 55 | LW: 58) 
57. <a href="https://www.espn.com/wnba/player/_/id/3142086/brianna-turner">Brianna Turner</a>, Phx, F22 (AS: 57 | EM: 60 | LW: 63) 
58. <a href="https://www.espn.com/wnba/player/_/id/4066548/dijonai-carrington">DiJonai Carrington</a>, Conn, G31 (AS: 59 | EM: 59 | LW: 61) 
59. <a href="https://www.espn.com/wnba/player/_/id/3058893/shatori-walker-kimbrough">Shatori Walker-Kimbrough</a>, Wsh, G32 (AS: 75 | EM: 50 | LW: NR) 
59. <a href="https://www.espn.com/wnba/player/_/id/2490794/layshia-clarendon">Layshia Clarendon</a>, LA, G33 (AS: 72 | EM: 53 | LW: 72) 
61. <a href="https://www.espn.com/wnba/player/_/id/3102133/rebecca-allen">Rebecca Allen</a>, Conn, G34 (AS: 62 | EM: 64 | LW: 59) 
61. <a href="https://www.espn.com/wnba/player/_/id/4281190/dana-evans">Dana Evans</a>, Chi, G35 (AS: 61 | EM: 65 | LW: 55) 
63. <a href="https://www.espn.com/wnba/player/_/id/4066553/aari-mcdonald">Aari McDonald</a>, Atl, G36 (AS: 63 | EM: 66 | LW: 57) 
64. <a href="https://www.espn.com/wnba/player/_/id/3142055/myisha-hines-allen">Myisha Hines-Allen</a>, Wsh, F23 (AS: 67 | EM: 68 | LW: 64) 
65. <a href="https://www.espn.com/wnba/player/_/id/3142948/victoria-vivians">Victoria Vivians</a>, Ind, G37 (AS: 64 | EM: 72 | LW: 66) 
66. <a href="https://www.espn.com/wnba/player/_/id/4874475/nikolina-milic">Nikolina Milic</a>, Min, C6 (AS: NR | EM: 50 | LW: 70) 
66. <a href="https://www.espn.com/wnba/player/_/id/2984741/tiffany-mitchell">Tiffany Mitchell</a>, Min, G38 (AS: 66 | EM: 71 | LW: 59) 
68. <a href="https://www.espn.com/wnba/player/_/id/4398779/queen-egbo">Queen Egbo</a>, Ind, C7 (AS: 58 | EM: NR | LW: 72) 
69. <a href="https://www.espn.com/wnba/player/_/id/3156318/kristy-wallace">Kristy Wallace</a>, Ind, G39 (AS: 68 | EM: 74 | LW: 70) 
69. <a href="https://www.espn.com/wnba/player/_/id/924/alysha-clark">Alysha Clark</a>, LV, F24 (AS: 73 | EM: 69 | LW: 75) 
71. <a href="https://www.espn.com/wnba/player/_/id/4398938/dorka-juhasz">Dorka Juhasz</a>, Min, F25 (AS: NR | EM: 62 | LW: 68) 
72. <a href="https://www.espn.com/wnba/player/_/id/4398966/olivia-nelson-ododa">Olivia Nelson-Ododa</a>, Conn, F26 (AS: NR | EM: 58 | LW: 72) 
73. <a href="https://www.espn.com/wnba/player/_/id/3142327/kia-nurse">Kia Nurse</a>, Sea, G40 (AS: 70 | EM: NR | LW: 64) 
73. <a href="https://www.espn.com/wnba/player/_/id/5130672/ivana-dojkic">Ivana Dojkic</a>, Sea, G41 (AS: NR | EM: 63 | LW: NR) 
75. <a href="https://www.espn.com/wnba/player/_/id/2590093/kiah-stokes">Kiah Stokes</a>, LV, C8 (AS: NR | EM: 74 | LW: 62)

espn-fantasy-wbb-top-75

Fantasy Women's Basketball: Updated Top 75 Rankings

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The only constant in sports (and life) is change. While consistency is key to a winning strategy, the ebb and flow of production often can&#8217;t be avoided.
Tracking the endless ups and downs over 40 games and nearly four months can become a heady operation. Segmenting the journey, however, into weekly updates allows managers to live (and play) in the now.
<div class="teads-inread xs-screen">
<div id="teads0" class="teads-player">That&#8217;s exactly what my Risers and Fallers column aims to accomplish, as we utilize ESPN&#8217;s metrics database for a deeper look at the numbers.</div>
</div>
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<h2>Risers</h2>
<img decoding="async" class="floatleft imageLoaded" src="https://a.espncdn.com/combiner/i?img=/i/headshots/wnba/players/full/3058908.png&amp;w=350&amp;h=254&amp;transparent=true" alt="" width="100" />
<h3><a href="https://www.espn.com/wnba/player/_/id/3058908/lindsay-allen">Lindsay Allen</a>, Guard, <a href="https://www.espn.com/wnba/team/_/name/min/minnesota-lynx">Minnesota Lynx</a> (7.6% rostered, +2.8)</h3>
Allen regained starter status in late June, recording 15 consecutive starts and averaging more than 29 minutes per game over the last five weeks. She scored 16 points in back-to-back contests at Connecticut before serving up 10 dimes versus New York on Friday. That second stat is key, as the 28-year-old has improved as a facilitator for three straight seasons and her assists per game average (4.4) currently sits at a career-high. It doesn&#8217;t hurt that she&#8217;s also registered a total of four steals since July 30.
The Lynx have the second least efficient defense in the league (105.7 DEFRTG), which means that they have to work that much harder on offense. While that doesn&#8217;t bode well for the 13-15 squad, it does boost the fantasy stocks of the team&#8217;s players. Keep an eye on Allen &#8211; who flashed late in 2022 &#8211; down the stretch.
<a href="https://www.espn.com/wnba/player/_/id/2490514/tianna-hawkins"><img decoding="async" class="floatleft imageLoaded" src="https://a.espncdn.com/combiner/i?img=/i/headshots/wnba/players/full/2490514.png&amp;w=350&amp;h=254&amp;transparent=true" alt="" width="100" /></a>
<h3><a href="https://www.espn.com/wnba/player/_/id/2490514/tianna-hawkins">Tianna Hawkins</a>, Forward, <a href="https://www.espn.com/wnba/team/_/name/wsh/washington-mystics">Washington Mystics</a> (46.2% rostered, +1.6)</h3>
Hawkins has, once again, caught fire over the past week. The Maryland native followed up a double-double performance at Atlanta on July 30 by sinking three 3-pointers versus Los Angeles this past Sunday. Coming off of a 23-point effort (her second 20+ point effort in the last month), Hawkins has recorded at least 17 points for three consecutive contests. She also has at least one steal in seven of eight games (and four multi-steal games over that span of time).
Washington is the worst rebounding team in the league (47.1 REB%). Hawkins prowess on the glass (5.1 rebounds/game), therefore, boosts her overall fantasy value while stabilizing her overall floor. She&#8217;ll take on the 7-20 Mercury team on Tuesday. Hawkins registered a total of 15 rebounds over her two prior outings against Phoenix this season.
<a href="https://www.espn.com/wnba/player/_/id/4398966/olivia-nelson-ododa"><img decoding="async" class="floatleft imageLoaded" src="https://a.espncdn.com/combiner/i?img=/i/headshots/wnba/players/full/4398966.png&amp;w=350&amp;h=254&amp;transparent=true" alt="" width="100" /></a>
<h3><a href="https://www.espn.com/wnba/player/_/id/4398966/olivia-nelson-ododa">Olivia Nelson-Ododa</a>, Forward, <a href="https://www.espn.com/wnba/team/_/name/conn/connecticut-sun">Connecticut Sun</a> (5.5% Rostered, +1.0)</h3>
<aside class="inline editorial float-r" data-behavior="article_related">Nelson-Ododa&#8217;s role has increased significantly since <a href="https://www.espn.com/wnba/player/_/id/3058895/brionna-jones">Brionna Jones</a> suffered an Achilles injury in late June. The UConn product most recently double-doubled at Indiana, managing 10 points and 10 rebounds in her 28 minutes. Nelson-Ododa&#8217;s 26 fantasy points on Friday marked her fifth straight game with a block. She&#8217;s additionally recorded a steal in six of her past seven efforts.</aside>
Recording at least 17 minutes in five straight outings, the 22-year-old (who turns 23-years-old on August 17) has averaged over 18 fantasy points per game since late July. Given that her per minute numbers have been well above average, an uptick in playing time would likely result in a surplus of fantasy production. Coming off such a dominant effort, Nelson-Ododa&#8217;s minutes figure to expand.
<hr />
<h2>Fallers</h2>
<a href="https://www.espn.com/wnba/player/_/id/2529137/natasha-cloud"><img decoding="async" class="floatleft imageLoaded" src="https://a.espncdn.com/combiner/i?img=/i/headshots/wnba/players/full/2529137.png&amp;w=350&amp;h=254&amp;transparent=true" alt="" width="100" /></a>
<h3><a href="https://www.espn.com/wnba/player/_/id/2529137/natasha-cloud">Natasha Cloud</a>, Guard, <a href="https://www.espn.com/wnba/team/_/name/wsh/washington-mystics">Washington Mystics</a> (96% rostered, -0.5)</h3>
Cloud is inside the top-35 fantasy producers so far this season, averaging 26.1 fantasy points per game. She&#8217;s not a drop candidate, but there&#8217;s no denying her recent struggles. The former league champ recorded a season-high five turnovers in Washington&#8217;s loss to the Sparks on Sunday. Cloud has additionally failed to register more than 13 points in four straight efforts, shooting 14-45 from the field (31%) and 1-8 from beyond the arc since July 28.
Cloud can run hot and cold, as evidenced by her single point effort at Chicago ahead of Memorial Day Weekend. In fact, twice this season the 31-year-old has been held under 10 points in consecutive games. Noting the recent dip in her field goal percentage and issues with 3-point efficiency, Cloud investors would be wise to balance their rosters with high upside players or consider benching the vet until she exits her current slump.
<a href="https://www.espn.com/wnba/player/_/id/3142086/brianna-turner"><img decoding="async" class="floatleft imageLoaded" src="https://a.espncdn.com/combiner/i?img=/i/headshots/wnba/players/full/3142086.png&amp;w=350&amp;h=254&amp;transparent=true" alt="" width="100" /></a>
<h3><a href="https://www.espn.com/wnba/player/_/id/3142086/brianna-turner">Brianna Turner</a>, Forward, <a href="https://www.espn.com/wnba/team/_/name/phx/phoenix-mercury">Phoenix Mercury</a> (73.4% rostered, +0.6)</h3>
Turner is a defensive marvel, averaging 5 defensive rebounds per game (top-16) on the season. But her offensive numbers have depressed her overall fantasy value. The 27-year-old has yet to attempt more than five shots in a game so far this year.
While a field goal percentage of 67.2 looks great on paper, a career-low number of field goals attempts (2.3 per game) tells the other side of the story. Registering no more than 6 points in any game since late June, Turner offers little upside over the final month (and fantasy push) of 2023.
Follow Liz on Twitter: <a href="https://twitter.com/LizLoza_FF">@LizLoza_FF</a>

espn-fantasy-wbb-week-12-risers-and-fallers

Fantasy Women's Basketball: Liz Loza's Risers and Fallers for Week 12

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There has been a lot of movement in this year&#8217;s offseason and a lot of key players leaving teams they have been on their entire careers.
Some of the best performers from last season are currently on a different roster &#8211; or still unsigned &#8212; in 2023.
That includes:
<ul>
<li>5 of the Top 20 leaders in PPG last season.</li>
<li>7 of the Top 20 leaders in APG last season.</li>
<li>7 of the Top 20 leads in RPG last season.</li>
</ul>
The list of high-profile players who have changed teams includes <a href="https://www.espn.com/wnba/player/_/id/2998928/breanna-stewart">Breanna Stewart</a>, <a href="https://www.espn.com/wnba/player/_/id/812/candace-parker">Candace Parker</a>, <a href="https://www.espn.com/wnba/player/_/id/2999101/jonquel-jones">Jonquel Jones</a> and <a href="https://www.espn.com/wnba/player/_/id/981/courtney-vandersloot">Courtney Vandersloot</a>. But with so many big-name fantasy players switching teams how could this impact their production this season?
<h2>New York is loaded</h2>
The Liberty have added the top scorer from last season (Stewart), the 2nd-leader in assists last year (Vandersloot) and a Top 5 rebounder (Jones) from 2022. All of this on top of having <a href="https://www.espn.com/wnba/player/_/id/4066533/sabrina-ionescu">Sabrina Ionescu</a> who led New York herself in scoring and assists.
<a href="https://www.espn.com/wnba/player/_/id/2998928/breanna-stewart">Breanna Stewart</a>, F (39.1 projected fantasy PPG)
When it comes to Stewart, joining a team with other super stars shouldn&#8217;t impact her numbers too much, if at all. She was the leading scorer in all six career seasons with the Storm averaging 18+ PPG in each year. She&#8217;s versatile and can play with just about anyone.
A great example is when the Storm added <a href="https://www.espn.com/wnba/player/_/id/918/tina-charles">Tina Charles</a> (2021 leading scorer) to the roster midseason last year. It barely impacted Stewart&#8217;s production. She still averaged 21.6 PPG, 7.5 APG, 2.5 APG, and 1.9 3-pt FG per game after the addition of Charles (22.0 PPG, 7.6 RPG, 3.3 APG, 2.0 3-pt FG per game).
If you are looking for someone to draft with your first pick, I wouldn&#8217;t worry about Stewart&#8217;s numbers being affected; she will still be one of the highest scoring fantasy players in the league.
<a href="https://www.espn.com/wnba/player/_/id/981/courtney-vandersloot">Courtney Vandersloot</a>, G (26.6 projected fantasy PPG)
The four-time All-Star, Vandersloot is joining a new roster for the first time in her career and she&#8217;s joining a team who already had an All-Star point guard in Ionescu.
The good news for Vandersloot is that Ionescu played well off ball as a catch and shoot player last season. Ionescu averaged 1.09 points per play on catch and shoot plays compared to just 0.86 off the dribble, according to Synergy.
This means the Vandersloot can assume the point guard position and focus on facilitating, similar to her roll when she was with the Sky. This also means that Ionescu could still be an elite fantasy player and focus more on rebounding and scoring instead of being the primary facilitator.
<a href="https://www.espn.com/wnba/player/_/id/2999101/jonquel-jones">Jonquel Jones</a>, F (31.3 projected fantasy PPG)
The 2021 MVP&#8217;s numbers were down last season and a lot of that was due to playing on a team with a lot of talent surrounding her. She was on a team with four other career All-Stars, which meant the Sun had to use a more balanced scoring attack, reducing Jones&#8217; productivity. This year&#8217;s Liberty team has a lot of talent as well, and this could cause her productivity to be similar to last season.
<h2>Other notables in new places</h2>
<a href="https://www.espn.com/wnba/player/_/id/812/candace-parker">Candace Parker</a>, F, <a href="https://www.espn.com/wnba/team/_/name/lv/las-vegas-aces">Las Vegas Aces</a> (32.0 projected fantasy PPG)
The two-time MVP will most likely take the spot of <a href="https://www.espn.com/wnba/player/_/id/2566106/dearica-hamby">Dearica Hamby</a> in the Aces&#8217; starting lineup. This is great news for <a href="https://www.espn.com/wnba/player/_/id/3149391/aja-wilson">A&#8217;ja Wilson</a> because Parker is a better 3-point shooter than Hamby and will force the defense to stretch out to give Wilson more one-on-one matchups in the post and mid-range. Parker is also a better facilitator, which could help getting Wilson more touches in her spots. I see Wilson having another monster year.
The Aces roster from last season not only had three players averaging 15+ PPG, but also three players averaging 3+ APG. Because of depth in scoring and facilitating on this squad among the starting lineup, Parker&#8217;s numbers could be negatively impacted. It could take some time for her to figure out her role since the Aces already have so many stars who are familiar with their roles from last season.
<a href="https://www.espn.com/wnba/player/_/id/2529130/natasha-howard">Natasha Howard</a>, F, <a href="https://www.espn.com/wnba/team/_/name/dal/dallas-wings">Dallas Wings</a> (31.9 projected fantasy PPG)
Howard was the 2nd-leading scorer on the Liberty last season and was traded to the Wings this offseason. She is joining a roster with one of the best shooting guards in the league in <a href="https://www.espn.com/wnba/player/_/id/3904577/arike-ogunbowale">Arike Ogunbowale</a> and a true center in <a href="https://www.espn.com/wnba/player/_/id/3913903/teaira-mccowan">Teaira McCowan</a>. This could impact her scoring numbers negatively. But she could make up for that with her rebounding since four of the six top rebounders from last year are no longer on the Wings roster. I would expect her fantasy numbers to take a slight dip with this team.
<a href="https://www.espn.com/wnba/player/_/id/3904576/marina-mabrey">Marina Mabrey</a>, G, <a href="https://www.espn.com/wnba/team/_/name/chi/chicago-sky">Chicago Sky</a> (29.3 projected fantasy PPG)
Mabrey was traded to the Sky in the offseason and this could be one of the best moves the Sky made. It also could be a perfect role for Mabrey, who is a great 3-point shooter. Chicago needed a 3-point threat since they lost 71% of their 3-point production from last season. I expect Mabrey to put up career numbers this year and be one of the league leaders in 3-pointers made.
<a href="https://www.espn.com/wnba/player/_/id/3058901/allisha-gray">Allisha Gray</a>, G, <a href="https://www.espn.com/wnba/team/_/name/atl/atlanta-dream">Atlanta Dream</a> (27.6 projected fantasy PPG)
Gray is joining a very young Atlanta team and she brings some experience to this roster. She will help replace <a href="https://www.espn.com/wnba/player/_/id/1054/tiffany-hayes">Tiffany Hayes</a>, the 2nd-leading scorer from their team last season. The Dream&#8217;s offense struggled in 2022, averaging 78.5 PPG (11th in league), and Gray&#8217;s experience and offensive prowess could be utilized a lot more on this roster.
<a href="https://www.espn.com/wnba/player/_/id/1054/tiffany-hayes">Tiffany Hayes</a>, G, <a href="https://www.espn.com/wnba/team/_/name/conn/connecticut-sun">Connecticut Sun</a> (26.6 projected fantasy PPG)
Hayes could be a great addition to the Sun, who had no one scoring more than 15+ PPG last season. Connecticut also lost guard <a href="https://www.espn.com/wnba/player/_/id/2987891/courtney-williams">Courtney Williams</a> in free agency, but this could be a perfect fit for Hayes since she is an elite scoring guard who can fill in that spot. She also is a three-point threat which the Sun needed considering they averaged just 6.4 threes per game in 2022 (11th in the league). She could be a player that has a breakout season with this Connecticut squad.
<a href="https://www.espn.com/wnba/player/_/id/2987891/courtney-williams">Courtney Williams</a>, G, <a href="https://www.espn.com/wnba/team/_/name/chi/chicago-sky">Chicago Sky</a> (24.2 projected fantasy PPG)
Williams signed with a depleted Sky team in the offseason. Chicago needs offense considering four of their five leading scorers from last season did not return for 2023. This means that Williams could have a great opportunity to be a primary scorer for this team which she didn&#8217;t have last year with the stacked Sun.
<a href="https://www.espn.com/wnba/player/_/id/2566106/dearica-hamby">Dearica Hamby</a>, F, <a href="https://www.espn.com/wnba/team/_/name/la/los-angeles-sparks">Los Angeles Sparks</a>
Hamby was traded by the Aces to the Sparks this offseason and she will be coming back from giving birth to her son in March. There is no timetable for Hamby&#8217;s return to play this season, but she is expected to return. You could possibly add her to your roster later in the season and she could be a great role player to have. She will be playing alongside an elite forward in <a href="https://www.espn.com/wnba/player/_/id/1068/nneka-ogwumike">Nneka Ogwumike</a>. Hamby is used to playing with great forwards since she&#8217;s played with <a href="https://www.espn.com/wnba/player/_/id/3149391/aja-wilson">A&#8217;ja Wilson</a> over the last five seasons and she&#8217;s averaged 10.2 PPG, 6.4 RPG, 1.7 APG, and 1.1 SPG over that span.
Sign up <a href="https://fantasy.espn.com/womens-basketball/welcome?addata=digital_gameopen_wnba)">HERE</a> to play ESPN Fantasy Women’s Basketball!

fantasy-womens-basketball-impact-of-big-names-on-new-teams

Fantasy Women's Basketball: Impact of Big Names on New Teams

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It&#8217;s almost that time again!
After an exciting debut last year, <a href="https://www.espn.com/fantasy/womens-basketball/">Fantasy Women&#8217;s Basketball</a> is back for its sophomore season. The WNBA campaign is ramping up and that means it&#8217;s time to get ready for the fantasy game.
As a quick review, this is a points, head-to-head format that crowns a champion in an end-of-season playoffs.
Here is the scoring system for the game:
Point = 1 Fantasy Point (FP) 
Rebound = 1 FP 
Assist = 1 FP 
Made 3-pointer = 1 FP 
Steal = 2 FP 
Block = 2 FP
<aside class="inline float-r inline-track">Points, rebounds and steals are all potentially high-volume categories, so they earn one fantasy point each. Steals and blocks are harder to come by, so they are worth twice as much. Made 3-pointers give you a bonus fantasy point in addition to the three FP you get for the points themselves. This also allows you to build your fantasy rosters with player types who contribute in different ways.</aside>
For example, <a href="https://www.espn.com/wnba/player/_/id/3149391/aja-wilson">A&#8217;Ja Wilson</a> was the only player in the league to finish top-5 in both points and blocked shots last season. Her 19.5 PPG, 9.4 RPG, 2.1 APG, 1.9 BPG, 1.4 SPG and 0.9 3PG were worth 19.5 + 9.4 + 2.1 + 3.8 + 2.8 + 0.9 = 38.5 FP/G.
Meanwhile, <a href="https://www.espn.com/wnba/player/_/id/2998928/breanna-stewart">Breanna Stewart</a> led the league in scoring and was top-5 in steals. Her 21.8 PPG, 7.6 RPG, 2.9 APG, 1.6 SPG, 0.9 BPG and 2.0 3PG were worth 21.8 + 7.6 + 2.9 + 3.2 + 1.8 + 2.0 = 39.3 FP/G.
And <a href="https://www.espn.com/wnba/player/_/id/4066533/sabrina-ionescu">Sabrina Ionescu</a> checked in as the only player in the top-5 in both total assists and total 3-pointers made. Her 17.4 PPG, 7.1 RPG, 6.3 APG, 1.1 SPG, 0.3 BPG and 2.3 3PG were worth 35.9 FP/G.
At the end of the day, WNBA stars will be among the elite fantasy scorers, regardless of their production style. There is also room for lower-volume players to shine if they contribute significantly in the more difficult to garner categories. This includes the glue players that control the paint, defensive anchors and long-range shooters.
Here&#8217;s a rundown of everything to get you ready for the Fantasy Women&#8217;s Basketball season.
<hr />
<h2>The basics: What you need to know</h2>
The WNBA season is increasing to a record 40 games this season (up from 36 last season and 32 games in 2021), and runs from May 19 to Sept. 10. There will typically be two to three games per week, yielding plenty of exhilarating action during the summer months.
<aside class="inline editorial float-r" data-behavior="article_related">There are 12 teams in the league, as opposed to the 30 in the NBA, so the fantasy roster sizes are a bit smaller. A typical league will be six fantasy teams with nine roster spots each, thus a nine-round fantasy draft.</aside>
You&#8217;ll start six players: two forwards, two guards, one center and one utility that can be any position.
Each week, every fantasy team goes head-to-head against one other team, and the one that accumulates the most fantasy points gets a win while the other team gets a loss. The teams with the best win-loss records advance to the fantasy playoffs and face one another to determine a champion.
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<h2>The draft: How to pick your team</h2>
The most important &#8212; and for many, the most fun &#8212; part of putting together a fantasy team is the draft. Snake drafts and Salary Cap drafts are the most popular of the four methods available, but choose the one that works best for you:
Snake: Players are chosen in a set order in the first round and then the draft order is reversed for each round thereafter. (Example: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6 then 6, 5, 4, 3, 2, 1).
Salary Cap: Team managers use a fictional budget to nominate and sign players until their roster is filled. Suggested values are listed in the draft room, with $1 being the minimum.
Autopick: The system automatically drafts players to each team in the league on a scheduled draft date so team managers don&#8217;t have to be online during the draft.
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<div id="google_ads_iframe_/21783347309/espn.com/fantasy/wfba/story_7__container__">Offline: Team managers conduct their own draft without the use of ESPN&#8217;s online draft system, then manually input the offline draft results into the system.</div>
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<h2>The game plan: How to win your league</h2>
Being a successful team manager means taking an active role in running your team throughout the WNBA season.
At a minimum, that means:
<ol>
<li>making adjustments to your starting lineup from the start of the season until the end</li>
<li>adding free agents who can help your team and cutting players who are ineffective</li>
<li>moving injured players to the Injured Reserve to open up an available roster spot that can be filled</li>
</ol>
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Good luck this season and have a blast! Be sure to check back throughout the WNBA season for plenty of analysis to help you build a championship roster.
Sign up <a href="https://fantasy.espn.com/womens-basketball/welcome?addata=digital_gameopen_wnba)">HERE</a> to play ESPN Fantasy Women&#8217;s Basketball!

2023-fantasy-wnba-how-to-play

Fantasy WNBA: How to Play Fantasy Women's Basketball

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Welcome to an exciting new era! We are pumped for the upcoming WNBA season, and our brand new fantasy women&#8217;s basketball game. Our standard game setting will be familiar to those who play head-to-head points NBA fantasy basketball, but adapted to the 12-team WNBA league and its shorter season. League Managers will be able to customize many of these settings, including league and roster size as well as the scoring system, but let&#8217;s dive into how the standard settings for <a href="https://www.espn.com/fantasy/womens-basketball/">Fantasy WNBA:</a>
Point = 1 Fantasy Point (FP) 
Rebound = 1 FP 
Assist = 1 FP 
Made 3-pointer = 1 FP 
Steal = 2 FP 
Block = 2 FP
Points, rebounds and steals are all potentially high-volume categories, so they earn one fantasy point each. Steals and blocks are harder to come by, so they are worth twice as much. Making a 3-pointer gets the extra point to reward the more difficult shot. This allows you to build your fantasy rosters with different, unique player types that contribute in different ways.
For example, <a href="https://www.espn.com/wnba/player/_/id/766/sylvia-fowles">Sylvia Fowles</a> was the only player in the league to finish top-5 in both blocks and steals last season. Her 16.0 points, 10.1 rebounds, 1.4 assists, 1.8 blocks, 1.8 steals and 0.0 3-pointers per game were worth 16+10.1+1.4+3.6+3.6+0 = 34.7 fantasy points per game.
Meanwhile, <a href="https://www.espn.com/wnba/player/_/id/3904577/arike-ogunbowale">Arike Ogunbowale</a> was the only player in the top-5 in both scoring and 3-pointers made. Her 18.7 PPG, 3.2 RPG, 3.3 APG, 1.2 SPG, 0.0 BPG and 2.5 3PG were worth 18.7+3.2+3.3+2.4+0.0+5.0 = 32.6 FP/G.
And GOAT candidate <a href="https://www.espn.com/wnba/player/_/id/91/sue-bird">Sue Bird</a> (have you seen her commercial?) checked in as the only player in the top-5 in both assists and 3-pointers made&#8230; in her age 40 season! Her 10.0 PPG, 2.6 RPG, 5.3 APG, 0.9 SPG, 0.1 BPG and 2.2 3PG were worth 24.3 FP/G.
At the end of the day, WNBA stars will be among the elite fantasy scorers, regardless of their production style. There is also room for lower-volume players to shine, if they contribute significantly in the more difficult to garner categories. This includes the glue players that control the paint, defensive anchors and long-range shooters.
<h3>The Basics &#8211; What you need to know</h3>
The WNBA season is 32 games, and runs from May 6 to August 14. Teams will typically play 2-3 games per week, yielding plenty of exhilarating action during the summer months.
There are 12 teams in the league, as opposed to the 30 in the NBA, so the fantasy roster sizes are a bit smaller. A typical league will be six fantasy teams with nine roster spots each, thus a nine-round fantasy draft.
You&#8217;ll start six players: two guards, three forwards/centers and one utility spot that can be any position.
Each week, every fantasy team goes head-to-head against one other team, and the one that accumulates the most fantasy points gets a win while the other team gets a loss. The teams with the best win-loss records advance to the fantasy playoffs and face one another to determine a champion. You can also select the optional &#8220;bonus scoring&#8221; feature and compete for a second weekly win, given to the top-scoring half of the league&#8217;s teams. So while it is possible to win your matchup while scoring the second-least points, or lose while scoring the second-most, bonus scoring always rewards the highest scorers of the week.
<h3>The Draft &#8211; How to pick your team</h3>
The most important &#8212; and for many, the most fun &#8212; part of putting together a fantasy team is the draft. Snake drafts and Salary Cap drafts are the most popular of the four methods available, but choose the one that works best for you:
Snake: Players are chosen in a set order in the first round and then the draft order is reversed for each round thereafter. (Example: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6 then 6, 5, 4, 3, 2, 1).
Salary Cap: Team managers use a fictional budget to nominate and sign players until their roster is filled. Suggested values are listed in the draft room, with $1 being the minimum.
Autopick: The system automatically drafts players to each team in the league on a scheduled draft date so team managers don&#8217;t have to be online during the draft.
Offline: Team managers conduct their own draft without the use of ESPN&#8217;s online draft system, then manually input the offline draft results into the system.
<h3>The Game plan &#8211; How to win your league</h3>
Being a successful team manager means taking an active role in running your team throughout the WNBA season.
At a minimum, that means:
1) making adjustments to your starting lineup from the start of the season until the end 
2) adding free agents who can help your team and cutting players who are ineffective 
3) moving injured players to the Injured Reserve to open up an available roster spot that can be filled
Keep an eye on this space for plenty of analysis to help you build a championship roster and enjoy the WNBA season in an entirely new way.
Original article posted on ESPN. Andre Snellings has worked as both a writer and on-air talent for ESPN since 2017 covering a wide range of sports, but specializing in women&#8217;s basketball.

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