Club: Everton
Position: Defender
Price: £5.5m
Last Season Points Tally: 81
Ruby Mace might not be the first name Fantasy managers think of when they start building their teams.
That could be exactly why she is worth a closer look.
The Everton defender enjoyed an encouraging first season at the club after making the move during the 2025/26 campaign, making 21 BWSL appearances and contributing two assists.
Those two assists were enough to make Mace Everton's joint-leading assister last season, while her performances also earned her a Player of the Season nomination.
There was another significant milestone along the way too.
Mace became an England international during the campaign, adding another layer to what was already an impressive first season on Merseyside.
Now, with a full season at Everton ahead of her, Mace could be one of the more intriguing defensive differentials available to Fantasy managers.
The numbers behind the differential
Mace's Fantasy credentials don't immediately jump off the page in the same way as a prolific forward or attacking midfielder.
But that is precisely the point.
At £5.5m, she sits comfortably below the game's most expensive defenders, with the highest-priced defender costing £8m.
And while her price makes her an attractive option, it is her ability to contribute across different areas of the pitch that could make her particularly valuable.
Mace finished last season with 81 Fantasy points, a solid return from a player who joined Everton during the campaign.
More importantly, those points weren't simply dependent on one standout area of her game.
A defender who can contribute
The Fantasy game rewards more than just goals and assists.
Defenders can collect four points for a clean sheet, while defensive actions such as tackles won, interceptions, clearances, blocks and recoveries can also build towards additional points.
A point is awarded for every ten of those defensive actions.
That makes players who are consistently involved in the game particularly interesting.
Mace's all-round defensive profile gives her an opportunity to accumulate points without needing to make the scoresheet every week.
And then there is her ability to contribute at the other end.
Her two assists last season show that she can make an impact going forward too. For defenders, assists are worth three points, while a goal is worth six — making any attacking contribution particularly valuable.
From Everton to England
Perhaps the biggest indication of Mace's development came away from Fantasy altogether.
Her first season at Everton resulted in international recognition, as she became an England international during the campaign.
That progression, combined with her Player of the Season nomination, suggests there is plenty of belief in what Mace can become.
And at just 21, she remains a player with significant room to develop.
A full season at Everton could give her the opportunity to build on those foundations, become even more established in the side and potentially increase her Fantasy output in the process.
Why Mace could be the perfect differential
The beauty of a differential is that you don't need everyone else to see the appeal.
In fact, the opposite is often true.
While Fantasy managers will naturally gravitate towards the biggest names in the league, Mace offers an alternative: a young defender who has already demonstrated her ability to play regularly, contribute assists, produce defensively and earn international recognition.
Her 81 points last season provide the starting point.
Her £5.5m price makes her an interesting option.
And her potential to contribute through both defensive actions and attacking returns makes the upside particularly appealing.
Ruby Mace may not be the obvious Fantasy pick.
But if you're looking beyond the usual names for a defender who could quietly deliver, she might just be one worth knowing.
