Fantasy WNBA: Top Risers and Fallers for the Semifinals
Just four teams remain as the WNBA playoffs heat up, and key role players will need to step up to help their squads advance to the Finals.
Top Fantasy WNBA Risers for the Semifinals
Odyssey Sims, Indiana Fever: Sims joined the injury-riddled Fever on a seven-day hardship contract Aug. 10 with Caitlin Clark (groin), Aari McDonald (foot) and Sydney Colson (knee) sidelined. Just a week later, Sophie Cunningham was shut down for the remainder of the season due to a torn MCL. Sims signed three hardship deals with Indiana before ultimately agreeing to a rest-of-season contract, and she has been a mainstay in the starting lineup since mid-August. The veteran guard has posted double-digit points in four of her last five outings, averaging 12.6 points, 3.8 assists, 2.4 rebounds and 1.8 steals across 30.2 minutes per game during that span. Additionally, she finished as the Fever's second-leading scorer in Sunday's Game 1 win over the Aces, contributing 17 points (7-13 FG, 0-1 3Pt, 3-3 FT), three assists, three steals and two rebounds in 32 minutes. The 33-year-old should continue to see ample playing time as the Fever aim to upset the Aces and advance to the WNBA Finals.
Kayla McBride, Minnesota Lynx: McBride struggled in Minnesota's playoff-opening loss to Golden State on Sept. 11, but she has been terrific since. Over her last three appearances, the veteran sharpshooter has averaged 18.7 points, 4.3 rebounds, 2.0 assists and 1.0 steals
Fantasy WNBA: Top Risers and Fallers for the Semifinals
Just four teams remain as the WNBA playoffs heat up, and key role players will need to step up to help their squads advance to the Finals.
Top Fantasy WNBA Risers for the Semifinals
Odyssey Sims, Indiana Fever: Sims joined the injury-riddled Fever on a seven-day hardship contract Aug. 10 with Caitlin Clark (groin), Aari McDonald (foot) and Sydney Colson (knee) sidelined. Just a week later, Sophie Cunningham was shut down for the remainder of the season due to a torn MCL. Sims signed three hardship deals with Indiana before ultimately agreeing to a rest-of-season contract, and she has been a mainstay in the starting lineup since mid-August. The veteran guard has posted double-digit points in four of her last five outings, averaging 12.6 points, 3.8 assists, 2.4 rebounds and 1.8 steals across 30.2 minutes per game during that span. Additionally, she finished as the Fever's second-leading scorer in Sunday's Game 1 win over the Aces, contributing 17 points (7-13 FG, 0-1 3Pt, 3-3 FT), three assists, three steals and two rebounds in 32 minutes. The 33-year-old should continue to see ample playing time as the Fever aim to upset the Aces and advance to the WNBA Finals.
Kayla McBride, Minnesota Lynx: McBride struggled in Minnesota's playoff-opening loss to Golden State on Sept. 11, but she has been terrific since. Over her last three appearances, the veteran sharpshooter has averaged 18.7 points, 4.3 rebounds, 2.0 assists and 1.0 steals across 34.0 minutes per game. Additionally, she has shot 50.0 percent from the field and 47.1 percent from beyond the arc during that span. With DiJonai Carrington ruled out for the remainder of the postseason due to a foot injury, the Lynx's top backcourt options will likely continue to absorb extra minutes. McBride has logged 38 minutes in back-to-back outings and is expected to continue seeing heavy minutes as the Lynx aim to go up 2-0 in the second round in Tuesday's Game 2 against Phoenix.
Kahleah Copper, Phoenix Mercury: Copper has been productive for the Mercury in the postseason thus far, scoring 12 or more points in all four games. The star guard has logged 29-plus minutes in each of those appearances, averaging 15.8 points and 3.8 rebounds across 34.0 minutes per game during that span. As the Mercury's rotation shrinks, Copper is likely to continue receiving heavy minutes. The 31-year-old's scoring ability alongside Alyssa Thomas and Satou Sabally will be crucial for Phoenix as the team looks to tie the second-round series at 1-1 in Tuesday's Game 2 against Minnesota.
Key Fantasy WNBA Fallers to Avoid This Week
Kierstan Bell, Las Vegas Aces: Bell has been held scoreless in back-to-back outings, logging 20 or fewer minutes per game despite maintaining a starting role. The 25-year-old guard has had a limited impact in the postseason, averaging 3.0 points and 2.3 rebounds while shooting 35.7 percent from the field across 15.5 minutes per game in four appearances. Dana Evans and Jewell Loyd both saw increased playing time off the bench in Sunday's Game 1 loss to the Fever, and Bell's struggles bode poorly for her playing time as the Aces aim to tie the series at 1-1 in Tuesday's Game 2.
Aerial Powers, Indiana Fever: Powers enjoyed a steady role after joining the Fever on Aug. 23, and she averaged 16.3 minutes per game in the first round of the playoffs. However, she averaged just 4.0 points and 2.3 rebounds while shooting 26.7 percent from the field during that span. The 31-year-old forward logged only eight minutes during Sunday's Game 1 win over the Aces and isn't guaranteed meaningful playing time moving forward, especially considering Brianna Turner has seen an uptick in minutes recently.
Natasha Mack, Phoenix Mercury: Mack has been a mainstay in the Mercury's starting lineup since early August, though she hasn't logged more than 20 minutes in a game since Sept. 6. Over her last six outings, Mack has averaged 2.8 points and 2.7 rebounds across 16.3 minutes per game. During that span, she has posted more than 10 ESPN fantasy points just once. Mack's fantasy value is reliant on her rebounding and defensive abilities, though her limited impact and minutes don't bode well for her role in the rest of the playoffs.
Fantasy WNBA Player to Watch in the Semifinals
Brianna Turner, Indiana Fever: Turner saw limited playing time in the first half of the season, though she has received an uptick in minutes since several of Indiana's key contributors are sidelined. The 29-year-old forward has logged double-digit minutes in five straight outings, including a season-high 23 minutes in Sunday's Game 1 win over the Aces. Turner has posted double-digit ESPN fantasy points in three straight appearances, averaging 4.0 points, 4.3 rebounds, 1.3 blocks and 1.0 assists across 20.3 minutes per game during that span. She has taken minutes from Aerial Powers of late, and Turner's role will be worth monitoring moving forward.
Those looking for up-to-the-minute fantasy WNBA news can check out RotoWire's WNBA Injury Report and WNBA Lineups. RotoWire also features Top WNBA Picks and Player Props on a daily basis to help find the best betting lines for each night's slate.
