Fantasy women’s hoops: Four players to target in the home stretch of the seasonAfter a massive 20-point performance just before the break, Kaitlyn Chen is a smart pickup to make in Fantasy WNBA. M. Anthony Nesmith/Icon SportswireESPN FantasyJul 28, 2026, 05:30 PM ETClose
The daily news and notes around the WNBA have actionable value when applied to fantasy women’s basketball. From lineup changes to hot streaks to injury news, check this page regularly for updates from ESPN’s fantasy analysts Eric Moody and André Snellings. It’s never too late to sign up for your own ESPN league. Create or join a league, and play for free today!
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July 28: What’s ahead for the home stretch of the season?
Andre Snellings: The WNBA held an exciting All-Star weekend of festivities. Azzi Fudd became the first rookie to win a 3-point contest, Dominique Malonga became the first woman to dunk in an All-Star Game off a feed from Angel Reese and Jonquel Jones turned in an MVP effort to lead Team Spoon over Team Coop.
As we come off the All-Star break, it is time to go down the home stretch of the season. The fantasy playoffs are on the horizon, so this is the time for the final push to get your teams into the postseason. As always, we help you keep your team operating at its best by pointing out some players that may be available on your free agency wire that are performing well enough to be worthy of rostering.
Four players to target in free agency
Sydney Taylor, G, Chicago Sky (29.9% rostered in ESPN leagues): Taylor has had a great July, capped by a 31-point explosion against the Liberty in her last game before the break. That was her third game of 29 or more points since June 11, showing her upside as a leading scorer for the Sky.
Isabelle Harrison, F, Toronto Tempo (49.6%): Harrison posted a monster 26-point, 11-rebound double-double in her last game before the All-Star break. She has had some ebbs and flows in her production this season, but has posted double digits in points in 10 of her last 13 games with seven or more boards in seven of those games.
Kaitlyn Chen, G, Golden State Valkyries (3.9%): Chen was major off the bench in her last outing before the break, scoring 20 points with six assists in 24 minutes. Chen has settled into her instant offense role off the bench for the Valkyries, scoring 14 or more in four of her last six games.
Megan DiLeo, C, Portland Fire (36.2%): DiLeo has scored in double figures in eight straight appearances dating back to June 24, capped by a 21-point effort in the game leading into the break. In that span, DiLeo has put up 15.5 PPG, 3.9 RPG and 2.1 3PG in 29.3 MPG.
10 Things I Learned About You (All-Star break edition)
Rhyne Howard’s across-the-board production has her 10th in fantasy points at the All-Star break. Joe Boatman/NBAE via Getty ImagesEric Moody: The All-Star break is here, making this the perfect time to break down 10 things we learned from the first half of the season.1. The Minnesota Lynx have been a treasure trove of fantasy points
The Lynx have the best record in the league and played surprisingly well while Napheesa Collier was sidelined earlier this season recovering from an ankle injury. Rookie Olivia Miles has been phenomenal, ranking third in fantasy points behind A’ja Wilson and Breanna Stewart while greatly outperforming her average draft position, while Natasha Howard is fifth in scoring. Kayla McBride is not far behind at 11th, and Courtney Williams is 18th, giving the Lynx four players who, in retrospect, could legitimately have been picked in the first three rounds of drafts.
2. The Golden State Valkyries remain a contender
The Valkyries have the second-best record in the league, rank first in defensive rating and three-pointers made, and have three players (Veronica Burton, Gabby Williams and Janelle Salaun) averaging at least 22.0 fantasy points per game.
3. The Atlanta Dream are thriving on both ends of the court
The Dream rank fifth in offensive rating and fourth in defensive rating. They also have four players in Rhyne Howard, Angel Reese, Allisha Gray and Jordin Canada who are averaging at least 28.0 FPPG.
4. Shakira Austin has been a pleasant surprise
Austin has been superb for the Washington Mystics this season and leads the team with 31.4 FPPG. She’s been a much better fantasy value than No. 4 overall WNBA draft pick Lauren Betts, who had a similar average draft position. Austin is averaging career highs in points, rebounds, assists and blocks.
5. Marina Mabrey has become the Toronto Tempo’s centerpiece
Mabrey has emerged as a focal point for the expansion Tempo this season. She leads the team with 32.0 FPPG and a 30.5% usage rate. Mabrey is averaging a career-high 21.0 PPG while shooting 44.0% from beyond the arc.
6. Carla Leite has emerged from nowhere
Carla Leite has been a pleasant surprise for the Portland Fire after going undrafted in most fantasy leagues. She ranks second on the team with 25.8 FPPG, trailing only Bridget Carleton at 26.4.
7. The Phoenix Mercury have taken a major step back
It is surprising to see Alyssa Thomas rank 13th in FPPG considering how dominant she has been in recent seasons. The Phoenix Mercury also don’t look like the same team that made a run to the WNBA Finals last season and, even more surprisingly, do not have an All-Star for the first time since 2002.
8. Skylar Diggins has disappointed
Diggins, a seven time All-Star, has been a disappointment for both the Chicago Sky and fantasy managers this season. She is currently week-to-week with a knee injury, and with Chicago owning one of the worst records in the league, the Sky are unlikely to rush her back. Diggins also ranks outside the top 30 in FPPG.
9. Dominique Malonga is breaking out
Malonga has flourished for the Seattle Storm in her second season. She leads the team with 30.9 FPPG and has been one of the few bright spots for a Storm team that has struggled more than expected this season.
10. Jessica Shepard has greatly outperformed her average draft position
Shepard signed with the Dallas Wings during free agency after largely serving as a backup for the Minnesota Lynx. Since arriving in Dallas, she has emerged as an All-Star starter, a Most Improved Player candidate and one of the best values in fantasy drafts. Shepard ranks second on the team with 33.3 FPPG, behind only Paige Bueckers at 35.3.
July 22: Should you make a Napheesa Collier trade?
Napheesa Collier is returning to the Minnesota Lynx having missed the first 27 games of the season. David Sherman/NBAE via Getty ImagesAndré Snellings: Napheesa Collier is probable to make her season debut tonight. Collier has had multiple ankle surgeries since her season-ending injuries in last year’s playoffs, and tonight she is likely to be back on the court with the Minnesota Lynx. Prior to her injury, Collier was a top-two fantasy scorer. She is universally rostered despite her injury absence. So the question becomes: what is her current fantasy trade value and what is the best strategy of how to deal with her return?
Fantasy managers that have rostered and held onto Collier all this time have likely done so with the notion that she will return at or near her previous levels of production, so it is understandable if some of those managers might consider her untradeable. Still, her trade value might be as high as it will be this season. After all, Collier is coming off major injury and returning to a Lynx squad already in first place that is led by a new superstar in rookie Olivia Miles. Not only is it reasonable to believe Collier might start off slow as she builds back, but her production ceiling might not be as high on the current team. So, if a manager can trade Collier now at anywhere near “top-two player in fantasy” value, it makes sense to strongly consider it.
On the flip side, if you don’t have Collier on your roster but want to trade for her, the short term after her return might be your best chance to trade for her at value, because there is a likelihood that she starts slow and the team that “drafted and stashed” her may not be able to wait for her to find her level. Collier was routinely drafted in the first two or three rounds of fantasy drafts, so teams that waited on her have been playing without an impact player and could be struggling in the standings. If that’s the case, they may not have much time to make a playoffs push and may be willing to move Collier for lesser but productive value.
As with any fantasy trade, whom you acquire and whom you give up is dependent on your roster and your place in the standings, but it is due diligence to look at Collier in your league and determine your best course of action.
