Michaela Onyenwere

After two years in New York, Onyenwere moved to Phoenix and thrived for a struggling Mercury squad. She averaged 8.9 points, 3.7 rebounds, 1.3 assists and 1.5 steals-plus-blocks in 23.8 minutes across 40 appearances -- all career highs. This offseason, she was traded to Chicago, along with Brianna Turner and four draft picks, in the deal that sent Kahleah Copper to Phoenix. Diamond DeShields and Isabelle Harrison both missed 2023 due to knee injuries, so their health in 2024 will play a key factor in Onyenwere's playing time. The Sky also have the No. 3 overall pick in the 2024 WNBA Draft after the blockbuster trade and could add another frontcourt option. Onyenwere's all-around skill set helped her flirt with top-50 status last year, but she isn't elite enough in any single category to be considered a must-start player in fantasy if she isn't playing close to 25 minutes per game.

Onyenwere was solid for the Liberty as a rookie in 2021, posting 8.6 points and 2.9 rebounds in 22.5 minutes per game across 32 appearances (29 starts). However, she was relegated to a reserve role in 2022 and ended up undergoing knee surgery following the campaign. She was also traded to the Mercury during the offseason, but the expectation is that she'll be healthy and available for her new team to start 2023. With Sophie Cunningham, Brianna Turner and Brittney Griner likely starting in the frontcourt, Onyenwere will compete for a reserve role with Jennie Simms, Sam Thomas and Megan Gustafson. However, barring numerous injuries, it's hard to imagine Onyenwere finishing the campaign as a top-50 fantasy producer.

As a rookie last season, Onyenwere averaged 8.6 points and 2.9 rebounds in 22.5 minutes per game. She shot 40.1 percent from the field, 32.7 percent from three and 83.6 percent from the free-throw line. She reportedly suffered a nasal fracture in an early-January training session, but the issue isn't expected to impact her status for the 2022 WNBA season. With the Liberty's core – Sabrina Ionescu, Natasha Howard, Sami Whitcomb, Betnijah Laney – in place, the second-year forward figures to compete for the final starting spot with Stefanie Dolson and Rebecca Allen, though all three will likely be critical members of New York's rotational depth.