We’ve hit the halfway point of the FNWSL season, and it’s time for another double round! Gotham will host San Diego to kick off Round 13 on Wednesday evening, followed by Angel City hosting Louisville. All four of those teams will play again over the weekend. We don’t have much time until the deadline, so let’s skip the preambles and dive into preparing for Round 13!
Who are the priority transfers for the double round?
Unfortunately, I think the answer to this question really changed based on a couple of injuries that occurred in the past couple of rounds. Fingers crossed for both Sam Coffey and Vanessa DiBernardo to return this week! They’re two of my favorite players in the NWSL and also two of the highest-scoring MFs so far in 2024. If they don’t play in Round 13, that would make Savannah DeMelo and Taylor Flint the two players I would prioritize adding this week.
For other options, let’s look at it team by team.
Based on the schedules, Angel City likely has the highest goalscoring potential and Louisville has the highest defensive potential of the four teams doubling up. Louisville and Gotham have the advantage of their second match being scheduled for Sunday rather than Saturday, which will give them an extra day of rest compared to San Diego and Angel City. Gotham also has the added advantage of playing both matches at home.
So let’s start with the Angel City attacking landscape and the Louisville defending landscape. For now, Emslie is probably the only attacker on Angel City that I would prioritize adding over other options, even in a double round. For Louisville, I’d focus on Carson Pickett, as her level of involvement in the attack coupled with the high potential for a clean sheet or two could make her Round 13’s most valuable DF. Regardless of Round 13 specifically, she’s leading FNWSL in attacking points among DFs and therefore is a premium option for the rest of the season.
Gotham is a little tricky for FNWSL. The team has been performing very well over the last few weeks, but their two primary goalscorers are dealing with injuries: Ella Stevens, who also had to leave with an injury last week, and Lynn Williams, who has been fighting a lower leg injury. Both are worthy additions to your fantasy team, but keep an eye on availability reports this week – and remember that Gotham plays in the first game, so we should know definitive information and have their starting lineup before the FNWSL deadline. At the other positions, Jenna Nighswonger (DF) and Yazmeen Ryan (MF) are the two I would focus on this week, especially if any of your normal starters are unavailable. Nighswonger, like Pickett, consistently racks up attacking points which is a huge bonus in FNWSL.
With San Diego playing two tough road games, one against Gotham and one against an improving Houston defense (only four GAs in their last five games), I wouldn’t prioritize the Wave this week over the other three teams playing twice. If you have players like Shaw or Girma on your roster already, I’d start them, but for transfers I’d recommend the aforementioned players.
What is the current yellow card situation?
As we reach the midpoint of the season, it’s worth considering yellow card accumulation for your FNWSL players. Remember, when a player receives their fifth yellow card of the season, they must serve a one-match suspension. Only one player, Kayla Fischer, has collected five yellows so far, and she served her suspension in Round 11.
There are four players currently on four yellows:
- Chicago FW Penelope Hocking
- Angel City MF Lily Nabet
- Washington FW Trinity Rodman
- Houston DF Sarah Puntigam
A couple of things to keep in mind here…
If you are depending on Rodman as a centerpiece of your team, it may be helpful to have a backup plan in case she has a one-week absence in the near future. Similar to Sophia Smith’s one-game suspension last week, it’s better to not need to use your one free transfer on a one week replacement if you can avoid it. My advice would be try to roster four of the elite FW group: Banda, Chawinga, Emslie, Rodman, Sarr, Smith, Swanson, or Zaneratto. That way, you’ll be able to respond to unexpected absences without having to use a transfer.
Also, if Nabet were to receive a yellow card in Angel City’s midweek match, she would miss their weekend match vs. Bay FC. This would mean you don’t have to worry about making a transfer for her later, but you would miss out on the opportunity for points from two matches.
What are your plans for the double round? Comment or tweet @MansersAnswers!