It seems crazy to say this just a day past the one-month mark of the season, but we’re already almost halfway through the WNBA fantasy regular season in standard ESPN leagues. If your league is set to the default — nine matchups before the playoffs — you’ve already finished four of them and have just five remaining.

That means if you’re still toward the bottom of the standings, it’s probably time to start thinking about shaking things up. We’ve got you covered with who can help you do that, as well as everything else you need to know from the past week in fantasy.

Risers

These are the top risers in fantasy ranking over the past week. We’ve only included players who were ranked a week ago, meaning they had already played a game at that point.

3. Satou Sabally: 17 spots (current 42nd, previous 59th)

At this time a week ago, Sabally hadn’t started a game yet. She had played in just three games since returning from her overseas season, and she averaged just 20 minutes off the bench in those games.

Since then, she has started every game and averaged over 27 minutes per game, so it makes sense that she’s climbed the leaderboard. The third-year forward has posted two straight double-doubles and has averaged four assists since being inserted into the startling lineup.

2. Kahleah Copper: 19 spots (current 39th, previous 58th)

Copper finished May without a 25-point performance in fantasy. She has surpassed that mark in both June games thus far while averaging 18 points and, impressively for a guard, seven rebounds per game.

The reigning Finals MVP also seems to be making good on her promise to improve her outside stroke this season. She’s attempting more than three triples a game for the first time in her career and has still managed to increase her efficiency to 35 percent for the first time since 2018.

1. Elizabeth Williams: 22 spots (current 70th, previous 92nd)

Just like in our last fantasy piece, a Mystics big has landed on this list after Shakira Austin cracked the top three with a 25-spot ascent. Williams also completes the trifecta of players on this list who got a late start to their WNBA season due to overseas commitments. It appears that these players took a week or two to adjust and are starting to find their footing in the WNBA again.

BL🚫CKED#WearOrange // @E_Williams_1 pic.twitter.com/I89sCqWOqj

— Washington Mystics (@WashMystics) June 4, 2022

Washington’s crowded frontcourt has made it difficult for Williams to get significant playing time when everyone is healthy, but her rise this week is largely due to a game in which she made the most of her time on the floor. Last Tuesday against the Fever, Williams pulled down 15 boards and blocked six shots, all in under 23 minutes.

Fallers

On the flip side of the risers, you have the fallers — those players whose rank has dropped off in the last seven days.

3. NaLyssa Smith: 12 spots (current 33rd, previous 21st)

The fact that falling a mere 12 spots is enough to land on this list says more about the fact that the rankings are starting to stabilize than it does about NaLyssa Smith — although Smith’s ankle hasn’t done her any favors either.

Long term, there’s absolutely nothing to worry about with the No. 2 overall pick, who has established herself as a force for years to come. But since returning from the injury, she’s averaged under five rebounds per game after not being below five in any single game prior. She’s also coming off of her first two games below 20 fantasy points.

2. Marina Mabrey: 12 spots (current 36th, previous 24th)

Peak Marina Mabrey is a scoring machine who perfectly complements Arike Ogunbowale. This past week was not peak Marina Mabrey.

The Wings guard had reached double figures in scoring in 11 consecutive regular season games before managing fewer than seven points in three of her last four. As Ty Harris begins to eat into Mabrey’s minutes, the Wings’ lineup rotation is a situation worth monitoring.

1. Yvonne Anderson: 17 spots (current 114th, previous 97th)

Even being in the league as a 32-year-old rookie is a massive achievement, so this is nothing for Anderson to hang her head over. It also speaks to Anderson’s accomplishments that she was able to crack the top 100 at any point.

But that momentum is fading as Curt Miller has reverted to a shorter rotation. Anderson appears to be on the outside looking in, having played just nine minutes in Connecticut’s last three games.

Adds and Drops

One of the most important aspects of winning a fantasy title is attentiveness. If you want to have a shot, you’ve got to stay on top of the latest trends and news and make sure you’re fielding the best possible team at any given moment. What looked like the best combination of nine players you could put together a week or two ago may no longer be the case today.

Here, we give you the best widely-available players to consider picking up, as well as the players potentially worth cutting to free up that roster spot. Keep in mind, this may vary a little depending on your league size: A player worth rostering in a 10-team league isn’t necessarily viable in an eight-team league.

Adds

Rachel Banham

There’s sort of a cruel irony in the fact that Banham occupies this spot by virtue of an injury to the player we featured in our last fantasy piece. Without Moriah Jefferson for the foreseeable future, Cheryl Reeve will be forced to turn to Banham as a makeshift point guard.

Regardless of whether it works out in real life, it should pay big dividends in fantasy. Banham put up 24 fantasy points in 32 minutes on Sunday in Jefferson’s absence. Her 1.5 percent ownership rate is simply nowhere close to high enough.

whata find 👏👏👏@SharecareInc Share of the Game pic.twitter.com/dLuGwh3db1

— Minnesota Lynx (@minnesotalynx) June 5, 2022

Elizabeth Williams

Williams is owned in over 14 times the number of leagues in which Banham is owned, but 22.2 percent still seems low for a player who’s essentially scoring a fantasy point a minute.

Yes, that only helps you if the minutes are there, but despite minutes in the teens, Williams’ spot in the rotation is clearly safe. With her production and the injury/load management issues that Washington continues to deal with, don’t be surprised if Williams sees her minutes spike into the 20s at some point. You’ll be glad to have her when that happens.

Drops

Tiffany Mitchell

Mitchell has never averaged fewer than 20 minutes per game in her seven-year career, but that looks likely to change this season. The veteran is playing just 13.8 minutes a contest, but that number is in the single digits over the last seven games.

With all the rookies and young talent on Indiana’s roster, it appears that they are opting to phase Mitchell out in the final year of her contract and use those minutes to develop their potential future stars. That is not good news for Mitchell’s fantasy owners.

Jasmine Thomas

This one should be obvious: Thomas is out for the year with a torn ACL. But apparently it’s not obvious to almost half of fantasy managers because Thomas is still owned in 47.9 percent of ESPN leagues.

Yes, there is an IR spot for stashing an injured player, but that spot should be used for someone like Napheesa Collier, Riquna Williams or Tiffany Hayes. Unless you are in a keeper or dynasty league in which you’ll be retaining players for 2023, use that spot for someone who could be back this season.

Fantasy performances of the week

Diana Taurasi, 51 fantasy points (June 3 vs. Connecticut)

Of course Taurasi ended up on this list again. After becoming the first player aged 39 or older to score 30 in a game with her 31 points on May 19, she had to go and outdo herself with 32 on Friday against the Sun.

It helped that she had three stocks (steals plus blocks) as well, as those are the only two stat categories worth more than one fantasy point in ESPN standard scoring. That was tied for her highest stock total since her fourth game in the bubble.

First quarter buzzer beater. Only the 🐐. pic.twitter.com/3zBwKdjENs

— Phoenix Mercury (@PhoenixMercury) June 4, 2022

Sabrina Ionescu, 52 fantasy points (June 5 vs. Minnesota)

When fans and media members talk about Ionescu showing “flashes of brilliance,” they are referring to games like this. The former No. 1 pick has multiple games with just two (real life) points this year, but after this one, she also has multiple games with 31.

If Ionescu can start playing like this on a more consistent basis, the Liberty may be able to dig themselves out of the cellar of the standings. For now, it’s more of a tease for New York fans and Sabrina owners alike.

Breanna Stewart, 52 fantasy points (June 3 vs. Dallas)

There was a tie this week for best fantasy performance, so we gave the last spot here to the 2022 leader in fantasy points per game. In addition to pouring in 27 points (which somehow is only mildly above average for her), Stewart also recorded seven stocks in this game.

Notably, this was Stewart’s 29th career game with at least 50 fantasy points, tying Sylvia Fowles for seventh all time. Everyone above her on the list is either retired or, at a minimum, strongly considering it very soon. Stewart, meanwhile, is 27 years old and missed an entire season due to injury. We’re witnessing greatness.

Miscellaneous fantasy stat of the week

Two days after Stewart recorded her 29th career 50-point fantasy performance, another player recorded her first.

Kelsey Plum was labeled by some as a bust after being drafted No. 1 overall in 2017 and failing to average double figures in scoring until four years later. We can put that talk to rest now.

Among all of the other stellar numbers Plum has put up this season, she joined the 50-point fantasy club against Dallas on Sunday. Perhaps more impressive? She played all 40 minutes of that one.

Most sportsbooks now have Plum in the top three of their MVP odds, behind only her teammate, A’ja Wilson, and Stewart. Give Becky Hammon an assist for unlocking the full potential of the NCAA’s career scoring leader, but it’s time to appreciate what this budding superstar is becoming in 2022.

Calvin Wetzel is a contributing writer at Just Women’s Sports, covering basketball and betting. He also contributes to Her Hoop Stats, CBS SportsLine and FiveThirtyEight. Follow him on Twitter at @cwetzel31.

The 2025 NWSL Best XI presented by Amazon Prime is in, as the league honored the year’s top performers at the first-ever NWSL Awards ceremony in San Jose, California — home to NWSL Championship Weekend.

One storyline stole the spotlight: the overwhelming dominance of the Kansas City Current. The 2025 Shield-winners earned five First Team selections — the most in league history — reinforcing the Current’s status as an NWSL powerhouse despite their quarterfinal playoff exit.

“The season didn’t end the way that we wanted to, and we’re still very hungry for more next year,” Kansas City defender Kayla Sharples told JWS after landing on the 2025 NWSL Best XI. “But the thing is, our last result doesn’t define our whole season.”

The NWSL Awards — a nationally televised event complete with a blue carpet for VIPs — showcased the standout players who ruled the pitch in 2025. Below is a full breakdown of the NWSL Best XI First Team, diving deep into how each star claimed their spot at the top this season.

2025 NWSL Best XI First Team presented by Amazon Prime

Goalkeeper: Lorena (Kansas City Current)

Kansas City’s Brazilian goalkeeper acted as the backbone of the league’s best defensive unit. Lorena, who developed through Brazil’s youth and senior national team system, secured 14 clean sheets thanks to quick reactions, vertical command, and pinpoint ball distribution. Throughout 2025, she transformed from solid starter to NWSL Goalkeeper of the Year in addition to Best XI honors.

Defender: Izzy Rodriguez (Kansas City Current)

Former US youth international and Ohio State star Izzy Rodriguez has evolved into one of the NWSL’s premier two-way fullbacks. Her overlapping runs, precise crossing, and ability to defend in transition gave Kansas City unmatched width. The 26-year-old’s end-of-season honor solidifies her transformation from promising draft pick to elite defender.

“It’s so nice to celebrate your teammates, especially when you know how much work they put in the entire year,” Rodriguez said after the ceremony.

“It was so cool to have an event like this. It’s something that’s just elevating women’s sports all around and I hope we get to continue things like this and add on from here.”

Defender: Avery Patterson (Houston Dash)

In addition to 2025 NWSL Best XI honors, 23-year-old Dash defender Avery Patterson took home Houston’s team MVP award and a Defender of the Year nomination. The UNC alum registered three goals and two assists this season, leading the team defensively with 40 interceptions and 32 won tackles. She was also instrumental to the Dash’s second-half surge, helping the club to a tight 10th-place finish while making her presence known on the USWNT.

Defender: Kayla Sharples (Kansas City Current)

Persevering through both injuries and trades, 2019 draftee Kayla Sharples reemerged as an unshakeable center back for Kansas City. Her dominance in the air, calm under pressure, and organizational prowess allowed the Current to set a franchise-best defensive record this season. Sharples’s late-career breakout earned widespread praise — and a spot on the 2025 NWSL Best XI.

“It’s an incredible honor,” said Sharples. “This season has been very rewarding. And to see a lot of the players get recognition, it’s just a testament to this team, the coaching staff, all the time and work that’s been put in.”

Defender: Tara McKeown (Washington Spirit)

Washington Spirit’s 2025 Defender of the Year made headlines after seamlessly transitioning from standout college forward to top-flight pro center back and USWNT regular. McKeown’s background as an attacker enhanced her anticipation and footwork. That combined with her ability to shut down strikers while confidently building out of the back made her one of 2025's most important defenders.

“Honestly, I didn’t think I’d be here when I did switch to defender, so now that I have, I’m really grateful and having a lot of fun,” McKeown reflected. “I enjoy playing back there, which I didn’t think I would say when I first switched.”

Midfielder: Claire Hutton (Kansas City Current)

One of the youngest players in this year’s Best XI, 19-year-old Claire Hutton has surfaced as a foundational midfielder for the Current. A product of youth and senior US national teams, Hutton excelled at ball retention, tempo control, and breaking pressure. Her defensive engine and range fueled Kansas City’s possessive excellence, while mirroring the shift toward a younger, more technical midfield.

“I’ve learned that expectations can create disappointment, so that isn’t something I ever put out there,” Hutton told JWS. “The work speaks for itself. It’s consistency. Day in, day out, putting the work in and committing to the grind and the love of the game brings us out.”

Midfielder: Sam Coffey (Portland Thorns)

A cornerstone for both Portland and the USWNT, Sam Coffey remains one of the NWSL’s most consistent playmakers. A Penn State graduate, she joined the Thorns in 2022 and quickly became a midfield leader thanks to her ability to dictate matches. And with the team navigating roster turnover after an up-and-down season, Coffey’s reliability stood out more than ever in 2025.

Midfielder: Manaka Matsukubo (North Carolina Courage)

At just 21, Japanese phenom Manaka Matsukubo delivered one of the best midfield seasons in NWSL history. She recorded 11 goals and four assists while leading the midfield in total goal contributions. Merging footwork, vision, and creativity, she elevated North Carolina’s attack and earned recognition as one of women’s soccer’s fastest-rising stars.

“To be a part of the [NWSL] is a really big thing,” Matsukubo said. “I think I was able to demonstrate to my fellow Japanese, younger Japanese, that even if you’re small, you’re still able to demonstrate yourself.”

Forward: Esther González (Gotham FC)

The World Cup-winning Spanish striker saw yet another strong NWSL run this year. Known for her intelligent movement and sharp instincts, Esther provided consistency for a Gotham squad that battled availability issues all season. A contender for the 2025 Golden Boot award, her ability to finish half-chances and pressure defenses earned her a well-deserved place in the league’s top attacking trio.

Forward: Temwa Chawinga (Kansas City Current)

Malawi international Temwa Chawinga won her second straight NWSL MVP and Golden Boot awards this year, taking the NWSL Awards by storm and cementing herself as one the world’s best forwards. Her blistering speed, clinical finishes, and ability to break open games propelled Kansas City’s historic season. Chawinga’s journey from Africa to Europe to NWSL superstardom is one of the league’s defining success stories.

“We fight hard, we push,” said Chawinga, describing her fellow Best XI players. “The way we play the game, we put [in] effort and heart.”

Forward: Olivia Moultrie (Portland Thorns)

At 20, Olivia Moultrie has blossomed from teen prodigy to NWSL and USWNT mainstay. Her creativity, decision-making, and defensive strength turned her into a central figure in Portland’s attack. For both club and country, 2025 confirmed Moultrie as one of US soccer’s most exciting young stars.

How the Kansas City Current crushed the NWSL Awards

Kansas City’s five selections reflect a roster that blended international talent, US youth products, and tactical cohesion. The Current set franchise and league records in wins, scoring, and defense, with this year’s Best XI mirroring that all-around excellence. Their success also signals the broader trend of deep investment in analytics, recruiting, and development.

What the 2025 NWSL Best XI says about the league’s future

This year’s Best XI highlights the NWSL’s evolution into a global, youth-driven league. International stars Chawinga, Matsukubo, and Esther share the stage with homegrown talents Hutton and Moultrie. Veteran leaders Coffey and Sharples show that experience matters, while positional conversions like McKeown’s demonstrate modern coaching innovations.

As the NWSL makes strides in expansion, broadcast deals, and international influence, the 2025 NWSL Best XI serves as a snapshot of a transformative league — competitive, diverse, and teeming with world-class talent.

“This event and the ceremony was truly incredible,” added Hutton. “I’m grateful for the league, for women’s sports, giving us this platform to appreciate where we are, and be where our feet are. I love it.”

Article written in partnership with Amazon Prime.

Just before the final event of the 2025 Tour, the LPGA raised the stakes for pro women's golf, announcing this week that the governing body is expanding both player paydays and live broadcast coverage for the 2026 season.

For the first time in the sport's history, the LPGA's upcoming 76th Tour will see every round of every tournament broadcast live in the US.

The Tour will also add 50% more camera equipment —  including slow-motion and drone cameras — than used in this year's tournaments, with most 2026 LPGA action airing live on the Golf Channel or CNBC.

"For us to finally get our shot at having live TV and for people investing in our product out here has been amazing," US star and world No. 2 Nelly Korda said on Wednesday. "I can't wait to see where it's going to go."

Even more, next season's total prize money will reach $132 million across the Tour's 33 tournaments, a record-high sum after five major events raised their purses by a cumulative $3 million.

There will also be more financial commitment across the board, with 12 events on the 2026 LPGA Tour featuring elevated purses and more than 15 guaranteeing a minimum payout for all players — even those who miss the cut.

"I'm incredibly proud of what we've built, and even more excited about where we're headed," said LPGA commissioner Craig Kessler. "Coming off our 75th anniversary season, we wanted a calendar that gives our athletes great stages, better flow, and even more opportunity — and I think 2026 delivers that."

LPGA season wraps with this week's 2025 CME Group Tour Championship

Though the LPGA is already planning for its 2026 campaign, the final event of the 2025 Tour kicked off on Thursday, as this year's top 60 points-getters teed off in the CME Group Tour Championship.

Featuring 28 of the 29 event champions this year as well as every world Top 25 player, the 2025 Tour's grand finale will see the sport's best battling for the lion's share of the $11 million purse in Naples, Florida.

Leading the field is the aforementioned US standout Korda as well as 2024 CME Group Tour champion and world No. 1 Jeeno Thitikul and New Zealand's two-time winner No. 5 Lydia Ko.

An impressive eight LPGA rookies also made the cut to enter the elite end-of-season tournament, including Japan's No. 3 Miyu Yamashita and England's No. 10 Lottie Woad.

How to watch the 2025 CME Group Tour Championship

The 2025 LPGA Tour will finish with Sunday's final round at the CME Group Tour Championship.

While ESPN+ will stream featured groups throughout the four-day tournament, the first three rounds will air live on the Golf Channel before Sunday's finale shifts to NBC and Peacock.

Orlando Pride VP of soccer operations and sporting director Haley Carter is stepping down, departing the 2024 NWSL champions to pursue other opportunities, the club announced on Tuesday.

Carter joined the 2024 Shield-winners in January 2023, ushering in arguably the most successful era for the Orlando club thus far by bringing in top talents like striker Barbra Banda, defender Emily Sams, and former Liga MX star Lizbeth Ovalle to help the Pride climb the NWSL standings.

"We'd like to extend our gratitude to Haley for her contributions to the Pride over the past three years," Orlando owner Mark Wilf said in a statement. "Haley played a key leadership role with our club, positioning the Pride among the NWSL's and world's elite clubs."

"I'm beyond thankful to Mark Wilf and the entire ownership group for giving me the opportunity to be part of this club and for their unwavering support throughout my time here," said Carter.

Carter will continue working with the Pride during its transition period as the club searches for its new sporting director.

"We have begun a diligent and methodical search for a new soccer leader who will have the opportunity to work with a championship-caliber roster and coaching staff," said Wilf, before promising that the Pride will "continue its trajectory of success."

Reigning PWHL champions Minnesota will be back on the ice on Friday, when the Frost opens the league's 2025/26 season — and their own three-peat title quest — against the Toronto Sceptres in St. Paul.

"Right now, we're not worried about championships," Frost head coach Ken Klee said prior to this week's puck drop. "We're worried about the process, how we're going to prepare every day, how we work, how we're going to get better. To me, that's how you win."

The back-to-back Walter Cup winners have continuity on their side after the Frost protected captain Kendall Coyne Schofield and alternate Lee Stecklein from the offseason expansion draft benefitting the league's two newest teams.

Early points will also be key this season, as the PWHL preps for an extended pause starting in late January to allow international talent to compete in February's 2026 Winter Olympics.

As for Toronto, the Sceptres are seeking revenge in Friday's opener, starting their season against the team that knocked them out of the 2024/25 PWHL Playoffs.

"We're wanting to win the Walter Cup," said Toronto GM Gina Kingsbury. "I think every year that has to be the goal. We're going to play hard for our fans and to represent the city of Toronto."

How to watch the first game of the 2025/26 PWHL season

The puck drops on the 2025/26 PWHL season when the Toronto Sceptres visit the Minnesota Frost at 7 PM ET on Friday, airing live on FDSN and YouTube.