Sleepers, breakout candidates and late-round worth all play a task in constructing a successful fantasy roster, however what concerning the high of the board? The participant you construct all the pieces round. That cornerstone choice who units the tone to your total season.
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So let’s ask a easy query: who deserves to go No. 1 general?
We’re specializing in the small group of gamers who realistically belong within the dialog. Whereas arguments might be made for a handful of stars simply exterior this tier, most managers might be selecting from certainly one of these gamers. Every case is evaluated by means of the lens of ESPN’s ladies’s fantasy basketball commonplace scoring, weighing manufacturing, position, sturdiness and general upside.
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It is tough to go on Wilson at No. 1, contemplating she’s completed as a top-two fantasy participant each season since 2022. Final season, she completed as the highest scorer with 1,803 fantasy factors, properly forward of Dearica Hamby, who ranked second with 1,499. Wilson turned the primary participant to win the scoring title, regular-season MVP, Finals MVP and Defensive Participant of the 12 months in the identical season. She additionally completed second in rebounds per recreation (10.2), first in blocks (2.3) and tied for third in steals (1.6).
Wilson had a league-high 30.7% utilization fee, highlighting her central position within the offense. Simply as vital, her sturdiness stands out, as she performed in 40 of 44 video games final season and 38 of 40 in 2024.
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Clark’s 2025 season was restricted to 13 video games resulting from accidents, however there have been nonetheless positives, together with a 28.7% utilization fee and her 36.8 fantasy factors per recreation, which ranked fourth behind Wilson, Napheesa Collier and Alyssa Thomas. Her rookie season in 2024 confirmed what she’s able to, as she averaged 19.2 PPG, 5.7 RPG, 8.4 APG and 1.3 SPG throughout 40 video games whereas ending third in fantasy factors per recreation (40.4).
With that profile, Clark has the upside to problem for the highest general fantasy spot, particularly with a renewed give attention to sturdiness. She has adopted a extra structured strategy centered on restoration, pre-practice remedy and workload administration, working intently along with her coach and training workers to remain wholesome over a full season.
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It can’t be overstated how dominant Thomas has been for the reason that first season of girls’s fantasy basketball in 2022. She has completed as a top-five fantasy participant in each season besides 2024 and has remained extremely sturdy, lacking only a few video games over that span — an vital think about fantasy codecs.
Final season, Thomas thrived with the Mercury after spending the primary 11 years of her profession with the Connecticut Solar. She averaged 15.4 PPG, a league-leading 9.2 APG, 8.8 RPG and 1.6 SPG throughout 39 video games whereas taking pictures a career-high 53.2% from the sphere. Thomas additionally turned the primary participant in league historical past to common a minimum of 15 factors, eight rebounds, 9 assists and one steal whereas taking pictures 50% or higher from the sphere, a feat solely matched within the NBA by Magic Johnson, LeBron James and Nikola Jokic.
Thomas earned All-Star, All-WNBA first group and All-Defensive first group honors, becoming a member of Brittney Griner as the one gamers in franchise historical past to attain all three in the identical season. Whereas her statistical profile is elite, it being her age-34 season makes it tough to draft her forward of Wilson or Clark.
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Stewart has been remarkably constant since arriving in New York in 2023, with averages of 20.5 PPG, 8.1 RPG, 3.6 APG, 1.5 SPG and 1.4 BPG. She completed as the highest fantasy participant in 2023 and fourth in 2024, however she dropped to twenty sixth in 2025 after a proper knee bone bruise restricted her to 31 video games, although she nonetheless ranked seventh in fantasy factors per recreation.
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At 31, Stewart stays an elite, well-rounded participant, however her focus has shifted towards successful championships, having already secured two with the Seattle Storm and one with the Liberty. Her fantasy ceiling can also be impacted by enjoying alongside Sabrina Ionescu and Jonquel Jones, each of whom are high-usage gamers. That trio has been extraordinarily efficient, posting a +16.8 web score and a 70-16 document when beginning collectively since 2023.
Stewart stays a first-round expertise, however deciding on her No. 1 general is a attain given the context.
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