We are at the finish line for this inaugural fantasy women's basketball season. The WNBA season is in the final stretch... on Sunday, Sue Bird just played the final regular season home game in her legendary career!
And the end of the WNBA regular season signifies that it is absolute championship time in the fantasy hoops season. I'm currently in the midst of the championship game in our ESPN writers/editors league, facing Eric Moody for the title. I've got the lead at the turn, but we all know that anything can happen down the stretch.
Thus, like you, I'm hitting the free agency wire hard to make sure I give my fantasy hoops squad the best chance to take home the trophy. Here are some of the names that are catching my eye this week (and keep in mind, all five of the names from last week's article still make strong pickups for this week as well).
Gabby Williams, Seattle Storm (40.4% rostered in ESPN leagues): Williams tends to be overshadowed by the two former WNBA MVPs that she shares the Storm frontline with, but she has continued to be productive in her own right. In her last five games, all of which have been started by both Breanna Stewart and Tina Charles, Williams has produced steadily across the board with averages of 9.8 PPG, 5.6 RPG, 3.4 APG, 1.6 SPG, 0.6 3PG and 0.4 BPG in 27.2 MPG.
Aari McDonald, Atlanta Dream (32.7%): McDonald was the third overall pick in the 2021 WNBA Draft, and this season she has shown signs of living up to that draft status. Particularly when she has had the chance to play near starter minutes. Recent injuries to Tiffany Hayes and Kristy Wallace have given McDonald more opportunity, and she's responded. In her last three games, McDonald has averaged 13.7 PPG, 3.0 APG, 2.3 RPG, 1.0 3PG and 0.7 SPG.
Maya Caldwell, Atlanta Dream (3.3%): Caldwell, like McDonald, has seen increased playing time of late due to the injuries to Hayes and Wallace. She has responded by scoring in double figures in three straight games, the most recent of which she started, while averaging 10.7 PPG, 4.3 RPG, 2.7 APG, 2.0 3PG, 0.7 SPG and 0.7 BPG in 26.3 MPG.
Lexie Hull, Indiana Fever (2.8%): Kelsey Mitchell's season-ending injury created a big production hole in the Fever's backcourt, and Tiffany Mitchell is dealing with a calf injury that has her missing time as well. This has opened up space for Lexie Hull to take on a larger responsibility, and she has responded well. In her last two games, the most recent of which was a start, Hull has averaged 15.5 PPG, 5.0 RPG, 2.0 SPG and 1.0 3PG in 30.5 MPG.
Emma Cannon, Indiana Fever (1.7%): Cannon joined the Fever in June, and like Hull, has gotten more opportunity down the stretch due to the Fever's injuries. Overall, she has four double-digit scoring efforts in her last eight games, but she's really stepped up in the last two games since Kelsey Mitchell went out. In those two, she has averaged 13.5 PPG, 8.0 RPG, 2.0 SPG, 1.0 3PG, 0.5 BPG and 0.5 APG in 29.0 MPG.