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Fantasy Women's Basketball: Liz Loza's Risers And Fallers For Week 15
Why Elizabeth Williams is having a bounce back season (0:46)Liz Loza dives into Elizabeth Williams bounce back season and why she is a must start in fantasy. (0:46)
Liz Loza, ESPNAug 29, 2023, 12:55 PM ET
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't be avoided.
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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.
That's exactly what my Risers and Fallers column aims to accomplish, as we utilize ESPN's metrics database for a deeper look at the numbers.
Risers
Megan Gustafson, Center, Phoenix Mercury (19.0% rostered, +10.3) Gustafson was thrust into the Mercury's starting lineup on the heels of Brittney Griner's temporary absence. The Iowa product acquitted herself well over that time, recording at least 14 points (on exactly 13 field goal attempts) as well as 8 rebounds in back-to-back efforts. While Gustafson's minutes were nearly halved on the heels of Griner's return, the 26-year-old continued to be productive off the bench. She sank 4 of 5 field goals while managing 3 boards and 2 dimes in Phoenix three-point loss versus Dallas on Sunday. Griner's return obviously caps Gustafson's minutes but the backup center has proven herself to be a solid insurance policy.
Robinson is a solid all-around producer. Her minutes (and subsequent upside) don't compete with those of Rhyne Howard or Allisha Gray, but she is a starter on a squad fighting for a spot in the playoffs. Atlanta has been fourth in pace (96.60) and eighth in defensive efficiency (103.9) over the team's past seven games. That means there should be a surplus of touches available to the Dream members.
While Robinson is coming off a dud of a game from a shooting perspective, her work on the glass and as a facilitator remained steady last Sunday. The game was also preceded by three consecutive double-digit point efforts (10, 17, 12). Furthermore, leads the Dream team in assist ratio (32.8), registering an average of 3.3 dimes per game. Consider the 34-year-old a savvy stream down the stretch.
3dESPN Fantasy
3dAndré Snellings
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Samuelson has found herself in and out of the L.A.'s starting lineup throughout the season. Samuelson's minutes have boomed since the start of the month, however, as the 28-year-old has averaged 27.5 minutes per contest over her last nine outings. The increase in playing time has resulted in an increase in production. Samuelson currently leads the Sparks in Effective Field Goal Percentage (62.6%) and True Shooting Percentage (68.6%). The former Stanford standout is fearless from beyond the arc, registering an average of nearly two 3-point shots per game since Aug. 6. She's a higher variance player, but one who could make a real fantasy difference given the right matchup.
Fallers
Reminder: just because a player is on my list of "fallers" doesn't mean she's a drop candidate. Hawkins has been fire off the bench, posting career-high numbers in every category across the board. She's managed numerous double-digit efforts (4) since the start of the month and her ability as a rebounder provides managers with a solid floor. However, Elena Delle Donne's return figures to negatively affect Hawkins' playing time. Coming off the bench and limited to under 10 field goal attempts per game, Hawkins flex appeal is dampened.
Dorka Juhasz's hamstring injury triggered a return to the starting lineup for Shepard in early August. The 26-year-old flashed immediately, managing back-to-back double-digit efforts. That initial spark appears to have waned, however, as Shepard has failed to clear 7 points over her last five games. Shepard's rebounds have additionally slipped, as she's managed no more than one board in two of her last three outings. Unfortunately, this trend is ill-timed for fantasy purposes given the number of higher upside options available.
Follow Liz on Twitter: @LizLoza_FF
Fantasy Women's Basketball: Updated Top 75 Rankings
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Aug 28, 2023, 03:34 PM ETBelow, you'll find our updated rankings of the top 75 players for fantasy women's basketball in 2023.
These rankings are based on ESPN's default women'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. 28
Player, Team, Positional Rank (Snellings rank, Moody's rank, Last week's rank)1. Breanna Stewart, NY, F1 (AS: 1EM: 1LW: 1)2. A'ja Wilson, LV, F2 (AS: 2EM: 2LW: 2)3. Alyssa Thomas, Conn, F3 (AS: 3EM: 3LW: 3)4. Napheesa Collier, Min, F4 (AS: 5EM: 4LW: 6)5. Jewell Loyd, Sea, G1 (AS: 4EM: 6LW: 4)6. Nneka Ogwumike, LA, F5 (AS: 6EM: 5LW: 7)7. Satou Sabally, Dal, F6 (AS: 7EM: 8LW: 5)8. Sabrina Ionescu, NY, G2 (AS: 9EM: 7LW: 9)9. Arike Ogunbowale, Dal, G3 (AS: 8EM: 10LW: 7)10. Natasha Howard, Dal, F7 (AS: 10EM: 9LW: 10)11. Rhyne Howard, Atl, G4 (AS: 11EM: 11LW: 11)12. Chelsea Gray, LV, G5 (AS: 12EM: 14LW: 12)12. Jackie Young, LV, G6 (AS: 13EM: 13LW: 14)14. Brittney Griner, Phx, C1 (AS: 15EM: 12LW: 13)15. Aliyah Boston, Ind, F8 (AS: 16EM: 15LW: 17)16. DeWanna Bonner, Conn, F9 (AS: 17EM: 16LW: 19)17. Kelsey Plum, LV, G7 (AS: 14EM: 20LW: 16)18. Ezi Magbegor, Sea, C2 (AS: 18EM: 17LW: 15)19. Elena Delle Donne, Wsh, F10 (AS: 19EM: 18LW: 18)20. Allisha Gray, Atl, G8 (AS: 23EM: 19LW: 22)21. Brittney Sykes, Wsh, G9 (AS: 21EM: 22LW: 19)21. Cheyenne Parker, Atl, F11 (AS: 22EM: 21LW: 24)23. Kahleah Copper, Chi, G10 (AS: 20EM: 26LW: 23)24. Diana Taurasi, Phx, G11 (AS: 24EM: 23LW: 21)25. Jonquel Jones, NY, F12 (AS: 26EM: 25LW: 24)25. Jordin Canada, LA, G12 (AS: 27EM: 24LW: 28)27. Marina Mabrey, Chi, G13 (AS: 25EM: 33LW: 26)27. Kelsey Mitchell, Ind, G14 (AS: 28EM: 30LW: 26)27. Natasha Cloud, Wsh, G15 (AS: 31EM: 27LW: 33)30. NaLyssa Smith, Ind, F13 (AS: 30EM: 29LW: 30)31. Teaira McCowan, Dal, C3 (AS: 32EM: 28LW: 30)32. Courtney Vandersloot, NY, G16 (AS: 33EM: 31LW: 29)32. Courtney Williams, Chi, G17 (AS: 29EM: 35LW: 32)34. Kayla McBride, Min, G18 (AS: 34EM: 34LW: 35)35. Alanna Smith, Chi, F14 (AS: 39EM: 32LW: 37)36. Diamond Miller, Min, G19 (AS: 36EM: 38LW: 34)37. Jessica Shepard, Min, F15 (AS: 35EM: 41LW: 36)38. Shakira Austin, Wsh, C4 (AS: 37EM: 40LW: 40)39. Lexie Brown, LA, G20 (AS: 41EM: 37LW: 42)40. Ariel Atkins, Wsh, G21 (AS: 40EM: 39LW: 37)40. Elizabeth Williams, Chi, C5 (AS: 38EM: 41LW: 39)42. Azura Stevens, LA, F16 (AS: 44EM: 36LW: 44)43. Erica Wheeler, Ind, G22 (AS: 45EM: 40LW: 43)44. Tiffany Hayes, Conn, G23 (AS: 43EM: 43LW: 41)44. Betnijah Laney, NY, F17 (AS: 42EM: 44LW: 45)46. Sami Whitcomb, Sea, G24 (AS: 48EM: 45LW: 50)47. Sophie Cunningham, Phx, G25 (AS: 46EM: 48LW: 45)48. Dearica Hamby, LA, F18 (AS: 47EM: 52LW: 47)49. Tianna Hawkins, Wsh, F19 (AS: 53EM: 49LW: 49)50. Jordan Horston, Sea, G26 (AS: 54EM: 50LW: 50)51. Michaela Onyenwere, Phx, F20 (AS: 52EM: 53LW: 52)52. Crystal Dangerfield, Dal, G27 (AS: 50EM: 56LW: 53)53. Moriah Jefferson, Phx, G28 (AS: 49EM: 59LW: 48)53. Natisha Hiedeman, Conn, G29 (AS: 51EM: 57LW: 55)55. Layshia Clarendon, LA, G30 (AS: 69EM: 42LW: 59)56. Brianna Turner, Phx, F21 (AS: 55EM: 62LW: 57)57. Rebecca Allen, Conn, G31 (AS: 60EM: 60LW: 61)58. Dana Evans, Chi, G32 (AS: 59EM: 63LW: 61)58. Aari McDonald, Atl, G33 (AS: 61EM: 61LW: 63)60. DiJonai Carrington, Conn, G34 (AS: 57EM: 69LW: 58)61. Myisha Hines-Allen, Wsh, F22 (AS: 64EM: 64LW: 64)62. Dorka Juhasz, Min, F23 (AS: NREM: 54LW: 71)63. Victoria Vivians, Ind, G35 (AS: 62EM: 72LW: 65)64. Nikolina Milic, Min, C6 (AS: NREM: 50LW: 66)64. Tiffany Mitchell, Min, G36 (AS: 65EM: 70LW: 66)66. Queen Egbo, Ind, C7 (AS: 56EM: NRLW: 68)67. Alysha Clark, LV, F24 (AS: 71EM: 69LW: 69)68. Olivia Nelson-Ododa, Conn, F25 (AS: NREM: 58LW: 72)69. Kristy Wallace, Ind, G37 (AS: 67EM: NRLW: 69)69. Megan Gustafson, Phx, C8 (AS: NREM: 65LW: NR)71. Shatori Walker-Kimbrough, Wsh, G38 (AS: 73EM: 75LW: 59)71. Kia Nurse, Sea, G39 (AS: 70EM: NRLW: 73)73. Kiah Stokes, LV, C9 (AS: 75EM: 74LW: 75)74. Danielle Robinson, Atl, G40 (AS: NREM: 74LW: NR)75. Ivana Dojkic, Sea, G41 (AS: NREM: 73LW: 73)
WNBA Waiver Wire: Many Guards To Consider In Fantasy Playoffs
Andre Snellings, ESPNAug 28, 2023, 05:25 PM ET
We are down to the wire, in the first week of the 2-week final of the fantasy women's basketball playoffs. At the end of this scoring period, most leagues will have crowned their champion.
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So, more than ever, streaming should be the move for everyone whose team is still vying for the chip. In one of the leagues I'm in, I barely squeaked out a win in the semifinals because my opponent used nine of his 10 weekly add/drops and really padded his output for the week.
That is the type of energy that we all need to be on during this time, so let's take our weekly trip around the WNBA to identify the lightly rostered players who are producing solid numbers.
Moriah Jefferson, G, Phoenix Mercury (Rostered in 47.5% of ESPN leagues): Jefferson popped for a season-high 20 points on Sunday in a game where Diana Taurasi (toe) didn't play. Taurasi is listed as day-to-day, but has missed two straight games and the Mercury were officially eliminated from playoffs consideration on Sunday. It isn't clear when or if Taurasi will be back on the court, but Jefferson has impact scoring and assist potential in any game where she is the offensive focal point for the Mercury.
Editor's Picks 3dESPN Fantasy
7dEric Moody
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Layshia Clarendon, G, Los Angeles Sparks (27.7%): Clarendon has become a consistent impact player for the Sparks in recent weeks, averaging 14.7 PPG, 4.7 APG, 3.0 RPG, 1.0 3PG and 0.8 SPG in 31.5 MPG in her last six games. She has scored at least 13 points in five of those six games, and dished at least five assists in four of those games.
Megan Gustafson, C, Phoenix Mercury (19.0%): Gustafson returned to a role off the bench on Sunday with Brittney Griner (health and safety protocols) back on the court, but still managed 11 points, 3 rebounds, 2 assists, a 3-pointer and a blocked show in 13 minutes. This marked three straight double-digit scoring efforts for Gustafson, one in a start and two off the bench. The Mercury were officially eliminated from postseason consideration on Sunday, so it is possible that Gustafson could get more opportunity down the stretch if the Mercury give fewer minutes to their veteran players.
Grace Berger, G, Indiana Fever (2.5%): Berger has gotten more run of late with Lexie Hull (shoulder) out of the lineup, and she has taken advantage with averages of 13.0 PPG, 3.5 APG, 3.0 RPG, 1.5 3PG, 1.5 SPG and 0.5 BPG in 25.0 MPG in her last two games. Hull has missed three straight games, and the team hasn't provided a substantial update on when she might return. In the meantime, Berger has proven that she can produce as long as she continues to be called upon.
Dana Evans, G, Chicago Sky (12.1%): Evans is finishing the season strong, with three double-digit scoring efforts in her last five games, including a 23-point/8-assist performance in 21 minutes on Aug. 22 against the Storm. All told, in her last five outings Evans has averaged 14.4 PPG, 4.4 APG, 2.0 3PG, 1.6 RPG and 0.4 SPG in 21.0 MPG.
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