ShePlays NWSL Week 9 Team

Week 9 is fast approaching, with four (!) matches tonight. After a week where I over-thought and mostly got it wrong (benching Chawinga, mostly) we're looking to bounce back quickly.

My first thought was to get Sav Demelo in for Olivia Moultrie. I'm still needing to rid myself of Bats and Thorns after their week five double and before their week 10 blank. Demelo has come back from her injury earlier in the season to average just over 10 points per game over the last three weeks. With Seattle making the long trip east, this seems like a good spot for her. She should get lots of chances for crosses and chances created against a physical Reign side that will surely foul her a ton. As everyone does.

Now, we get back to the over-thinking. Moultrie has a decently high floor. Do I really want to sell her? Seattle have allowed three goals (I believe) over their last five matches. Maybe I don't want to get involved with that slog?

Meanwhile, Gotham has fallen off a cliff since Gabi Portilho went out with a hip injury. I'm not smart enough to know how it's all down to her, even with Midge Purce returning and Geyse being a dynamic player. Esther still returned six points, but Sarah Schupansky only lasted 45 minutes and returned 2. I still also have Lily Reale in the team, good for just another 6.

Maybe it's a Bat I need to sell. Schupansky is dirt cheap, so she can stay. I'm going to need a cheap midfielder as I'm losing Kennedy Fuller to the U-20s next week. Lily Reale is also a bargain, and has been putting up points on both sides of the ball. That leaves Esther. Yes, for three weeks she was the best player in the league. But I can't get caught up in past point performance if I want to battle for the top spot in ShePlays fantasy! Also, after the top-of-the-table clash with Kansas City this week, Orlando host Utah. I want Barbara Banda for that match, and it would take Esther's spot - and Esther's salary - to make that happen.

Hmmm... playing Utah. That's the Spirit this week, isn't it? They had a disappointing (for someone with Bernal in their fantasy team) game against Chicago, but they did get 90 minutes, and goal, and an assist out of Rose Kouassi. This is starting to make sense.

Esther to Kouassi this week. Kouassi to Banda next.

So that leaves me with:

I'm promoting Patterson to the XI because a) she's awesome, b) she's been returning points, and c) I have a hunch she moves into the attacking lines with Yazmeen Ryan's face injury. Fuller and Moultrie are strong bench options I might regret not starting, and Abello is benched out of respect to the Current attackers in my lineup.

Kouassi captain (why not?) and Williams (hosting Chicago) vice. Why not?

Good luck, all. 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.