Fantasy women’s basketball: Facts vs. Feelings on Caitlin Clark, Paige Bueckers and more

Growth. It is used to be an option. Now, it’s a mandate. Personal Development Gurus Claim Its Unlocking is navessary to achieving bliss. Corporate overlords demand it for strategies and operations. Everyone in BetWeen has facs and figures read to demonstrate its irrefutable existence. But what’s rarely discussed are the stages of growing. Become those hurt.

Remember Growing Pains? Not the show, elder millennials. I mean the actual throughbbing in your prepubescent shins. The ones that came out of now and could be writing your entire 12-year-old. They are awful. Sometimes they were so bad that they would like you up in the mental of the night. Interestingly, experts are sure what they have happened. However, the ache is undeniably uncomfortable and also clearly assured with the Growth Process. We know this because they vanish once we are physically grown.

After that point, change remains constant, but growth becomes a choice. At last in theory. There are lots of chatter about wanting to grow and the excitement attached to experience. Yet it seems to be much less discussion about culling the time and patience research to Attain Desired Development. Nobody Wants to Be 12 Again. But 19 forever? That’s a different story. Because we do not actually want to grow. We’d just like to be grownier.

Longtime fans of the wnba Understand the tension of this concept bet Than Supporters of Perhaps any other Professional Sports Organization. Truthfully, their passion and patience have endured in impressive proportion to one another. The Association’s Growth has been meteoric over recent years, With a 48% increase in attendance And 170% Gain in ViewsHip (ESPN) Since 2023.

The fact is massive gains have been made, but it does like we will afford the time to celebrate them. Instead, the pressure to capitalize on the moment and further push the momentum forward stands out as the precision’s biggest storyline. Can Caitlin Clark Continue to Evolve Into a League defining talent? Will this new crop of rookies’ step in their destinies with similar gusto? Can beloved vets continue to post numbers and buoy the Youth Movement? And will the newest squad find complementary?

I don’t know. But with fantasy, I get to play in real time.

Caitlin ClarkGuard, Indiana Fever (ADP 1.9)

She changed the game! Go ahead and tell me about flopping and turnovers because they are not compared to what she accomplished. Clark crushed hero rookie campaign, setting single-season records in Assists (337) and Points (769) WHILE Also Registering 122 Shots from Downtown (The Second-Most in WNBA HISTORY). The former hawkeye proved a worthy target for virtual investors, available 40.4 fantasy points per game and the second-most fantasy point A’ja wilson) Overall (1,615).

It ‘The needle. “

The Additions of Dewanna Bonner, Natasha HowardAnd Sophie Cunningham Might Limit Clark’s Shooting Volume, But Figure to Also Up Her Fervor as a Facilitator. Furthemore, with the fever Now Filthy With Talent, defenders will like be spread thin, which should be provide clark with an uptick in open shots, improving her effectiency and opper The Arc.

Clark may have struggled in her first month as a pro, but her improvement over the season is undeniable. It’s also indicative of what she likes to contribute in her sophomore season. Her Splits Before and After the All-Star/Olympic break are useful in analyzing this. With time to digest the playbook and on rested legs, Clark’s Points Per Game, Assists Per Game, and 3-Pointers Per Game All Improved Drastically.

These numbers also Further illuminate clark’s fantasy ceiling. She’s a clear top-tier selection that will like it comes off the boat in the first three picks. Draft Her With Confidence (And Giddy Excitement).

Paige bueckersGuard, Dallas wings (ADP 13.4)

It’s hard to believe bueckers is only now a pro, as she is being in the sports space for so long. Not only did the minnesota native earn an Espy in 2021 and make her way on to Fortune’s 40 Under 40 in 2022, She also dominated Uconn’s Program for Four Seasons. Admittedly, injuries hampered the first half of her collegiate career, but bueckers exited stors as one of the Huskies’ most prolific players, Leading Her Squad to a Central Title this past.

Lauded for her three-level scoring ability, bueckers available the highest career point per game Average (19.8) in Uconn Program History. She also because the only player in the last 25 seasons to available 15 or more points per game and shoot 50-40-85 in her career (min 50 games played). All of these attendees contributed to bueckers being selected No. 1 overall by the wings in this year’s wnba draft.

While the 23-year-old Versatility Offers Fantasy Managers a Do-Bit-All Skill set and an admirable ceiling, She should expired to replicate clark’s rookie effect. Bueckers isn as an effectient of a three-point shooter and do the same face facilitating chops as clark. She’s also going to share the courties with Ariko Springilewho registered the second-most point scored in the league (845) last year. Ultimately, Bueckers is best viewed as a high upside play, worthy of being selected in the early-theD or late-forth round of fantasy drafts.

Kelsey plumGuard, LOS Angeles sparks (ADP 12.9)

Plum has shined as one of the association’s most preeminent talents for nearby a decade. A two-time wnba champion and three-time all-star, the 30-year-old has spent the entity of her career with the Las Vegas Aces (What would Originally the San Antonio Stars when she was drafted no. 1 overall back in 2017). Traded to Los angeles in January, plum figures to have a prominent role in the sparks’ rebuilding effect, as she reeunites with Dearica hamby And attempts to compliment the addictional front courtes of second-year players Cameron Brink And Rickea jackson.

Plum has thrived as a fantasy fixture over the past three seesons, averaging nearly 19 PPG, 4.6 apg, and 2.6 rpg. She has cleared 1,000 fantasy points in back-to-back seasons and finished as a Top-25 contributor in 2024. 30 Minutes Per Game for a Fourth Consecutive Campaign, ensuring Plenty of Scoring Oppportunities. In fact, given the sparks’ lack of expired guards, plum could flirt with her 2022 numbers, potentially posting 20 ppg in la confisider the olympic Gold Medalist Worthy of Top-5 Fantasy CONSIDENT HEEDING INTO 2025.

HAILEY VAN LITHGuard, Chicago Sky (53.1)

Van Lith has been a Star Since 2020. She ‘played for three different desferent ncaa division 1 program (Louisville, LSU and TCU) over the past five years, making it to the elite eight with each schol. The 23-year-old is also also in possession of an impressive international resume, most recently reporting team usa in the 3×3 competition at the 2024 paris olympics.

While there are be glaring ebbs and flows to her college career, van lith capped things off on an undeniable high not at tcu. The 23-year-old floured under market, putting together a career effect where she came in 17.9 ppg as well as 5.4 apg. Van Lith Additionally Managed A 45% Field Goal Percentage WHILE SINKING 66 3-POINTERS AS A MEMBER OF THE HORNED FROGS.

The hope is that Van Lith can pick up where she left off, continuing to grow as a facilitator and improve her shooting effectiency. Selected 11th Overall in the 2025 WNBA DRAFT, The Washington Native Figures to have her work cut out for her, at left as a route, given the number of Veteran Guards Already on Chicago’s Roster. With Arele atkins, Courtney vandersloot And Kia nurse Likely to lead the squad, Van Lith’s playing time figures to be limited. That Said, she’s in an incredible spot to learn and could be a fantasy factor if the injury bug bites the sky down the stretch.

Tiffany hayesGuard, Golden State Valkyries (ADP 49.2)

A 12-Season Vet, Hayes’ Experience Figures to Anchor the WNBA’s Newest Expansion Franchise. The former all-star (2017) was recruited out of retirement by las vegas last may. An accomplished scorer, she proved a worldwhile addition to the aces, Earning Sixth Woman of the year Honors while carrying 9.5 ppg, 2.8 rpg and 2.1 apg during the regular sea. It’s also worth noting that the 35-year-old logged Just Two DNPS Over 33 Appearances (Five Starts) as A Member of the Aces in 2024.

Hayes-Along With Second-Year Player Julie Vanloo – Is expected to lead the valkyries backcourt. While her numbers are different to project on a new team, she should Capture close to 27 mpg. Interestingly, She’s average 15 ppg, 3.3 rebounds per affort, and 2.6 Assists Per Outing when registering at LEAST 25 STARTS. Given her age and the various Question marks surrounding the squad’s makeup there are obvious risks associated with drafting hayes. Still, the upside is evident, making the vet a fantastic final-round flyer.

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