ShePlays NWSL: Week 4 Team

I'm at a loss this week.

That's great for blogging, right? Just what you want to read: I don't know what I'm doing. But bear with me. Maybe if we put the options down "on paper" it will help us all make sense of it.

So, what are the parameters? 

• We have a double gameweek next week with Portland and Gotham each playing twice.
• This week, however, Bay FC plays Chicago and it pays to play Chicago.
• My team needs Debinha. Your team probably needs Debinha. Unless it already has Debinha.
• With players coming back from their international teams, we may see the odd (and odd) benching.

Now, other than Debinha (Your team probably needs Debinha. Unless it already has Debinha.) which players does this put on the radar?

• Lily Reale as Gotham will grind teams and she looks to have a role in their back line which probably only has five players for four spots.
• Taylor Huff, another cheap midfielder in a year seemingly full of them. She's been on set pieces for Bay and we're learning that taking kicks is a real advantage with the ShePlays scoring.
• Racheal Kundanaji hasn't kicked on this year but again, playing Chicago.
• Ella Stevens or Esther Gonzalez are ways into the Gotham attack, but said attack is one of the worst in the league to date. (note: I have Gabi Portilho already. Same problems, but cheaper).
• Sarah Schupansky, see above but a cheap midfielder.
• Reilyn Turner, who's been starting up top for Portland. I already have Olivia Moultrie on the team. So should you.

If I want Debinha, it probably means selling Barbra Banda. I'm not sure where else to get the money, other than Ryan Williams, but some things are sacred. I'm not sure which cheaper forward I would want to bring in, which is why Stevens and Gonzalez are on the list. But I'm not ready to invest in Gotham's attack. Even with the double. It's going to take a multiple week effort to get Debinha (and probably a minus five along the way). Without a good idea of a plan, I just don't have the starting point I want.

That brings me to choosing between Huff and Reale. Huff starts my Debinha process (wait, I was wrong above!) as she is cheaper than Olivieri or Santos, one of whom she would replace. With Gotham playing North Carolina and then the double, it looks good bet for Reale defending and possible clean sheet points. Reale would be a straight swap for Jayden Perry, which was a week two mistake.

Or maybe Kundananji replaces Banda? That gets me a chunk of change to put into my Debinha pot. Then next week I get Reale for Perry.

I don't know. I like that last idea -- other than selling Banda. That sucks. 

This was helpful. A bit. At least for me. I hope it was for you too. If you have any thoughts or ideas, or see something that I've missed, I'd love to hear from you in the comments or on Bluesky.