For those in the US who like Victorian-era (and somewhat classist) fashion rules, it’s now time to stop wearing white clothing. Labor Day has come and gone, and thus it is considered gauche to wear white until next spring. In the 1800s, wealthy people liked to show off by wearing summer-specific clothing that would not get dirty because they could afford to leave the cities to take summer vacation.

I’m personally not a big fan of that rule, but it did prompt me to realize that, for the most part, NWSL teams will be in compliance for the rest of the season. Whether by design or by accident, there are no truly white jerseys in the NWSL this year. The only ones that are even close are the away kits of Bay and Seattle – and both of them have other colors included. So we’re all good! No need to worry about any NWSL players looking unfashionable over the next couple of months.

The unofficial end of summer also marks a couple of other milestones for FNWSL managers: we are moving into the final quarter of the NWSL season, and European league seasons are beginning. That second point is especially relevant, namely…

What do we do about Alyssa Thompson?

As of today (September 2nd), there is no official word, but it’s being reported that Alyssa Thompson is in advanced talks to move to Chelsea in the WSL. If she does leave Angel City, it could put FNWSL managers in a bind. She’s currently the fifth-highest scoring FW (fourth-highest if you don’t count Barbra Banda), and one of the most cost-effective attackers in fantasy. As would be expected, she was the fourth-most selected player in FNWSL in Round 18 (after Chawinga, Banda, and Sentnor). So quite a few managers could potentially be needing to make some significant changes to their teams. If you don’t have Delphine Cascarino, she’s probably the best direct replacement for Thompson. If you have an extra $50k lying around, Esther is the other ideal choice (and currently leads the Golden Boot race).

Thompson did not play in Angel City’s Round 18 game vs. Bay, so we have a little bit of an idea of what Angel City’s post-Thompson lineup could look like. Rookie Riley Tiernan is probably the most obvious beneficiary, as she returned to the scoresheet for the first time since mid-June with an excellent solo goal. If she becomes the focal point of the AC attack, or even just returns to her early-season form, her low cost of $75k means that she may well be the most valuable player of the final two months of the season. Another interesting option is MA Vignola ($225k), who pushed up from her normal left-back position to take Thompson’s place on the wing. She logged an assist and a bunch of defensive points, and since she is listed as a DF, could give your team an extra de facto attacker (à la Tara McKeown or Sofia Huerta) if she continues to play up front. 

What are the best differential options for the final weeks of the season?

We haven’t talked about TSB% in a while, and as we are getting into the final stretch of the NWSL season, you may be looking for differential options to move up the table.

By far the most selected player in Round 18 was Temwa Chawinga at over 56%. Ally Sentnor was second at 38% (as we predicted after her move to Kansas City). After Banda, Thompson, and then Lilly Reale in fifth at 24%, there’s a pretty steady decrease in TSB% with no major drop-offs, so differential picks are a little more complex than in previous seasons. But there are still some great options!

Perhaps the best differential player is Izzy Rodriguez, who is leading the league in fantasy points after her 24-point outburst in Round 18. She was the second-most-added player last week (just behind Cascarino), so many managers were able to take advantage, but she’s still only on about 15% of FNWSL teams! If you can’t afford her $350k price tag, her KC backline mate Kayla Sharples has a similar TSB% and costs only $225k.

Speaking of defenders, Hanna Lundkvist ($200k) is the fifth-highest scoring DF so far this season, and was only selected by about 4% of FNWSL managers in Round 18. She’s especially valuable if you’ve maxxed out your KC roster slots, as two of the four DFs ahead of her in points are both on the Current (Rodriguez and Sharples).

If you’re looking for a differential attacker, go with Ludmila ($250k). She now has five goals in her last three matches but is only on about 3% of FNWSL teams. This week, Chicago hosts Orlando (who is playing on short rest following their midweek CONCACAF W Champions Cup match) in a high-profile match as the Stars host their first-ever game in suburban Evanston on the shores of Lake Michigan – all of which sounds like an ideal recipe for Ludmila getting another goal or three.

What are your plans for Round 19? Comment or Bluesky @MansersAnswers!