WNBA: NYL’s Breanna Stewart goes No. 1 in Swish Attraction fantasy draft

Welcome to the first-ever Swish Attraction WNBA fantasy basketball league!

With ESPN’s WNBA fantasy basketball platform now in its second yr of operation, six of us at Swish Attraction thought it could be a enjoyable thought to place collectively our personal league for the 2023 WNBA season. Although we’ll be taking part in only for enjoyable (no cash bets right here!), we’ll be checking in on every fantasy staff all through the summer season right here at Swish Attraction to see which squads are performing the most effective.

For now, although, right here’s a fast primer on how we’ll be taking part in, together with the league guidelines, scoring and — in fact — which of us drafted which WNBA gamers.

The format and guidelines

As is typical of ESPN WNBA fantasy leagues, the Swish Attraction league will probably be scored in a head-to-head, weekly format. The groups who file extra complete factors than their opponents in any given week will “win” that respective matchup.

Rosters

To encourage extra technique when drafting, roster positions had been narrowed considerably in comparison with the ESPN defaults. Our fantasy groups include ten gamers (seven starters, three bench gamers and two injured reserve (IR) spots), with the next positions:

• One guard (G)
• One ahead (F)
• One heart (C)
• One guard/ahead (G/F)
• One ahead/heart (F/C)
• Two utility gamers (UTIL)

Twin-position roster spots could also be occupied by gamers of both place. Utility spots could also be occupied by gamers of any place.

Scoring

In distinction to default ESPN scoring, which provides one fantasy level for each primary field rating statistic (factors, rebounds, assists, and so forth), Swish Attraction’s fantasy league’s scoring weights some statistics in another way than others, just like how each day fantasy platforms akin to FanDuel and DraftKings file fantasy factors. This provides extra worth to gamers who might not essentially be high-volume however contribute in different areas, akin to defensive playmaking and offensive effectivity. Our league scoring is as follows:

• Subject objectives made (FGM) = 1
• Subject objectives missed (FGMI) = -0.3
• Free throws made (FTM) = 1
• 3-pointers made (3PM) = 1.5
• Rebounds (REB) = 1.5
• Assists (AST) = 2
• Steals (STL) = 3
• Blocks (BLK) = 3
• Turnovers (TO) = -1.5
• Double doubles (DD) = 2
• Triple doubles (TD) = 5
• Factors (PTS) = 0.5

The groups

Swish Attraction’s WNBA fantasy league draft came about on Sunday in a typical randomized “snake” format. Listed here are the outcomes of the draft, with every participant’s draft place and feedback from every supervisor on their respective roster:

Workforce Nemchock (Eric Nemchock)

• No. 2: A’ja Wilson (Las Vegas Aces; F)
• No. 11: Arike Ogunbowale (Dallas Wings; G)
• No. 14: Teaira McCowan (Dallas Wings; C)
• No. 23: Brionna Jones (Connecticut Solar; C)
• No. 26: NaLyssa Smith (Indiana Fever; F)
• No. 35: Natasha Cloud (Washington Mystics; G)
• No. 38: Courtney Vandersloot (New York Liberty; G)
• No. 47: Brittney Sykes (Washington Mystics; G)
• No. 50: Myisha Hines-Allen (Washington Mystics; F)
• No. 59: Jordan Horston (Seattle Storm; G)

Feedback: Initially, I’m actually proud of my depth at heart. ESPN doesn’t record too many WNBA gamers as facilities, and since we’ll must have no less than one rostered for our league, I think about myself fortunate to have gotten two starters in McCowan and Jones. I’m relying on a bounce-back season from Hines-Allen, who will hopefully have a bigger function for the Mystics than she did in 2022. Horston may find yourself being an excellent fantasy participant together with her capability to stuff the stat sheet — if Seattle provides her free reign to take action, that’s. — Eric Nemchock

Workforce Zack (Zack Ward)

• No. 3: Brittney Griner (Phoenix Mercury; C)
• No. 10: Nneka Ogwumike (Los Angeles Sparks; F)
• No. 15: Jewell Loyd (Seattle Storm; G)
• No. 22: Courtney Williams (Chicago Sky; G)
• No. 27: DeWanna Bonner (Connecticut Solar; F)
• No. 34: Kayla McBride (Minnesota Lynx; G)
• No. 39: Moriah Jefferson (Phoenix Mercury; G)
• No. 46: Diamond DeShields (Dallas Wings; G)
• No. 51: Jasmine Thomas (Los Angeles Sparks; G)
• No. 58: Erica Wheeler (Indiana Fever; G)

Feedback: I’m taking a threat on BG, hoping she received’t be too rusty. Nneka Ogwumike is again to her traditional self as of final season, when she got here in tenth in MVP voting. I stayed away from Liberty and Aces gamers as a result of I feel they’ll damage one another’s scores; I feel Nneka goes to have to hold the Sparks. Similar goes for Jewell Loyd and the Storm. I avoided choosing Loyd larger, however was thrilled to get her within the third spherical as a result of her stats are clearly anticipated to skyrocket this yr with Breanna Stewart not in Seattle. I used to be additionally thrilled to get Erica Wheeler within the final spherical as a result of she goes to play a giant function for the Fever. — Zack Ward

Workforce Josh (Josh Felton)

• No. 1: Breanna Stewart (New York Liberty; F)
• No. 12: Natasha Howard (Dallas Wings; F)
• No. 13: Jonquel Jones (New York Liberty; F)
• No. 24: Jackie Younger (Las Vegas Aces; G)
• No. 25: Aerial Powers (Minnesota Lynx; F)
• No. 36: Diana Taurasi (Phoenix Mercury; G)
• No. 37: Azurá Stevens (Los Angeles Sparks; F)
• No. 48: Isabelle Harrison (Chicago Sky; F)
• No. 49: Diamond Miller (Minnesota Lynx; G)
• No. 60: Mercedes Russell (Seattle Storm; C)

Workforce Draves (Zachary Draves)

• No. 4: Napheesa Collier (Minnesota Lynx; F)
• No. 9: Rhyne Howard (Atlanta Dream; G)
• No. 16: Marina Mabrey (Chicago Sky; G)
• No. 21: Kelsey Mitchell (Indiana Fever; G)
• No. 28: Allisha Grey (Atlanta Dream; G)
• No. 33: Cheyenne Parker (Atlanta Dream; F)
• No. 40: Sophie Cunningham (Phoenix Mercury; G)
• No. 45: Elizabeth Williams (Chicago Sky; C)
• No. 52: Brianna Turner (Phoenix Mercury; F)
• No. 57: Sami Whitcomb (Seattle Storm; G)

Workforce Cat (Cat Ariail)

• No. 6: Elena Delle Donne (Washington Mystics; F)
• No. 7: Alyssa Thomas (Connecticut Solar; F)
• No. 18: Kahleah Copper (Chicago Sky; G)
• No. 19: Shakira Austin (Washington Mystics; C)
• No. 30: Ariel Atkins (Washington Mystics; G)
• No. 31: Tiffany Hayes (Connecticut Solar; G)
• No. 42: Satou Sabally (Dallas Wings; F)
• No. 43: Aari McDonald (Atlanta Dream; G)
• No. 54: Betnijah Laney (New York Liberty; F)
• No. 55: Chiney Ogwumike (Los Angeles Sparks; F)

Feedback: Final Aug. 2, Alyssa Thomas notched her first profession triple-double. Earlier than the Solar could be eradicated within the 2022 WNBA Finals, she would register three extra. I imagine triple-dub AT has been unleashed, and I’m thrilled to have her stat stuffing for my squad. I can even rely on Thomas to all the time be on the courtroom; in distinction, the constant availability of Elena Delle Donne, Tiffany Hayes and Satou Sabally is a priority. Nevertheless, if that trio has good well being, I’m feeling fairly assured about my group. — Cat Ariail

Workforce Leite (Chelsea Leite)

• No. 5: Kelsey Plum (Las Vegas Aces; G)
• No. 8: Sabrina Ionescu (New York Liberty; G)
• No. 17: Ezi Magbegor (Seattle Storm; C)
• No. 20: Chelsea Grey (Las Vegas Aces; G)
• No. 29: Candace Parker (Las Vegas Aces; F)
• No. 32: Aliyah Boston (Indiana Fever; F)
• No. 41: Kia Nurse (Seattle Storm; G)
• No. 44: Dana Evans (Chicago Sky; G)
• No. 53: Han Xu (New York Liberty; C)
• No. 56: Bridget Carleton (Minnesota Lynx; F)

Feedback: I went in with the fifth total choose, anticipating to get Brittney Griner and take care of drafting guards later (it was a guard-heavy draft) — solely to be FLABBERGASTED when Zack took BG with the third choose. It labored out effectively although, as a result of that left higher-prospect Kelsey Plum for me to take. I spotted about midway by way of that I had barely any facilities, however was completely satisfied to seize Han Xu, who I feel goes to have a wonderful yr. Rounded all of it out with some Canadians, the projected Rookie of the 12 months, and a bunch of All-Stars?? I’m the sleeper on this Fantasy League. Be careful. — Chelsea Leite