This has been another big week in the WNBA, as evidenced by all the new names described in this article. Players are stepping up and producing across the league. Many of those stepping up are known commodities, superstars that have produced at the highest levels for years.
But many of the producers are young players new to the league, or veterans that are making the most of their new opportunities. Let's explore a handful of those who are producing good stats despite coming into the season unheralded, and look at how their numbers can contribute to winning fantasy teams.
Monique Billings, Dallas Wings (46.7% rostered in ESPN leagues): Sparks waived Billings just before the season began and signed a hardship contract with the Wings after Satou Sabally (shoulder) and Natasha Howard (foot) were both sidelined. After coming off the bench in her first game with the Wings, Billings has moved into the starting lineup and exploded to average 18.7 PPG, 10.0 RPG, 2.7 APG, 2.3 BPG and 0.7 SPG over the next three games. She has two double-doubles in those three games, and should be universally rostered for as long as she plays at this level.
Maddy Siegrist, Dallas Wings (25.3%): Siegrist joins her frontcourt teammate Billings on this list as another Wings forward that has stepped up in the absence of Sabally and Howard. Siegrist's sophomore campaign is off to a strong start, and it's really picked up in the past two games with her moving back into the starting lineup and averaging 18.5 PPG, 8.5 RPG, 2.5 APG, 2.0 SPG, 0.5 BPG and 0.5 3PG in 33.5 MPG.
Temi Fagbenle, Indiana Fever (38.5%): Fagbenle began the season as a reserve, but has played well enough in the last week-plus to earn a starting spot for a Fever squad trying to shake things up. Fagbenle has averaged 12.3 PPG, 7.5 RPG and 1.3 BPG in 26.8 MPG over her last four games, and matched those numbers almost exactly in her first start with 13 points, 8 rebounds and a blocked shot against the dominant Las Vegas Aces.
Julie Vanloo, Washington Mystics (18.2%): Vanloo is a 31-year-old rookie who has just joined the WNBA after spending her entire career playing overseas. Vanloo is getting expanded minutes with Brittney Sykes (ankle) sidelined, and she has made the most of her opportunity. In her past three games, all starts, Vanloo has averaged 13.0 PPG, 5.3 APG, 3.7 RPG and 3.7 3PG in 26.0 MPG.
Sami Whitcomb, Seattle Storm (33.0%): Last season, her first with the Storm, Whitcomb came off the bench for the first half of the season and started in the second half. In this, her age 36 season, Whitcomb is back to a role off the bench but is maximizing it. In her last three games, Whitcomb has scored in double-figures all three contests with averages of 11.0 PPG, 3.3 APG, 3.0 3PG, 2.0 RPG, 1.3 SPG and a.0 BPG in 22.0 MPG.