WNBA: Rickea Jackson amongst must-add gamers in fantasy basketball

For the Los Angeles Sparks, the 2024 WNBA season has been extra about participant improvement than successful video games. Los Angeles has been in rebuilding mode, and whereas that doesn’t imply the Sparks don’t have expertise on their roster, it does imply they’ll method the final month of the season in another way than groups in playoff rivalry.

Savvy fantasy basketball house owners know that conditions like these are the place youthful gamers are likely to get extra shine. Within the Sparks’ case, 2024 No. 2 total draft decide Cameron Brink had her rookie season reduce brief by a knee harm, however Rickea Jackson, who the Sparks chosen at No. 4 total, has gotten higher and higher because the yr goes on—and if she’s one way or the other out there in your fantasy league, it’s best to take into account selecting her up.

Since Brink was injured in mid-June, Jackson’s function has expanded, and she or he’s regarded extra just like the versatile scoring ahead she was in school. In her final 10 video games, Jackson is averaging 15.3 factors (up from 11.9 on the season) on 13 area objective makes an attempt (up from 9.9), and she or he’s enjoying lots, too, averaging 32.7 minutes in that span.

That’s good for twenty-four fantasy factors per recreation in commonplace ESPN leagues, and whereas Jackson’s relative lack of defensive impression to date (0.5 steals and 0.2 blocks per recreation on the season) has stored her from really breaking out as a must-roster participant, her function on this yr’s Sparks group appears solidified; she’s an enormous a part of the group’s future, they usually need her to get as many reps as attainable down the stretch.

Cardoso discovering her footing in Chicago

Chicago Sky heart Kamilla Cardoso is one other rookie who’s been spectacular currently, and whereas we already talked about her as a possible fantasy addition again in June, she’s regarded like a very totally different participant because the Olympic break. In these 4 video games, Cardoso is averaging 13.8 factors, 7.3 rebounds and 1.8 defensive stats, which is equal to 26.3 fantasy factors per recreation.

Photograph by Dylan Goodman/NBAE by way of Getty Photos

What’s been most encouraging about Cardoso’s play as of late, nonetheless, is her offensive effectivity. She’s shot an astounding 71.4 % from the sphere because the break (up significantly from 46.2 % earlier than the break), a quantity that’s much more spectacular contemplating she’s performed towards Brittney Griner and the Phoenix Mercury twice. Whereas area objective share might or might not impression participant scoring in your fantasy league, relying on its settings, Cardoso’s soar in effectivity is a superb signal for her adjusting to the physicality of the WNBA, and there’s no motive why the 6-foot-7 heart shouldn’t be a high-efficiency scorer as soon as she will get absolutely acclimated.

Foul hassle continues to be Cardoso’s greatest enemy—for in addition to she’s performed because the Olympic break, she’s totaled 19 fouls in these 4 video games—however such is to be anticipated from a rookie heart. The Sky have been extra intentional about getting Cardoso the ball within the paint and she or he’s been higher at ending these performs, and she or he’s arrange for a robust end to her rookie marketing campaign as a full-time starter.

Hillmon filling a void in Atlanta

When you’re enjoying in a deeper fantasy leagues, there gained’t be as many gamers on the waiver wire, and potential provides and drops gained’t be as apparent. If you end up in a streaming scenario, although, take into account selecting up Hillmon if she’s out there. The third-year ahead’s recreation actually isn’t flashy, and at simply 3.3 area objective makes an attempt per recreation, she gained’t stand out as a make-or-break fantasy participant.

Hillmon has, nonetheless, performed heavy minutes in 4 video games because the Olympic break (31.4 per recreation), partially on account of an harm to Cheyenne Parker-Tyus, who can be out for at the very least the subsequent two weeks with an ankle harm. The frontcourt pairing of Parker-Tyus and Tina Charles hasn’t labored in addition to the Dream had hoped, which had stored Hillmon within the image as a low-usage reserve. Since Parker-Tyus received injured, Hillmon hasn’t had a lot competitors for the beginning function, as fellow ahead Nia Coffey has had a disappointing season and Lorela Cubaj not often cracks double-digit minutes for Atlanta.

Photograph by Wealthy von Biberstein/Icon Sportswire by way of Getty Photos

To be clear, Charles would be the one who advantages essentially the most statistically. Hillmon’s willingness to play with out the basketball is a part of what appeals to Dream head coach Tanisha Wright, and she or he gained’t be taking many pictures away from Atlanta’s higher-usage gamers. It’s that very same complementary issue that makes her a straightforward guess for constant minutes, although, and this late within the season when accidents are beginning to pile up, typically that’s all a fantasy group can realistically ask for.

For the needs of this text, “fantasy factors” refer to plain ESPN fantasy league scoring, wherein factors, 3-pointers, rebounds and assists are every price one fantasy level and steals and blocks are every price two fantasy factors. All participant and group stats for the 2024 season are present by August 24.