WNBA: Reese, Cardozo have fantasy basketball successes

When the Chicago Sky selected center Camila Cardozo and forward Angel Reese in the 2024 WNBA Draft, it was widely assumed that the two college stars would be the franchise’s frontcourt of the future. The question wasn’t if they’d get their big break, but when.

Injuries to the Sky’s veteran frontcourt players accelerated that process, making rookies valuable assets in fantasy basketball. Reese was immediately named the starter as Isabelle Harrison rehabbed a knee injury she suffered in 2023, and was very productive, averaging 12.2 points, 10 rebounds and 1.8 steals on the season. That equates to 27.8 fantasy points per game in standard ESPN leagues, and while the hype surrounding Reese made her one of the earliest drafted rookies in most leagues (average draft position 33.7), her fantasy presence was well worth it.

Cardoso has also been getting some opportunities recently. She has been the starter since Elizabeth Williams was sidelined with a torn meniscus. The Sky haven’t said when Williams will recover, but Cardoso will likely be in the starting lineup for the remainder of the season. Cardoso has scored in double figures in each of her three starts, averaging 20.7 fantasy points in that time.

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Why do fantasy basketball managers value the Reese-Cardozo duo so much? Aside from the money the Sky invested in acquiring them in the draft, trends suggest there isn’t much competition for them from the rest of the team. Brianna Turner has barely played in June (2.4 minutes per game) and Sky head coach Theresa Weatherspoon doesn’t seem interested in playing Michaela Onyenwere at power forward, typically rotating Reese, Cardoso and Harrison in the frontcourt in recent games.

For fantasy basketball managers, it’s important to identify these trends, but it’s also important to predict how long they are expected to continue. For a rebuilding team like the Sky, things are pretty clear from a fantasy perspective, but for other teams it might not be so simple.

Which wing can you trust?

It’s been a disappointing season so far for Dallas, and while players like Areke Ogunbowale and Teela McCowan have been as reliable as ever in terms of fantasy basketball performance, the extended absences of key forwards Sato Sabally and Natasha Howard have caused confusion for the rest of Dallas’ roster.

Monique Billings has been great while filling in for Sabally and Howard on an emergency hardship contract, and second-year forward Maddie Siegrist (averaging 22.5 fantasy points per game) has made great strides in her expanded role, but it’s the Wings’ backcourt situation that has many fans puzzled. Rookie Jaycee Sheldon, drafted fifth overall by Dallas, has struggled as a first-year WNBA guard but hasn’t had much of a chance to overcome it, averaging just 11.5 minutes per game. Meanwhile, Sevzi Uzun continues to start, playing 30.9 minutes per game. Not on many people’s radar before the season, Uzun makes for a great pick to acquire on the waiver wire, but playing next to the ball-dominant Ogunbowale is a risky bet in terms of fantasy production.

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A few things to consider here: First, Howard is expected to return within the next two to three weeks, which would force the Wings to waive Billings and take a hit to Siegrist’s production.

With the Wings desperate to start winning games, it may become even tougher for young players like Sheldon and Lou Lopez-Senéchal (who was essentially helpless up until now) to get on the court. Dallas head coach Latricia Trammell was similarly tough on the young guards late in 2023, but that was when the Wings were on a roll. With veterans back healthy, the rotation could get even tougher if they want to make the playoffs this season.

Sykes’ setback is the latest misfortune for the Mystics

Speaking of injuries that create opportunities for others, Washington Mystics guard Brittney Sykes had some real bad luck, missing 10 games with an ankle injury earlier in the season and then suffering a new foot injury in her first game back. Sykes is expected to miss at least two weeks.

Unlike the Wings, Washington likely isn’t in the running to make the playoffs. The Mystics are coming off their second win of the season last Friday, and general manager Mike Thibault said the team plans to focus on acquiring young players with potential for the future.

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In fantasy basketball, quotes like these are a valuable resource when deciding which players to target in your league. In place of Sykes, guards Julie VanLuh and Jade Melbourne are expected to continue to get the majority of playing time. While both are technically rookies, VanLuh has more experience and Melbourne is still at risk of being taken out of the game if she makes too many mistakes.

Elsewhere on the Mystics roster, center Shakira Austin remains sidelined with a hip injury. She is important to the team’s future, and while this setback is undoubtedly frustrating (and not just for fantasy basketball fans), it’s in Washington’s best interest to allow Austin time to recover. However, rookie forward Aaliyah Edwards has found an expanded role in the frontcourt, averaging 28.4 fantasy points over the past five games. Edwards’ rebounding and defensive playmaking make her a well-rounded fantasy player and will likely be a popular option in next year’s Snake Draft.

For the purposes of this article, “fantasy points” refers to standard ESPN fantasy league scoring, where points, three-point shots, rebounds and assists are each worth one fantasy point, and steals and blocks are each worth two fantasy points.