EmailPrintOpen Extended ReactionsDraft season in fantasy women's basketball is rolling along as we head to the start of the regular season. Now they you've had time to process the biggest free agent moves, scan the player rankings and watch how rosters are taking shape, it's time to see how your fantasy women's basketball teams will look.We tasked fantasy sports analysts Eric Moody and Andre Snellings, WNBA researcher Jenni LaCroix, and fantasy sports editors Pierre Becquey, Sachin Chandan and Joe Kaiser with drafting their teams and offering us some insight. For this exercise, we used the standard ESPN points league format with six teams and nine players each. Here is the scoring breakdown:Point, rebound, assist = 1 Fantasy point (FP) Made 3-pointer = 1 additional FP Steal, block = 2 FPsIf you'd like to try your own mock drafts, test out the Mock Draft Lobby. Once you're ready, sign up for your own free fantasy women's basketball league today.Other resources: Sign up! | Projections | Rankings | Average draft position | ScheduleRound 11. A'ja Wilson, LV (F1) -- Snellings2. Caitlin Clark, IND (G1) -- Moody3. Alyssa Thomas, PHX (F2) -- Chandan4. Breanna Stewart, NY (F3) -- Becquey5. Paige Bueckers, DAL (G2) -- LaCroix6. Angel Reese, ATL (F4) -- KaiserLaCroix: We are seeing more depth at the guard position than we have seen in recent years due to a combination of young talent, player improvement, and expansion teams giving more opportunity for guards to be the primary ball handler and scorer. Look at what Veronica Burton did last season with the Golden State Valkyries (11.9 PPG, 4.4 RPG, 6.0 APG, 1.4 3PG, 1.1 SPG).On the flip side, I wouldn't say depth at the forward position has lessened compared to previous years, it's that some of the most productive forwards are on the same team, which makes me question what their productivity will look like. Some examples: Nneka Ogwumike and Dearica Hamby on the Los Angeles Sparks; Breanna Stewart, Jonquel Jones, Betnijah Laney-Hamilton and Satou Sabally on the New York Liberty; Kiki Iriafen, Lauren Betts and Shakira Austin on the Washington Mystics; Brionna Jones, Angel Reese and Naz Hillmon on the Atlanta Dream. It's hard to predict which player will be the team's top option versus the second option at that position, which impacts productivity.Whereas, with the guards, it's easier to predict who is the top option for each team. Even if they are the second option, they will have the ball in their hands a lot more because they're guards whereas forwards don't have as much control over where the ball goes.Round 27. Sabrina Ionescu, NY (G3) -- Kaiser8. Aliyah Boston, IND (F5) -- LaCroix9. Dearica Hamby, LA (F6) -- Becquey10. Kelsey Plum, LA (G4) -- Chandan11. Skylar Diggins, CHI (G5) -- Moody12. Nneka Ogwumike, LA (F7) -- SnellingsRound 313. Napheesa Collier, MIN (F8) -- Snellings14. Satou Sabally, NY (F9) -- Moody15. Jackie Young, LV (G6) -- Chandan16. Kelsey Mitchell, IND (G7) -- Becquey17. Allisha Gray, ATL (G8) -- LaCroix18. Sonia Citron, WSH (G9) -- KaiserSnellings: I drafted Napheesa Collier with the first pick in the third round, despite the injury that will keep her sidelined into at least June. I wrestled with the decision because it was the top of the round, but my thought was that fantasy women's basketball leagues tend to be remarkably competitive with similar levels of talent available on all teams. Plus, with starter-caliber players always available on the waiver wire, it can be difficult to separate one team from another. But Collier, when she is healthy, is a clear top 3 producer.I'm hoping to stash her until she gets healthy, then enter the fantasy playoffs with a lineup featuring both Collier and A'ja Wilson. As a bonus, as soon as I drafted her, everyone else in the chat chimed in that she was their next pick!Round 419. Rhyne Howard, ATL (G10) -- Kaiser20. Azura Stevens, CHI (F10) -- LaCroix21. Arike Ogunbowale, DAL (G11) -- Becquey22. Courtney Williams, MIN (G12) -- Chandan23. Gabby Williams, GS (F11) -- Moody24. Kahleah Copper, PHX (G13) -- SnellingsRound 525. Chelsea Gray, LV (G14) -- Snellings26. Kamilla Cardoso, CHI (C1) -- Moody27. Jonquel Jones, NY (F12) -- Chandan28. Tina Charles, CON (C2) -- Becquey29. Kiki Iriafen, WSH (F13) -- LaCroix30. Natasha Howard, MIN (F14) -- KaiserRound 631. Dominique Malonga, SEA (C3) -- Kaiser32. Marina Mabrey, TOR (G15) -- LaCroix33. Azzi Fudd, DAL (G16) -- Becquey34. Olivia Miles, MIN (G17) -- Chandan35. Ariel Atkins, LA (G18) -- Moody36. Rickea Jackson, CHI (F15) -- SnellingsBecquey: Early in the draft, I wanted solid, known quantities occupying my top five guard and F/C spots. With that set, and knowing I'll likely be streaming the utility spot all season long, I wanted to embrace the unknown, which is what rookies like Azzi Fudd and Lauren Betts offer. Projections for any player are usually a good midpoint within the range of likely outcomes, but with rookies, that becomes much wider, offering way more upside than for a veteran who has already shown what they'll do with given minutes within a role.Embracing a rookie's upside is a much a bet on their talent as it is an acknowledgement that there's more we don't know, good or bad. And the downside? There'll always be value to pick up on the waiver wire to mitigate it.Round 737. Jewell Loyd, LV (G19) -- Snellings38. Alanna Smith, DAL (F16) -- Moody39. Veronica Burton, GS (G20) -- Chandan40. Lauren Betts, WSH (C4) -- Becquey41. Kayla Thornton, GS (F17) -- LaCroix42. Shakira Austin, WSH (C5) -- KaiserRound 843. Natasha Cloud, NY (G21) -- Kaiser44. Kayla McBride, MIN (G22) -- LaCroix45. Brittney Sykes, TOR (G23) -- Becquey46. Brionna Jones, ATL (C6) -- Chandan47. Cameron Brink, LA (F18) -- Moody48. Brittney Griner, CON (C7) -- SnellingsMoody: I have a fairly high risk tolerance, especially when targeting high-upside players, but I still balance that with safer, high-floor options. Caitlin Clark and Cameron Brink both carry injury concerns, but their per-game production and breakout potential make them worth betting on.Clark was limited to 13 games last season, but she posted a 28.7% usage rate and averaged 36.8 fantasy points per game. This offseason, she focused on durability through structured recovery and workload management, which should help over a full season.Brink missed the first 25 games last year recovering from a torn ACL and averaged just 12.8 MPG. Still, the former No. 2 pick showed flashes during her rookie season, with 22.0 fantasy points in 22.0 MPG pre-injury. Taking Brink as a bounce-back candidate at her current ADP is exactly the type of calculated risk I'm willing to take.Round 949. Aneesah Morrow, CON (F19) -- Snellings50. Erica Wheeler, LA (G24) -- Moody51. Elizabeth Williams, CHI (C8) -- Chandan52. DeWanna Bonner, PHX (F20) -- Becquey53. Bridget Carleton, POR (F21) -- LaCroix54. Ezi Magbegor, SEA (C9) -- KaiserTeam rosters are presented in first-round pick order. Picks indicated in parentheses in this manner: (Round.Pick)Team SnellingsF1 A'ja Wilson, LV (Pick: 1.1)F2 Nneka Ogwumike, LA (Pick: 2.6)F3 Napheesa Collier, MIN (Pick: 3.1)F4 Rickea Jackson, CHI (Pick: 6.6)F5 Aneesah Morrow, CON (Pick: 9.1)G1 Kahleah Copper, PHX (Pick: 4.6)G2 Chelsea Gray, LV (Pick: 5.1)G3 Jewell Loyd, LV (Pick: 7.1)C1 Brittney Griner, CON (Pick: 8.6)Team MoodyF1 Satou Sabally, NY (Pick: 3.2)F2 Gabby Williams, GS (Pick: 4.5)F3 Alanna Smith, DAL (Pick: 7.2)F4 Cameron Brink, LA (Pick: 8.5)G1 Caitlin Clark, IND (Pick: 1.2)G2 Skylar Diggins, CHI (Pick: 2.5)G3 Ariel Atkins, LA (Pick: 6.5)G4 Erica Wheeler, LA (Pick: 9.2)C1 Kamilla Cardoso, CHI (Pick: 5.2)Team ChandanF1 Alyssa Thomas, PHX (Pick: 1.3)F2 Jonquel Jones, NY (Pick: 5.3)G1 Kelsey Plum, LA (Pick: 2.4)G2 Jackie Young, LV (Pick: 3.3)G3 Courtney Williams, MIN (Pick: 4.4)G4 Olivia Miles, MIN (Pick: 6.4)G5 Veronica Burton, GS (Pick: 7.3)C1 Brionna Jones, ATL (Pick: 8.4)C2 Elizabeth Williams, CHI (Pick: 9.3)Chandan: I like to go "best player available" with most of my picks, and then see how my roster shakes out. Taking Alyssa Thomas, Kelsey Plum and Jonquel Jones gave me a base of players with a solid floor, but then I started looking for upside.I'm eager to see how former TCU star Olivia Miles fits in with the Minnesota Lynx, as she has the potential to accrue fantasy points in ways that don't depend on scoring. With Brionna Jones, I'm looking to stash her in my IR spot, and be aggressive with free agent streamers.Team BecqueyF1 Breanna Stewart, NY (Pick: 1.4)F2 Dearica Hamby, LA (Pick: 2.3)F3 DeWanna Bonner, PHX (Pick: 9.4)G1 Kelsey Mitchell, IND (Pick: 3.4)G2 Arike Ogunbowale, DAL (Pick: 4.3)G3 Azzi Fudd, DAL (Pick: 6.3)G4 Brittney Sykes, TOR (Pick: 8.3)C1 Tina Charles, CON (Pick: 5.4)C2 Lauren Betts, WSH (Pick: 7.4)Team LaCroixF1 Aliyah Boston, IND (Pick: 2.2)F2 Azura Stevens, CHI (Pick: 4.2)F3 Kiki Iriafen, WSH (Pick: 5.5)F4 Kayla Thornton, GS (Pick: 7.5)F5 Bridget Carleton, POR (Pick: 9.5)G1 Paige Bueckers, DAL (Pick: 1.5)G2 Allisha Gray, ATL (Pick: 3.5)G3 Marina Mabrey, TOR (Pick: 6.2)G4 Kayla McBride, MIN (Pick: 8.2)Team KaiserKaiser: The fact that I ended up with three centers wasn't intentional. Those were three players whom I pinpointed as high-upside options that qualified at the F/C position, which was an area of need for my team given my heavy emphasis on guards in the first half of the draft. The two Seattle Storm bigs -- Dominique Malonga and Ezi Magbegor -- will be counted on heavily on a rebuilding squad that lacks the proven scorers we've been accustomed to seeing on their roster over the years.Malonga, the No. 2 overall pick in the 2025 WNBA draft, averaged 7.7 PPG and 4.6 RPG in 14.3 MPG as a rookie last season, and I'm particularly excited to see the jump she makes in her second season if her minutes rise above 20 per game as expected.F1 Angel Reese, ATL (Pick: 1.6)F2 Natasha Howard, MIN (Pick: 5.6)G1 Sabrina Ionescu, NY (Pick: 2.1)G2 Sonia Citron, WSH (Pick: 3.6)G3 Rhyne Howard, ATL (Pick: 4.1)G4 Natasha Cloud, NY (Pick: 8.1)C1 Dominique Malonga, SEA (Pick: 6.1)C2 Shakira Austin, WSH (Pick: 7.6)C3 Ezi Magbegor, SEA (Pick: 9.6)
