Fantasy women's basketball: Courtney Vandersloot shining, Skylar Diggins slowing down - ESPN

Change is the one thing you can always count on, both in sports and in life. While consistency is what fantasy managers strive for, the reality is that player performance can swing wildly over a long season.

Trying to keep up with all the highs and lows across 44 games and four months can feel overwhelming. That's why breaking things down week by week makes it easier to stay grounded and focused on what matters right now.

That's the goal of my Risers and Fallers column. It helps you track momentum shifts as they happen, using insights pulled directly from ESPN's fantasy metrics.

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Vandersloot was largely overlooked in fantasy drafts, often going undrafted or selected in the final rounds. Now back in Chicago after two seasons with the New York Liberty, the veteran point guard recently became the Sky's all-time leading scorer this week and is steadily rising in our rankings. The 36-year-old has played 30-plus minutes and scored 30-plus fantasy points in three straight games. Playing alongside young stars in Angel Reese and Kamilla Cardoso, Vandersloot is in a great spot to pile up assists — but it's worth noting that Chicago could reduce her minutes later in the season. That gives fantasy managers an opportunity to either trade her now at peak value or hold onto her for the remainder of the season.

McDonald joined the Fever on a hardship deal Monday and made an immediate impact, scoring 20 fantasy points in 27 minutes against the Washington Mystics on Tuesday. Despite having just one practice with the team, McDonald displayed immediate chemistry with her teammates. She elevated the Fever's offense by setting the pace and