WNBA: Aari McDonald, Odyssey Sims trending upward in fantasy basketball

Because the Los Angeles Sparks (5-15) proceed to slip additional out of the playoff race, and so they’ve made a number of changes to their rotation as of late, although most have been out of necessity. Rookie ahead Cameron Brink has been dominated out for the rest of the season with a torn ACL, whereas guard Lexie Brown is out indefinitely as she battles Crohn’s illness.

Whereas veterans like Stephanie Talbot and Kia Nurse have seen elevated workloads for the Sparks within the wake of those accidents, it’s been level guard Aari McDonald who has stepped up essentially the most. McDonald, who was acquired in an offseason commerce with the Atlanta Dream, bought off to a modest begin in her first month in Los Angeles, however has quietly been one of many WNBA’s extra productive guards since then. In her final 9 video games, McDonald has posted averages of 13.2 factors, 5.2 assists and 1.2 steals per recreation, and save for one dud towards the New York Liberty on June 22, has shot the ball effectively, connecting on 47.1 p.c of her subject purpose makes an attempt and 39.5 p.c of her 3-pointers throughout that span.

That’s good for 25.6 fantasy factors per recreation, and McDonald doesn’t appear to be at risk of shedding her spot within the beginning lineup, both. Layshia Clarendon remains to be within the image, however their taking part in time (11.1 minutes within the final 5 video games) has fallen off significantly, and whereas the Sparks just lately signed Crystal Dangerfield to an emergency hardship contract, that’s seemingly purely for depth functions. McDonald remains to be rostered in solely 31.5 p.c of ESPN leagues, and with the Sparks taking part in extra for lottery balls than for the postseason, their younger lead guard needs to be on everybody’s fantasy radar.

Odyssey Sims is giving the Wings much-needed stability at level guard

In the meantime, Odyssey Sims is again in Dallas on a hardship contract, and her play over the previous week has followers questioning why she wasn’t on the Wings roster to open the season.

In 4 video games, Sims is averaging 12.5 factors, 5 assists and 1.8 steals whereas taking part in almost half-hour per recreation. She rapidly was put into the staff’s beginning lineup by head coach Latricia Trammell, who has been trying to find solutions because the starting of the Wings’ season. Maybe no staff within the WNBA has been extra closely affected by accidents than Dallas, and it’s mirrored within the Wings’ majorly disappointing 5-16 document.

Photograph by Cooper Neill/NBAE by way of Getty Pictures

In Sims, Trammell now has a veteran guard who has been there earlier than—figuratively and actually. That is Sims’ third stint with the franchise that initially drafted her again in 2014, and it’s simple to see why the Wings threw her into the fireplace instantly after bringing her again for 2024. They’ve fallen far wanting preseason expectations and are in determined want of stability at nearly each place on their roster, and Sims provides them peace of thoughts that they merely weren’t getting from rookies Sevgi Uzun or Jacy Sheldon.

That being mentioned, Sheldon remains to be the way forward for the purpose guard place in Dallas, and the 24.8 fantasy factors per recreation Sims has been averaging since returning to the Wings could not maintain for the remainder of 2024. We nonetheless have but to see Satou Sabally, who has not performed on account of a shoulder damage; if she comes again after the Olympics as initially projected, Sims received’t be as massive of an element within the staff’s offense as she at present is.

Nonetheless, Sims is a participant who ought to completely be added in fantasy basketball in the interim. She’s a extra keen shooter than each Uzun and Sheldon, and appears to be the one Wings guard apart from Arike Ogunbowale who’s getting free reign on offense.

Diamond Miller’s future is brilliant, however the Lynx aren’t in a rush

The Minnesota Lynx have one of many WNBA’s deepest rosters, and it’s allowed them to thrive regardless of the prolonged absence of one in all their extra essential gamers, Diamond Miller. The No. 2 total draft choose in 2023, Miller’s skilled profession is stuffed with promise, however has been derailed by damage a number of occasions; a knee process prematurely ended her first winter abroad, and one other knee operation earlier this summer season saved her out for over a month of motion.

Photograph by Evan Yu/NBAE by way of Getty Pictures

Miller is again on the court docket now—maybe sooner than anticipated—however hasn’t contributed a lot, averaging simply 5.4 minutes in 4 video games whereas coming off the bench. This could come as no shock to anybody who’s accustomed to how Lynx head coach Cheryl Reeve tends to handle her gamers’ accidents, and Minnesota has completed effective with out Miller taking part in a big position up to now, at present sitting in third place within the WNBA standings at 14-6.

Given the expertise Minnesota has on the wing—Kayla McBride, Bridget Carleton and Cecilia Zandalasini have all been glorious of their respective roles—count on Miller’s workload to stay delicate till additional discover. She’s a key a part of the staff’s future, and Reeve seemingly received’t need to overexert her, even when it means the Lynx aren’t technically taking part in at full capability for the remainder of the common season. It’s effective to go away Miller on the waiver wire for now.

For the needs of this text, “fantasy factors” refer to plain ESPN fantasy league scoring, through which factors, 3-pointers, rebounds and assists are every value one fantasy level and steals and blocks are every value two fantasy factors. All participant and staff stats for the 2024 season are present by July 4.