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May 7, 2025 Welcome to Let's Fantasy Game SEE MORE ARTICLES & VIDEOS About the Author

Is there any WNBA fanbase that has suffered more than Chicago Sky fans? In the 20 years of their existence, the Sky have twice drafted future Hall-of-Fame bigs and watched them develop into All-Stars, but failed to surround them with enough talent to compete...If the Sky miss the playoffs for a third consecutive season, Sky fans should expect another trade request. September 4, 2025 Sky Fans Should Prepare for Yet another Star to Leave Steve Pimental Is there any WNBA fanbase that has suffered more than Chicago Sky fans? In the 20 years of their existence, the Sky have twice drafted future Hall-of-Fame bigs and watched them develop into All-Stars, but failed to surround them with enough talent to compete. Sky fans had to watch as Sylvia Fowles and Elena Delle Donne won championships with their new teams while the Sky toiled in futility. It seemed like things had turned around when hometown hero Candace Parker returned to Chicago to deliver a championship, but gross mismanagement by James Wade led to trade requests from Kahleah Copper and Marina Mabrey after the championship roster was quickly denuded. If all of that sounds familiar to more recent WNBA fans, it is because history is likely repeating itself. In an article from the Chicago Tribune Wednesday , Reese was as candid as you will ever hear a professional athlete about the shortcomings of her team’s roster and the offseason moves required to return the team to contention. The problem, as I see it, is that Reese is right about the Sky’s problems, and it seems extremely unlikely General Manager Jeff Pagliocca is capable of fixing those problems. If the Sky miss the playoffs for a third consecutive season, Sky fans should expect another trade request. Missing the playoffs isn’t the end of the world, but when you mortgage your team’s future to trade for a veteran with one year left on her contract and still have the second-worst record in the league, it’s easy to feel like the Sky is falling. The Sky have been rudderless since Courtney Vandersloot’s torn ACL, but they were 2-4 before Vandersloot’s injury. Without her, Atkins, Rachel Banham and rookie Hailey Van Lith have all been overtaxed with the primary point guard and shot creation duties. As Reese pointed out in Julia Poe’s article for the Tribune, the only known quantities going into next season are Reese and fellow second-year player Kamilla Cardoso. Rookies Van Lith and Maddy Westbeld haven’t proven they are WNBA rotation players. Neither has 2025 10th overall pick Ajsa Sivka, who did not play in the WNBA this season due to Eurobasket. Vandersloot is 36, coming off a torn ACL and is a free agent, along with the rest of the current roster. The problem is that according to Poe, Pagliocca’s offseason plan begins with re-signing Atkins, Vandersloot and Banham. We have irrefutable evidence from this season that those three are not good enough to drive a winning offense and Banham and Vandersloot are major liabilities defensively. I am skeptical the Sky can lure an offensive anchor in free agency, especially if those three already have contracts. If Chicago cannot strike lightning in free agency, their only potential saving grace is the 2026 WNBA draft. Chicago owes its pick to the Minnesota Lynx but they will still get a bite at the lottery with Connecticut’s pick, which they acquired in last season’s Marina Mabrey trade. If they can land Azzi Fudd, Olivia Miles, Flau’Jae Johnson or another guard who emerges during the college season, it could be enough, along with the addition of Sivka, to convince Angel to stay. If not, Sky fans could watch another Star go have success with another team while they struggle some more. SEE MORE ARTICLES & VIDEOS About the Author Steve Pimental would rather write 20,000 words about Stef Dolson than write two sentences about himself. He lives near Chicago with his beagle/shepard mix, Hootie.

August 26, 2025 Aarons Must-See Moment - Lizbeth Ovalle Sets Transfer Record Aaron West SEE MORE ARTICLES & VIDEOS About the Author

August 27, 2025 Aaron' Must-See Moment - Paige Bueckers Breaks Rookie Records Aaron West SEE MORE ARTICLES & VIDEOS About the Author

Outside of the top spot, the league is wide open, and just about any team that makes the playoffs will be able to convince themselves that they are poised for a deep playoff run. With that in mind, this is the perfect time to look at the x-factors for each playoff team. When we look back at the playoffs following the season, these could be the things that determines who goes home early and who makes a run. September 2, 2025 X-Factors for Each WNBA Playoff Team Steve Pimental With less than two weeks remaining in the WNBA regular season, the playoff field is nearly set. Four teams have already been eliminated from the playoffs, and while just four teams have clinched a playoff spot, we know four of the remaining five teams will round out the playoff field. The next nine days will determine playoff seeding and matchups and most importantly, health. Outside of the top spot, the league is wide open, and just about any team that makes the playoffs will be able to convince themselves that they are poised for a deep playoff run. With that in mind, this is the perfect time to look at the x-factors for each playoff team. When we look back at the playoffs following the season, these could be the things that determines who goes home early and who makes a run. Minnesota Lynx - Isolation Offense If the Minnesota Lynx are as inevitable as I think they are , the only real X-Factor is Napheesa Collier’s health. But that is boring, and even though the Lynx do nearly everything well, opposing teams still need to try something. If I were coaching one of their playoff opponents, that something would be to stay home on shooters and force Minnesota’s stars to consistently beat me one-on-one. I think Minnesota is capable of winning that way, but maybe you can force them out of their comfort zone. Only the Liberty have scored a lower percentage of their twos unassisted, and no team has made a lower percentage of their threes unassisted. Minnesota is not as reliant on three-point shooting as they were earlier in the season, but they still lead the league in three-point percentage. Minnesota always has shooters on the floor, and if you help off them, they will make a high percentage. So I would try not to do that. There are two major problems with this strategy: Minnesota does such a great job of screening, cutting, and moving the basketball that defending without sending help is nearly impossible. The other problem is that Napheesa Collier and Courtney Williams are entirely capable of punishing your defense if you don’t send help. Williams has done a good job of expanding her game to the three-point line, but she is still getting 38.4 percent of her two-point shots in the mid range, the highest percentage in the league. That is incredibly difficult to defend, and Napheesa Collier is even more difficult to deal with in the paint. Only Dearica Hamby and A’la Wilson are averaging more points in the paint this season. Las Vegas Aces - Crunch Time The Aces have the second-best record in the league, while they are 8th in net rating. Las Vegas’s 102.8 defensive rating is an improvement from a month ago, and good enough to win another championship if the offense is elite. The offense has not been elite, ranking 6th in the WNBA, but they have found another level in the clutch. The Aces have a 29.0 clutch net rating, 9.5 points ahead of the Lynx in second place. If the Aces can keep their games close and make all their shots late, that could carry them through the playoffs. The Aces were better overall when they won their back-to-back titles in 2022 and 2023, but they were second in clutch net rating in 2022 and first in 2023. I still think the Lynx are a cut above the Aces, but Las Vegas has found a blueprint during their 12-game winning streak, and there is a chance it carries them through the playoffs. Atlanta Dream - Brittney Griner Griner has been enigmatic throughout much of her 11-year WNBA career, but no more so than this, her first season outside of Phoenix. Griner has come off the bench for all 10 games since returning from her neck injury, but Atlanta is 7-3 during that stretch. Overall, Griner is averaging just 21.2 minutes, down from her previous career-low of 27.6 in 2023. Atlanta has actually been much better with Griner off the court. Her -15.6 net rating differential is the worst in the league. Despite their success this season, I can’t help feeling like the Dream aren’t going to challenge the Liberty or the Aces, let alone the Lynx, without a vintage playoff performance from Griner. Atlanta’s defense is still much better with Griner on the court, and all of the contenders have All-WNBA bigs for her to defend. Offensively, I think Griner has to do a better job as a screener, freeing up her teammates for all the threes head coach Karl Smesko wants them to take. Atlanta also needs to do a better job getting her the ball in advantageous situations, and not just throwing her the ball in the post a few times every game. Phoenix Mercury - Kahleah Copper Copper was a Finals MVP in 2021 for a team that featured two future Hall-of-Famers. Copper is the third option on this team behind two All-WNBA players, but there is a good chance they will go as far as she can take them. Copper is second on the team in points and usage, but she is averaging her fewest points since 2022. In 2021, Copper averaged 3.3 more points per game in the playoffs than in the regular season. She got off to a slow start after missing the first 12 games of the season following knee surgery, and it has taken a while to develop chemistry with all of her new teammates. If she can raise her game to another level in the playoffs yet again, she could lead another surprisingly deep playoff run. New York Liberty - Chemistry I don’t think there is any arguing that the Liberty can field the best starting five in the league. A lineup of Natasha Cloud, Sabrina Ionescu, Breanna Stewart, Emma Meesseman and Jonquel Jones has no weaknesses on paper. It features two WNBA MVPS, a Finals MVP , an All-WNBA player and a two-time All-Defensive Team player. That lineup should have size, scoring, passing, shooting, and rebounding. The problem is we still haven’t those five play together. Meesseman joined the team late in the season following Eurobasket, and injuries to Stewart, Cloud and Ionescu has prevented New York from getting its best players time together. Contrast that to the Lynx, whos starting lineup of Courtney Williams, Kayla McBride, Courtney Williams, Alanna Smith and Bridget Carleton has played 426 minutes this season with a 16.1 net rating. They also played 491 minutes together in 2024 with a 21.9 net rating. That group isn’t as talented top to bottom as New York’s best five, but they have over 900 minutes together, and that kind of continuity is invaluable. Golden State Valkyries - Home Court Advantage Golden State has been a nice story in their first season, but if I’m being honest, they’ll be fortunate to win one playoff series and they have no chance of winning two. I don’t think their zone defense will be as effective when teams have time to gameplan it in the playoffs, and I just don’t think they have enough offense. Of the nine teams still alve for the playoffs, they have the worst offensive rating and the third-worst net rating. If Golden State is going to pull off an upset, I think their best chance is to defend their homecourt and steal a game on the road. Golden State is 12-7 at home and they have arguably the best atmosphere in the league thanks in part to their league-leading home attendance. You could argue they’ve had a playoff atmosphere at home all season, and it's only going to get better during the playoffs. If they can use their defense and home-court advantage to force a bunch of turnovers and get some easy buckets, I could see Golden State’s historic inaugural season lasting a bit longer. Seattle Storm - Half Court Offense Seattle has score 15.8 percent of its points on the fast break, the highest percentage in the league. Conventional wisdom is that the pace slows down and turnovers decrease in the playoffs, and if that is the case, Seattle could struggle to generate offense. Overall they have a 103.1 offensive rating. Among the nine teams still in playoff contention, only Golden State has been worse offensively. The one thing Seattle can hang its hat on is the lowest turnover rate in the league. That may be less of an advantage during the playoffs if all the teams are taking care of the ball. If Seattle cannot consistently get out in transition, I don’t know how they are going to score enough to compete. Indiana Fever - Ball Movement Much like the Lynx, the real answer to this question is the health of their best player. Indiana has a 9.1 net rating when Caitlin Clark is on the court and a 0.8 net rating with her off it. With the departure of DeWanna Bonner and the injuries to Aari McDonald and Sophie Cunningham, any chance of making a run without Clark has gone out the window. That being said, Indiana has a 3.2 net rating in their last 15 games, all without Caitlin Clark. They are 11th in assist rate in those games, ahead of just Las Vegas and Connecticut. If they’re going to make the playoffs and scare their first-round opponent, they need better ball movement. That probably means the ball needs to be in Odyssey Sims’s hands whenever she is on the court. She is Indiana’s only healthy player with an assist rate over 20 percent, and she is the Fever’s best bet to move the ball consistently. Los Angeles Sparks - Pace Much like the Fever without Caitlin Clark, Los Angeles is drawing dead if they somehow make the playoffs. Whoever faces Minnesota in the first round has no shot, so any of these teams needs to finish in the top seven to have any chance. The Sparks are 2.5 games out of seventh, but more importantly, they can’t stop anyone. They have a 108.2 defensive rating and their offense isn’t nearly good enough to make up for that. One of the Sparks’ myriad problems in the playoffs is that the pace slows down in the playoffs. The Sparks play at the fastest pace in the league, and that has driven much of their offensive success. If they’re going to push their first-round opponent, they need to control the pace. I would argue they need to play even faster than their 96.72 regular-season pace. We saw in the NBA playoffs how difficult it can be to keep up with a team that is constantly running for an entire game, so maybe that could work for the Sparks too. SEE MORE ARTICLES & VIDEOS About the Author Steve Pimental would rather write 20,000 words about Stef Dolson than write two sentences about himself. He lives near Chicago with his beagle/shepard mix, Hootie.

September 1, 2025 In The Know W/ Steph & Janie - Untamed Spirits Stephanie & Janie Ellingwood SEE MORE ARTICLES & VIDEOS About the Author

RotoWire expert Joe Mayo picks his top WNBA risers and fallers for Week 15, including Rebecca Allen, who has struggled for the Sky in recent matchups. The final full week of the regular season kicks off Monday, and with injuries and evolving roles, there are still opportunities to add valuable fantasy contributors. September 1, 2025 Fantasy WNBA Week 15: Top Risers and Fallers Joe Mayo Top Fantasy WNBA Risers for Week 15 Kaila Charles , Golden State Valkyries: Charles signed two seven-day contracts with Golden State before being added to the roster for the remainder of the season. The 27-year-old guard has seen an uptick in playing time of late due to injuries to Tiffany Hayes (knee) and Cecilia Zandalasini (calf), who have missed four and five of the past five games, respectively. Charles still logged 26 minutes on Aug. 22 with Hayes in the lineup, so the return of one or even both players likely wouldn't take her out of the rotation. Moreover, Charles has impressed in her last four appearances, strengthening her case for continued minutes. During that span, she has averaged 12.5 points, 5.5 rebounds and 1.8 steals across 28.3 minutes per game. The Maryland product has recorded 21 or more ESPN fantasy points in each of those four outings. Iliana Rupert, Golden State Valkyries: Rupert has had a relatively inconsistent role this season, starting six of her 16 regular-season appearances since being activated in mid-July following an overseas commitment. Four of those starts have come in the Valkyries' past four games, during which she has averaged 13.5 points, 4.3 rebounds, 2.0 assists and 1.0 blocks across 30.3 minutes per game. The 24-year-old center also tallied a career-best 21 points while tying another career high with five made triples in Sunday's win over the Fever. Even if Monique Billings (ankle) returns to game action in Week 15 -- having last played nine minutes on July 29, her lone appearance since the All-Star break -- Rupert has likely earned consistent and significant minutes in the frontcourt moving forward. She has also recorded 20-plus ESPN fantasy points in four consecutive appearances. Odyssey Sims , Indiana Fever: Sims exhausted her three seven-day hardship contracts before ultimately signing a rest-of-season contract with the injury-riddled Fever on Sunday. The veteran guard has started six consecutive games, averaging 12.3 points, 4.7 assists, 2.7 rebounds and 0.8 steals across 30.2 minutes per game during that span. Additionally, the 5-foot-8 Baylor product has recorded 30 or more ESPN fantasy points in three of those outings, including two of her last three. Caitlin Clark's timetable for returning from a right groin injury remains uncertain, though the club is hopeful she'll be back before the playoffs. If the superstar returns in Week 15, it might slightly affect Sims' fantasy value. However, Clark would potentially operate under a minutes restriction, and Sims should remain a key contributor -- even if coming off the bench. Key Fantasy WNBA Fallers to Avoid This Week Rebecca Allen , Chicago Sky: Allen had two stretches of six or more games in the starting five earlier in the season, though she has played a limited role since Angel Reese returned to action Aug. 19. Over her last six appearances, Allen has averaged 1.7 points and 1.3 rebounds across 11.5 minutes per game, shooting an abysmal 18.8 percent from the field. The 32-year-old is buried behind Reese, Kamilla Cardoso, Michaela Onyenwere and Elizabeth Williams in the frontcourt, so Allen's fantasy ceiling is limited. She also hasn't totaled double-digit ESPN fantasy points since Aug. 9, which is the last time she logged at least 20 minutes. Jessica Shepard , Minnesota Lynx: Shepard stepped into the starting lineup and was a major contributor for the Lynx while Napheesa Collier was sidelined due to a sprained right ankle. Over three games since Collier returned, however, Shepard hasn't logged more than 15 minutes in a single outing. During that span, the 28-year-old center has averaged 2.0 points, 4.0 rebounds and 2.7 assists while shooting 40.0 percent from the field across 12.0 minutes per game. Additionally, she has recorded single-digit ESPN fantasy points in two of those three appearances. Shepard's fantasy upside is relatively limited on a stacked Lynx roster, despite her recent success in the starting lineup. Alysha Clark , Washington Mystics: Clark has started five consecutive games for the Mystics, though she has had a muted impact and been held scoreless in back-to-back outings. During that span, she has averaged 2.2 points and 4.6 rebounds while shooting 26.3 percent from the field across 23.2 minutes per game. The 38-year-old forward's scoring output remains limited while playing alongside Sonia Citron , Kiki Iriafen and Shakira Austin . Clark has provided a steady veteran presence for Washington after being traded from the Storm on Aug. 5, though her fantasy value is relatively low. She has scored single-digit ESPN fantasy points in five of her last seven appearances. Fantasy WNBA Player to Watch in Week 15 Lindsay Allen , Connecticut Sun: Allen began the season in a starting role before suffering an injury, and she had logged insignificant playing time since the All-Star break until Saturday's loss to Minnesota. With Bria Hartley sidelined against the Lynx, Allen rejoined the starting lineup for the first time since May 23. On Sunday, Hartley was officially diagnosed with a torn meniscus in her right knee and will miss the remainder of the season, which could lead to an expanded role for Allen moving forward. Still, the 30-year-old guard was not particularly effective in that starting role. Saniya Rivers and Mamignan Toure could also see increased playing time, but Allen's minutes will be worth monitoring in Week 15, as she remains a potential top beneficiary of Hartley's absence. 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. SEE MORE ARTICLES & VIDEOS About the Author @WiscoMayo Joe Mayo writes about fantasy sports for RotoWire

April 29, 2025 Jaden's WNBA Rookies to Watch SEE MORE ARTICLES & VIDEOS About the Author

April 29, 2025 Meet Katelyn SEE MORE ARTICLES & VIDEOS About the Author

Naz has seen the starting lineup quite a bit this month but still has come off the bench in twenty-seven of the thirty-eight games played this season. Fresh off a career-high 15 rebounds against Vegas, she's solidified her position as a force on the glass for a team expected to go far in the playoffs. She's averaging 8.3 PPG, 6.2 RPG & 2.3 APG with just two weeks left in the regular season! August 29, 2025 WNBA 6POY Contenders To Watch EJ Arocho Naz Hillmon | Atlanta Naz has seen the starting lineup quite a bit this month but still has come off the bench in twenty-seven of the thirty-eight games played this season. Fresh off a career-high 15 rebounds against Vegas, she's solidified her position as a force on the glass for a team expected to go far in the playoffs. She's averaging 8.3 PPG, 6.2 RPG & 2.3 APG with just two weeks left in the regular season! This Week: 8/29 vs Dallas, 9/1 vs Connecticut, 9/3 vs Los Angeles DeWanna Bonner | Phoenix After the move from Indy to Phoenix, DeWanna started to show flashes of her vintage self! She came in and made an immediate impact for a team looking to contend for a title come the Fall. In eighteen games wih the Merc, she's averaged an impressive 11.5 PPG (4th on the team), 4.3 RPG & 1.1 APG. She even posted a season-high 23 points against her former team [the Fever] just three weeks ago! This Week: 8/30 vs New York, 9/2 vs Indiana, 9/4 vs Washington Jessica Shepard | Minnesota After holding down the fort as a starter in place of the injured Napheesa Collier, Jess proved she can dominate all aspects of the game. She heads into the new week with seven double-doubles and a triple-double under her belt. With averages of 8.7 PPG, 7.2 RPG & 2.7 APG, she's getting the job done across the board. This Week: 8/30 vs Connecticut, 9/1 vs Dallas, 9/4 vs Las Vegas Natisha Hiedeman | Minnesota One half of the ever-popular StudBudz duo, Tisha has been lighting it up all year for the Lynx. She's come off the bench in all thirty-seven games she's played thus far, recording thirteen games in double-figure scoring and averaging 8.0 PPG, 1.8 RPG & 2.6 APG. She's also shooting the ball at a 47.5% clip, the best of her 7-year career. This Week: 8/30 vs Connecticut, 9/1 vs Dallas, 9/4 vs Las Vegas Dominique Malonga | Seattle I already have her penciled in as a lock for the All-Rookie Team, but I also think she's built quite the resume for 6POY contention. She's come off the bench in all thirty-eight games, averaging 7.5 PPG & 4.7 RPG and shooting it very efficiently at just under 54%. So far, she's notched four double-doubles and season-highs of 22 points and 12 rebounds (both vs Vegas). She's also had nine games where she shot it over 70% from the field! This Week: 8/30 vs Chicago, 9/1 vs Los Angeles Kennedy Burke | New York 2025 has been Kennedy's breakout year! On a team loaded from top to bottom with talent, she has proved she BELONGS. She has been the Liberty's x-factor off the bench in multiple games, including a 20-point performance in June vs Golden State. She currently holds averages of 8.7 PPG, 2.3 RPG & 1.2 APG and shooting just under 45% from 3! This Week: 8/30 vs Phoenix, 9/2 vs Golden State SEE MORE ARTICLES & VIDEOS About the Author EJ Arocho is Mr. Women’s Basketball and lives in New Jersey. Lives by the shore but looking to make waves everywhere!

August 20, 2025 Aarons Must-See Moment - Michelle Alozie Aaron West SEE MORE ARTICLES & VIDEOS About the Author

Let's Fantasy Game is a vibrant, safe, and supportive online community dedicated to fans of women's sports. With a focus on empowering women athletes and offering a wealth of engaging content. WHO ARE WE? LFG is a community of fans of women’s sports – created by fans of women’s sports. We did not start with a men’s sports platform and paint it pink and then call it ours. We built LFG from the ground up… …as a fan of the late 1990’s WNBA and the 99er’s World Cup champions …as a former UNC soccer player and national champion who built UNC’s soccer social media into the largest in the country …as someone who never (ever!) enjoyed sports until the NWSL and WNBA came to her city …as the parents of a girl who came home in the ninth grade and said that the boys told her that women’s sports were no good LFG’s mission is to help grow women’s sports by bringing fans of women’s sports together. Our community is safe, supportive, and fun. Our content is driven by our love of women’s sports. Our games are designed and built by fans of women’s sports. Community. Connection. Competition. Let's Play Games NWSL, WNBA, & Other Fantasy Sports ContestS Fun Contests Around NWSL, WNBA, and Other Women's Sports! Powered by Sparket® PLAY NOW! Build Your Fantasy Lineup by Picking Teams and Not Players! Powered by Fantasy Sports EVO PLAY NOW! Join our mailing list for exclusive updates on upcoming in-person events, game schedules, and all things women’s sports! Stay connected with a fun, safe, and supportive community of like-minded fans who share your passion and enthusiasm. SUBSCRIBE