You're in for a treat if you're a fantasy sports enthusiast, as Yahoo has unveiled a revamped version of its Fantasy Sports app just in time for the 2024 NFL season. Known for its dominance in the fantasy sports arena, Yahoo has given its app a much-needed makeover, introducing a sleeker design and new features for fantasy players.
A streamlined and feature-packed app
Upon launching the new app, you'll first notice a comprehensive list of all your fantasy teams. While football remains the most popular sport, Yahoo also offers baseball, basketball, and more fantasy games. The aim is to encourage you to explore and enjoy different fantasy games. The app is divided into three main sections: Teams, News, and Scores.
You'll see all your fantasy teams across various sports in the Teams section. The News tab is packed with content tailored for fantasy players, informing you of the latest updates and insights. The Scores tab displays all the scores relevant to your fantasy teams, consolidating all the necessary information in one place. Previously, this content was spread out across the Yahoo Sports app, but now it's integrated seamlessly into the Fantasy Sports app for a more cohesive experience.
Enhanced user experience
The core mechanics of playing fantasy sports haven't changed much, but the user experience has been significantly improved. Yahoo has cleaned up the app's design, making it easier to view your entire team on one screen and effortlessly switch between different teams. New logos and icons allow for greater customisation, yet the app retains a familiar feel for long-time users. According to Yahoo Sports president Ryan Spoon, the goal was not to reinvent the app but to refine and enhance it.
Spoon explains the philosophy behind the new app: “When I wake up on Sunday, give me the news. Let me change my team. And during the game, let me watch my team or watch the box score.” Previously, accomplishing these tasks required multiple apps, but Yahoo now offers a unified solution.
Focussing on user habits
Yahoo's key focus is understanding how users interact with the app. Spoon notes, “Tuesday morning is, ‘tell me what happened in the week, and set up the waiver wire.' Wednesday is the waiver wire. Thursday night through Monday night, it's all lineup tinkering and a million check-ins daily to see how your team is doing.” Yahoo aims to make the app more user-friendly and efficient by continually refining each part of this process.
While there are plans to redesign the desktop web app eventually, Spoon emphasises that mobile remains at the core of the experience. “Eighty-five per cent of our users used the mobile app last year, and over two-thirds used it daily. The usage is high,” he says.
Since joining Yahoo from ESPN about a year ago, Spoon has added new content and features across the Yahoo Sports platform. You can expect more fantasy-related news, shows, and content this football season than ever before. Despite its ups and downs as a company, Yahoo continues to be a key player in the fantasy sports world, and the new app reflects its commitment to enhancing your experience.
