Fantasy WNBA: Risers and Fallers for the 2026 Season
With the league and the WNBPA negotiating a new collective bargaining agreement, many of the WNBA's players will enter free agency this offseason. While it will still be important to see how free agency unfolds, there are plenty of names to watch once the market opens.
Top Fantasy WNBA Risers for 2026
Dominique Malonga, Seattle Storm: The No. 2 overall pick in the 2025 WNBA Draft, Malonga is coming off a solid rookie season. While the 19-year-old averaged just 8.8 minutes per game across 22 regular-season games before the All-Star break, she impressed in the second half of the season. Over her final 20 regular-season appearances, Malonga averaged 11.4 points, 6.7 rebounds, 1.3 blocks and 1.1 assists in 20.4 minutes per contest. Eight of the Storm's players from the 2025 campaign are set to enter unrestricted free agency this offseason, including the entire starting five. Malonga is the future of the organization and could take a significant jump in her sophomore season after being a mid-to-late-round pick in fantasy drafts this past season.
Gabby Williams, Unrestricted Free Agent: Williams is coming off a career-best year with Seattle and will enter unrestricted free agency this offseason. The 29-year-old finished third in Defensive Player of the Year voting and led the league in steals per game (2.3). The UConn product was a regular starter and averaged 11.6 points, 4.3 rebounds and 4.2 assists per game across 44 regular-season appearances. Williams was largely
Fantasy WNBA: Risers and Fallers for the 2026 Season
With the league and the WNBPA negotiating a new collective bargaining agreement, many of the WNBA's players will enter free agency this offseason. While it will still be important to see how free agency unfolds, there are plenty of names to watch once the market opens.
Top Fantasy WNBA Risers for 2026
Dominique Malonga, Seattle Storm: The No. 2 overall pick in the 2025 WNBA Draft, Malonga is coming off a solid rookie season. While the 19-year-old averaged just 8.8 minutes per game across 22 regular-season games before the All-Star break, she impressed in the second half of the season. Over her final 20 regular-season appearances, Malonga averaged 11.4 points, 6.7 rebounds, 1.3 blocks and 1.1 assists in 20.4 minutes per contest. Eight of the Storm's players from the 2025 campaign are set to enter unrestricted free agency this offseason, including the entire starting five. Malonga is the future of the organization and could take a significant jump in her sophomore season after being a mid-to-late-round pick in fantasy drafts this past season.
Gabby Williams, Unrestricted Free Agent: Williams is coming off a career-best year with Seattle and will enter unrestricted free agency this offseason. The 29-year-old finished third in Defensive Player of the Year voting and led the league in steals per game (2.3). The UConn product was a regular starter and averaged 11.6 points, 4.3 rebounds and 4.2 assists per game across 44 regular-season appearances. Williams was largely a mid-to-late-round pick in fantasy drafts this past season and should climb draft boards ahead of the 2026 season. While it remains uncertain if she'll return to the Storm, her defensive instincts and well-rounded production suggest another strong campaign ahead.
Veronica Burton, Restricted Free Agent: Burton was selected by the Valkyries in the WNBA Expansion Draft last offseason and was a mainstay in the team's starting five, appearing in all 44 regular-season games. The 25-year-old averaged 11.9 points, 6.0 assists, 4.4 rebounds and 1.1 steals per game. Following a lackluster first three years in the league, Burton's production won her the Most Improved Player award. Now, Golden State will be able to match any offer she receives on the open market, and she could be a long-term piece for the organization after her breakout season. Burton did not receive much draft consideration in standard leagues this past season, though that figures to change entering the 2026 season.
Key Fantasy WNBA Fallers to Avoid in 2026
Brittney Griner, Unrestricted Free Agent: Griner joined the Dream for the 2025 campaign after spending the first 11 seasons of her career in Phoenix. The 34-year-old posted several career lows with Atlanta, averaging 9.8 points, 5.2 rebounds, 1.2 blocks and 0.8 assists across 20.8 minutes per game in 39 regular-season appearances (25 starts). While the Baylor product may still have something left in the tank, it's hard to envision her returning to her previous form in the 2026 campaign. Griner was largely a mid-round pick in fantasy drafts but should slide down boards after her decline. She could pursue a larger role elsewhere in unrestricted free agency, but her age and declining production do not bode well for her fantasy outlook.
Jewell Loyd, Unrestricted Free Agent: Loyd is coming off her worst year since her rookie campaign in 2015. After spending the first 10 years of her career with the Storm, Loyd requested a trade and was acquired by the Aces. She opened the 2025 season as a starter but shifted to a bench role for the team's final 19 regular-season games. While the six-time All-Star's scoring efficiency actually improved off the bench, she finished the season with averages of 11.2 points, 3.2 rebounds, 1.8 assists and 1.2 steals across 28.3 minutes per contest in 44 regular-season games. The 32-year-old guard drew early-to-mid-round interest in fantasy drafts last season but should slide down boards ahead of the 2026 season.
DeWanna Bonner, Unrestricted Free Agent: Bonner is set to enter unrestricted free agency after arguably the worst season of her WNBA career. The six-time All-Star began the 2025 season with the Fever but struggled mightily before being waived after only nine regular-season appearances (three starts). During that span, she averaged just 7.1 points, 3.8 rebounds, 1.6 assists and 1.2 steals per game, shooting just 34.5 percent from the field. Bonner fared better after signing with Phoenix in July, averaging 10.9 points, 4.3 rebounds and 1.0 assists in 24.4 minutes per game across 24 regular-season outings (one start) with the Mercury. The 38-year-old garnered mid-round interest in fantasy drafts last season but failed to return that value.
Fantasy WNBA Player to Watch Ahead of 2026
Arike Ogunbowale, Unrestricted Free Agent: After spending the first seven years of her career in Dallas, Ogunbowale is set to enter unrestricted free agency this offseason. The No. 5 overall pick in the 2019 WNBA Draft is coming off the worst year of her career, finishing with averages of 15.5 points, 4.1 assists, 2.5 rebounds and 1.3 steals per game while shooting just 36.4 percent from the field across 29 regular-season appearances. It remains unclear whether she will return to Dallas, which has become Paige Bueckers' team to lead. Ogunbowale still has considerable upside and may have simply endured a down year under a now-departed head coach, but it will be hard to justify selecting her with a first-round pick in fantasy drafts after her underwhelming 2025 campaign.
Those looking for up-to-the-minute fantasy WNBA news can check out RotoWire's WNBA Injury Report and WNBA Lineups. RotoWire also features Top WNBA Picks and Player Props on a daily basis to help find the best betting lines for each night's slate.
