NWSL is back for 2025! Well, almost. And that means it's time to start prepping your fantasy team.
Thanks to our friends at ShePlays, we've got another edition of their awesome NWSL fantasy game. I've been writing about fantasy sports for twenty years (!) and have finished in the top-20 places overall in the last two years of the NWSL game. I'm going to write about my team leading up to the season start on March 14. Let's see how the side evolves over the next few weeks, and maybe we can make another winner together.
This is my first draft. I'll go through the selections, talk about strategy, and ruminate as to where we'll go from here.
First thing first:
Formation
I'm currently in a 4-3-3. I usually like to play a 3-4-3, and would like to get there by season start. However, at the moment there seems to be be value in defenders. As per usual with the ShePlays game, there's a dearth of midfielders. Especially quality fantasy midfielders. This is a little mitigated by the excellent scoring system where defensive actions earn points, but still I'm not likely to pick a Jaelyn Howell or Danielle Colaprico. All the -- well, most of the -- attacking midfielders tend be listed as forwards. You can play five mids, but only three forwards. That's our first meaningful constraint in team selection. So let's talk about...
Forwards
Temwa Chawinga - First name on the team sheet. I'd be surprised if there were very many fantasy teams that didn't select her, or captain her in week one. She was just that good, and that consistent last season. Probably not much to say here.
Rachel Kundananji - She probably underperformed expectations as far as how many goals she scored last season, and was played off the wing. Oshoala was the center forward for Bay. But by the end of the season, Kundananji was a fantasy monster. She had Trinity Rodman's all-around game without the premium price tag. That's relative, as she's still a premium asset, but every 100k helps elsewhere, as we'll see. I captained her the last week of season to cement my good finish and still have that residual warm feeling towards her. I also expect she'll be a bit under-represented in fantasy teams. Which will be to my benefit.
Sophia Wilson - I know. I know. But she's KILLED IT that previous two seasons when I had her captained in week one. She was always going to be in my first draft, even if she's unlikely -- barring seeing her take the pitch pre-season -- to make my opening lineup.
Midfielders
Jaedyn Shaw - I'm excited that Shaw is listed as a midfielder this season. Last year, I think only Debinha was a premium mid. For better or worse, we have a few more to choose from this year. As much as we'll miss her in San Diego, I think she could return big points if she's the Courage's false nine.
Claudia Zornoza - Zornoza was a revalation after signing for Utah midseason. As part of their Spanish Armada (is anyone calling it that?) she averaged 10 points per match over ten matches. Utah has an exciting lineup of attackers and if Zonorza is in the middle of it all, that's points.
Bárbara Olivieri - Another "ended last season on a heater" player I'm looking at for this season. They seem to be underpriced compared to what they showed. Olivieri won't be as hot a name on a revamped Houston Dash side as Yazmeen Ryan, but she also doesn't cost nearly the same. I'm thinking a rising tide lifts all boats, and hoping that Houston can improve and Olivieri can be a profitable fantasy attacker.
Defenders
Ryan Williams - Forget Chawinga, Williams is the first name on the team sheet for me. Yes, she's expensive. But she's a premium asset. With both attacking and defending returns every week, Williams was the games highest scoring defender last year. She's set and forget all season.
Gisele Thompson - Bit of a punt here, especially as a Wave fan, I'm not likely to give Angel City players the benefit of the doubt. But she looks like an exciting attacker from fullback. That's my sweet spot for fantasy players, so I'm willing to put aside any regional animus for fantasy returns.
Ana María Guzmán - Was someone speaking of exciting attackers from fullback? Guzman looks to be another in that mold. I'm a bit hesitant to pick players from outside the game. How was they acclimitize to the league? Will they be week one starters? But this is my first draft, and I really, really want Guzman to be special.
Avery Patterson - Another Dash player. What world is this? But Patterson was a wingback for most of the season and a key player in the Dash's ball progression. Rumors have her moving into the front-line. Regardless, I think for the money and the position, I'm getting an asset.
Goalkeeper
Lorena - I was very impressed by Lorena for Brazil and remember how good Shult was for the Current in the back-half of last season. Lorena is a bit of a discount compared to the other starting keepers, so this is a win-win as far as I'm concerned.
Bench
Kennedy Fuller - Presumed starter at the basement price point. That gets you in my team. Or at least on my bench.
Riley Jackson - See above, though I'm not sure she's a starter. Someone has to replace Narumi Miura, however, and Jackson looked the part for the U-20s.
Isabella Obaze - Not sure what's happening with Portland right now, but Obaze is a health body in their back line at (say it with me) the basement price point.
Claudia Dickey - cheapest presumed starting keeper I could find.
Where do we go from here
- What to do with Wilson? As much as I want to, I can't trust her in my team. Should I shift her to Banda (easy and who could argue) or,
- ...find someone cheaper (Gabi Portillo, hello!) and redistribute funds?
- How fast will Shaw incorporate into North Carolina's system? Do I want to be early on her?
- If not, should I shift to Yazmeen Ryan as a premium mid?
- Aly Sentnor is cheaper than Zonorza and amazingly for this game, listed as a midfielder. Is she the better pick from Utah? Do I want both?
- Speaking of Utah, what's Guzman's status? Need a lot of predicted XIs in the next few weeks.
- Olivieri AND Patterson. Maybe also Ryan. That's a lot of players from a usually terrible franchise.
- Same question with two - maybe three - Royals.
- Meanwhile, is no Spirt players in my team a huge oversight, or does it speak to the lack of value in their players pricing?
- Is my bench enough?
Love this, only place I could find sheplays commentary/analysis and good one at that!!
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