Lots of good information out there looking at the week that was in NWSL. Here's a roundup... which will surely be updated as everyone processes last night's Thorns/Bats match.
Short post as I'm travelling again this week. Where am I going? My first ever away Wave game! I have family in the Bay Area and decided to kill several birds with one road trip and am taking my sister and her family to the Wave versus Bay FC at PayPal Park. Wish us luck, and look for me -- I'll be the one in my Wave gear (no jersey yet) trying to make nice with the opposition fans.
Let's quickly look back at last week's results. We're going to need a gimmick.
The Good Buying Ann-Katrin Berger, for sure. My early-season strategy of going cheap at the keeper position was working out well, but with Cassie Miller AND Lysianne Proulx losing their place I needed a new approach. Gotham had a double-gameweek and looked very stingy at the back. Berger ended up keeping one clean sheet and making some big saves for a total of 15 points.
The Bad Dropping Mallory Swanson for Temwa Chawinga gave me money to spend, but cost me points -- in the transfer, and the difference between their points earned. I've got to make peace with the fact that Swanson is just going to be one of those players with whom it just doesn't work out in fantasy. I never own her when she scores and always strike out when chasing those points. That all being said, the decision-making process was sound and it's not like Chawinga was a bad pick. It happens.
The Ugly I knew I was getting cocky when I did it, but I did it anyway. Bringing Ji So-Yun back into my team for a minus five points because she was a two-gamer backfired. Not only did she just return nine points over those two games, but I benched Olivia Moultrie and her goal and eleven points to do it. A seven point mistake.
This week I think it's simple. I'm going to captain Sophia Smith. No lollipops given for deciding on that move. For the transfer, I'm going to bring in Ryan Williams for Deyna Castellanos. Williams is killing it this season and has Utah and Houston in their next two. Makes sense to double up on the Courage defence alongside Felicitas Rauch, who hasn't hit the heights I was hoping from her. It's been Williams who has been the two-way player out of the back for North Carolina and I'm hoping for big returns from her to continue.
Looking ahead, I hope to bring Taylor Flint into my midfield but I'm happy enough to wait until after they finish this rough run of matches against Kansas City this week. Things look better for Racing Louisville coming up with games against Chicago, Houston, Angel City, and Seattle on the horizon.
Round 7 of the ShePlays NWSL fantasy game brings us both midweek matches — starting Wednesday, May 1 so be sure to set your lineups! — as well as out first double gameweek of the season. Here's the schedule:
Next Round
Orlando Pride
1st May, 4:00 PM
North Carolina Courage
Chicago Red Stars
1st May, 5:00 PM
Washington Spirit
Bay FC
1st May, 7:00 PM
Portland Thorns
Utah Royals FC
3rd May, 6:30 PM
Angel City FC
Seattle Reign FC
3rd May, 7:00 PM
San Diego Wave FC
NJ/NY Gotham FC
4th May, 4:30 PM
North Carolina Courage
Portland Thorns
4th May, 7:00 PM
Washington Spirit
Houston Dash
5th May, 10:00 AM
Kansas City Current
Orlando Pride
5th May, 3:00 PM
Racing Louisville FC
Bay FC
5th May, 5:00 PM
Chicago Red Stars
The teams with two matches this week are the Courage, Thorns, Spirit, Pride, Chicago Red Stars, and Bay FC. That list probably covers a fair chunk of your fantasy team as is but it's worth looking at in a bit more depth.
North Carolina Courage - @Orlando, @Gotham
The Courage are a strong team as always, however they have two road games against tough opponents. Their defense is tops in the fantasy league, but their attack is of the "just enough" category. I would hold and happily play anyone you already own but I'm not sure I'm looking to load up on their players. Ashley Sanchez would be a great midfield pick, but unfortunately she's listed as a forward in the game.
Portland Thorns - @Bay FC, Spirit
Sophia Smith with two game? Yes, please. I'll take some of that. She's a stand-out captaincy option this week. I'm not sure of any other great picks on the team. Sam Coffey is steady if not spectacular. She has the highest floor but lowest ceiling of almost any player in the game. Olivia Moultrie is the opposite - as liable to get twenty minutes to see out a match as she is to start and score. She's on my team and I'm hoping for more of the latter especially as games this close together would have you expect Christine Sinclair's minutes to be closely managed. As for their defence, the less said the better.
Washington Spirit - @Chicago, @Portland
Croix Bethune continues to be one of the revelations among a standout rookie class. She plays so far forward to this Spirit team and has been coming up with goals and assists since settling in. Trinity Rodman is an evergreen pick while Tara McKeown is a surprising fantasy standout in their backline. Ouleymata Sarr would be a risky differential. Like the Courage, the Spirit play two road games and neither are even along the East Coast so buyer beware.
Orlando Pride - Courage, Racing
The high-flying Pride get two home matches this week. Barbra Banda has finally arrived and in two matches (only one start) she has a goal and two assists. She's probably the only player I see to rival Smith for captaincy this week. I'm likely to drop Bia for Banda, as much as that pains me. I would try to bring Bia back (in my best Justin Timberlake voice) immediately, but the extra match and the double home comforts tips it towards the Zambian. It may even be worth a minus five points to bring her into your team. I'm also looking at midfield playing at forward Summer Yates. I'm a bit worried about her minutes getting shared around with Marta and the other Pride attackers but she's been putting up fantasy points and you don't change a winning side, do you? Her being mis-classified (out of position, OOO in fantasy parlance) helps.
Chicago Red Stars - Spirit, @Bay FC
The "so close" team of the last round. They were beaten by the Thorns but they were denied by the woodwork. I have picked around all of Mallory Swanson's fantasy points so far this season so I'm hoping that going with her in the double finally works out for me. There are lots of good, and well priced, fantasy options on this team. They're not the elite of the league but could round out your team. For me, I'm hoping Maximiliane Rall is healthy to return but might consider a minus five to get someone else into the team this week. With two matches to play I would hope to gain points despite starting in the hole.
Bay FC - Portland, Chicago
The other team with two home matches, but I'm not as high on their prospects. That being said, I'll happily field my two players - Denya Castellanos and Lyianne Proulx. I'm not sure I'd bring in any other players save for perhaps Asisat Oshoala, who seems to have just had a cramp that led her to leave the Wave match the other day.
North Carolina Courage
Washington Spirit
Portland Thorns
Angel City FC
San Diego Wave FC
Kansas City Current
Racing Louisville FC