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WNBA -- 08/29 05:20 -- by ESPN Fantasy
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 Andre Snellings. It's never too late to sign up for your own ESPN league.
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2026 fantasy women's basketball awards
Eric Moody: The 2026 season had everything fantasy managers could ask for, with stars delivering on expectations, breakout players and plenty of help from the waiver wire. With the fantasy season almost over, here are my awards for the players who made the biggest impact. Fantasy MVP: A'ja Wilson , F/C, Las Vegas Aces Wilson was the safest player in fantasy and once again delivered elite production across the board. She scored, rebounded, blocked shots and created steals at a level few players could match. Wilson ranks first in total fantasy points and fantasy points per game by a significant margin. If you drafted her at 1.01, she lived up to expectations. Best scorer award for most fantasy points from points and 3-pointers: Kelsey Mitchell , G, Indiana Fever Mitchell was one of the league's best sources of scoring and 3-pointers all season. She ranked third in 3-pointers per game while shooting 45.5% from beyond the arc, second in points per game and second in field goal attempts per game. Mitchell ranks fifth in total fantasy points largely because of that scoring production, making her a great return on her average draft position. Box score award for most fantasy points from rebounds, assists, steals and blocks: Angel Reese , F/C, Atlanta Dream
Reese hasn't had to be a prolific scorer to help fantasy managers. Most of her value comes from everything else. She currently holds the single-season rebounding record, passing A'ja Wilson's mark of 451 from the 2024 season. Reese leads the league in rebounds per game and ranks third in steals per game. When you add in her points, assists and blocks, she ranks fourth in total fantasy points. Reese has generated more value from the non-scoring categories than any other player. Matchup winner award for best fantasy week: A'ja Wilson, F/C, Las Vegas Aces Wilson also delivered one of the best fantasy stretches of the season. From July 28 through Aug. 1, she scored 166 fantasy points across three games, including 28 points and 14 rebounds, 33 points with 10 rebounds and six assists, and 36 points with 12 rebounds. A week like that can swing an entire fantasy matchup.
Most underrated award for best player under 50% rostered: Leila Lacan , G, Connecticut Sun Lacan was one of the better under-the-radar fantasy options this season for a Sun team that was one of the worst in the league. She averaged 23.1 fantasy points in 28.4 minutes per game, and her assists and steals gave her value even when the scoring wasn't there. Despite that production, Lacan remained available in far too many leagues for much of the season.
Others
Biggest rostership rise from opening night to now: Jessica Shepard , F/C, Dallas Wings Biggest rostership drop from opening night to now: Rickea Jackson , F/C, Chicago Sky
Aug. 24: Four picks to make for the fantasy finals
Andr e Snellings: This is a unique week in the WNBA schedule. Not only is it a crucial period because of the fantasy playoffs, but this is also the last week before the WNBA goes on a 17-day hiatus for the FIBA Women's Basketball World Cup. The World Cup goes from August 31 through September 16, then the WNBA season and fantasy playoffs will resume on September 17.
The layoff could allow some currently injured players to get healthy, which could change the roles of streamable players after the hiatus. So, with the need to maximize your fantasy contributions every day during the playoffs, this is a good week to potentially pick up and start some of the players that are getting more opportunities due to teammates being unavailable. And that's where we come in.
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 or streaming.
Isabelle Harrison , F, Toronto Tempo (Rostered in 45.9% of ESPN Leagues): Harrison has been starting and playing an expanded role for the Tempo with Nyara Sabally sidelined. In these five most recent starts, Harrison is averaging a near double-double of 10.2 PPG and 8.2 RPG along with 1.6 BPG and 1.2 SPG. She posted a monster 25-point/10-rebound double-double against the Portland Fire on Friday.
Makayla Timpson , F, Indiana Fever (15.8%): Timpson moved into the starting lineup for the Fever earlier this month, and her slashing and defensive style of play has fit perfectly next to the brilliant offense-creating backcourt of Caitlin Clark and Kelsey Mitchell . Over her past five games, Timpson is averaging a near double-double of 12.2 PPG and 8.2 RPG.
Awak Kuier , C, Dallas Wings (35.4%): Kuier, the second overall pick in the 2021 WNBA Draft, has started four of the last five games for the Wings and is showing her defensive dominance. She has at least one blocked shot in all five of those games and has notched the combined total of 19 "stocks" (steals and blocks) during that span in addition to her averages of 9.0 PPG and 6.4 RPG.
Saniya Rivers , G, Connecticut Sun (18.1%): Rivers is putting together a strong finish to her sophomore campaign, particularly on the defensive end. She has tied her career-best of four steals in two of her last three games. In that span, she has averaged 11.0 PPG, 4.7 RPG, 3.3 APG and 3.3 SPG in 25.3 MPG off the bench.
Read on the web: https://www.espn.com/fantasy/womens-basketball/story/_/id/48713412/espn-wnba-fantasy-womens-basketball-lineups-adds-drops-news-players
Stringer Sports -- straight from the wire.