Every year DFS players get excited in every sport to play new and exciting rookies. Last year WNBA players were excited to be able to play Sabrina Ionescu and Satu Sabally. In addition, having a good understanding of the rookies that are coming into the WNBA is important as it can give you a leg up on the competition. All news is good news.
Now the bad news: this was a bad WNBA draft. Three of the first rounders were basically taken so they can stay in Europe for a year. There are maybe 10 rookies that will actually make WNBA rosters. There were not a lot of roster sports available and that combining with a bad rookie class you have very few rookies that will matter in DFS. In fact, my fearless prediction is that for the first 75% of the season there will not be a single rookie on a GPP winning team on any slate of three games or more. But since these players might have impact I will now address the five rookies that might have some WNBA DFS impact:
1. Charlie Collier- She is the number one pick out of Texas. She goes to a team with gaping holes in a front court. She goes to the Dallas Wings who have basically no veterans in the front court other than Kayla Thorton. She will have to battle last year’s first round pick Bella Alarie and Isabelle Harrison for minutes and assuming she wins that she would draw a start as soon as opening day at center. The downside is she plays on the same team as the Allen Iverson of the WNBA, Arike Ogunbowale, so her usage will be limited. Of all the rookies this is the one most likely to see consistent minutes.
2. Kysrie Gondrezick- The analysis of this might be as simple as Indiana is terrible and might play her. Anyways Kysrie was not projected as a first round pick but ended up going fourth overall to the Indiana Fever,indicating Indiana might really like her. She is a point guard and the only two Point guards on Indiana’s roster right now are Danielle Robinson and Tiffany Mitchell. Indiana did sign Robinson to one of the dumber contracts of the off season so that is not the greatest sign for minutes. But if Indiana is ready to move on from Tiffany Mitchell and Indiana realizes that Danielle Robinson is terrible there is a path for her getting significant point guard minutes.
3. Michaela Onyenwere- Again, even though Michaela is only the 6th pick she goes to a team that was terrible last year so there is hope for her getting some minutes. She profiles more of a 3 and D player at the next level. It’s unclear which of the Liberty rookies outside of Sabrina gained favor in the organization last year (most of their rookies were terrible). The Liberty did bring in Betnijah Laney (for some unknown reason) so I assume Michaela will play behind her at least at the start of the season and maybe play the four in some small ball lineups. As I said finding rookies playing time in this class is hard.
4. Jasmine Clark- PF for the LA Sparks. She is listed here because Derek Fisher, in his infinite wisdom, traded into the first round of the worst WNBA draft of the last decade to pick her. But that does indicate Fisher probably thinks highly of her. The Sparks are crowded in the front court with the Ogwumike sisters, and Kristine Anigwe. I suspect the Sparks will probably be terrible this year so there is a chance the last quarter of the year Clark will draw some playing time.
5. Chelsea Dungee- SG for Dallas Wings- Dallas is a team that has a lot of minutes available for players. Dungee should start out playing behind Alicia Gray but the Wings are in need of shooting for the 10 shots that Arike doesn’t take during the game…..I kid, I kid (not really). But Dallas was terrible last year and could be terrible again this year, so them giving Dungee some minutes down the stretch would make sense. She is also one injury away from getting a decent amount of playing time.
Since people will ask”
Awak Keuir- the number 2 pick in the draft by Dallas. I expect her to stay in Europe another year but even if she comes over she is really raw. Hard to see her getting serious minutes and producing. (though she can dunk)
Aaria McDonald- the number three pick by Atlanta. Another PG for a team with fifty of them. Seriously, how does she get playing time with Chennedy Carter, Odyssey Sims, Tiffany Hayes and Courtney Williams there?
If you want a flier, any of the Suns 2nd round rookies could end up making their roster and one might be able to get on the floor.