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We've got a big night of WNBA action on Tuesday, with four games on the docket.
Aces/Sun will be a battle of two of the league's best teams, while the Sparks will try to get their third win in a row as they face the Wings. Chicago will try to break a four-game losing streak as they face Phoenix, and then...then the Fever play the Storm in what should be a blowout win for Seattle.
In this article, I'll be providing you with some daily fantasy WNBA lineup picks for DraftKings and FanDuel on 6/1/21. These lineups picks will range from elite players to mid-priced options and value plays. Want to talk more about the WNBA? I'm always available on Twitter and always down to discuss women's basketball: @juscarts.
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WNBA DFS Game Breakdown: Aces @ Sun
When: 7:00 PM ET
Watch: ESPN3
Injuries: Las Vegas: OUT: Kelsey Plum, Angel McCoughtry, QUES: Destiny Slocum (with a concussion, but she played last game so probably ignore this!)
Connecticut: OUT: Alyssa Thomas
Players of Interest:
DeWanna Bonner (G, Connecticut Sun: DK: $10,600, FD: $8,100)
You can't go wrong with any of the three big names in this game -- Bonner, teammate Jonquel Jones, or Vegas forward A'ja Wilson -- but Bonner feels the safest of them to be your lineup's anchor, even though Jones is averaging more fantasy points. Vegas has some pieces that can match up with Jones and try to slow her down, whereas if Bonner is at the three, they don't really have a good option there unless they play Dearica Hamby out of position a lot. And hey, Bonner is averaging 18.4 points and 7.0 rebounds per game this year while actually hitting a lot of her threes for once, so it's not like you're sacrificing a lot of upside to play her over Jones.
Dearica Hamby (F, Las Vegas Aces: DK: $9,000, FD: $6,300)
So, will we see a lot of Hamby at the three? Don't know, but we'll see a lot of her in general. Averaging 29 minutes over her past two games, Hamby has exceeded 30 fantasy points in two consecutive appearances. She's providing some solid numbers in terms of scoring and rebounding while peppering in some useful assists. The best bench player in the W, Hamby feels like a great call in this game.
WNBA DFS Game Breakdown: Sparks @ Wings
When: 8:00 PM ET
Watch: ESPN3
Injuries: Los Angeles: OUT: Jasmine Walker, QUES: Chiney Ogwumike
Dallas: OUT: Satou Sabally, Allisha Gray
Players of Interest:
Marina Mabrey (G, Dallas Wings: DK: $10,400, FD: $7,500)
Am I worried about how much Mabrey's price has ballooned, to the point she costs more than teammate Arike Ogunbowale? Oh yeah.
But this game fits into the Revenge Game mode, since the Sparks let Mabrey go after her rookie season. She averaged 14 points per game against the Sparks last season, but Mabrey's found an even larger gear this season. She's averaging 21.2 points and 6.2 rebounds per game while shooting 51.4 percent from three. Add 3.2 assists per contest into the mix and you can see why Mabrey's DFS salary has shot up.
Bria Holmes (G, Los Angeles Sparks: DK: $4,500, FD: $3,200)
If Chiney Ogwumike misses another game, maybe there's upside with Holmes, who started at the four for her last game. Not that Holmes did much, as she played 16 minutes and finished with three points, three rebounds, two assists, and one block, but she's worth monitoring at least and maybe sticking in a lineup or two should she end up in the starting five again.
WNBA DFS Game Breakdown: Mercury @ Sky
When: 8:00 PM ET
Watch: ESPN
Injuries: Phoenix: OUT: Diana Taurasi, Bria Hartley
Chicago: OUT: Allie Quigley, Stefanie Dolson, QUES: Candace Parker
Players of Interest:
Kahleah Copper (G, Chicago Sky: DK: $8,200, FD: $6,100)
Sure, Courtney Vandersloot and her assists are a worthy fantasy pick, but Copper -- especially on DraftKings -- feels like a solid pivot. She's over $2,000 cheaper there than Vandersloot but is averaging 15.7 points, 4.0 rebounds, 1.7 assists, and 1.7 steals per game. Not Vandersloot numbers, but with all kinds of injuries in Chicago, Copper has been playing heavy minutes and has often been this team's No. 1 scoring option.
Megan Walker (F, Phoenix Mercury: DK: $4,500, FD: $3,200)
With Diana Taurasi sidelined, Walker is starting at the three for the Mercury. I'm always a sucker for starters who are this cheap, even if those players have yet to really do a ton. Walker is averaging 6.4 points and 1.2 rebounds per game on the season, but her numbers are trending up, and she's played over 20 minutes in each of the past two games. In what should be a game where offense is aplenty, this feels like the time to take a risk on Walker.
WNBA DFS Game Breakdown: Fever @ Storm
When: 10:00 PM ET
Watch: ESPN2
Injuries: Indiana: OUT: Aaliyah Wilson, QUES: Bernadett Hatar
Seattle: OUT: Katie Lou Samuelson, Mikiah Herbert Harrigan
Players of Interest:
Breanna Stewart (F, Seattle Storm: DK: $10,700, FD: $8,800)
Stewie is...well, Stewie. 22.5 points and 10.3 rebounds per game, with an average of 44.5 DK points and 44.56 FD points. Like I say every time Stewart is playing basketball, she's the top play on this slate because of her high usage rate in Seattle. As for the matchup, is the combination of Teaira McCowan and Jessica Breland supposed to do something here? Will we see extra Jantel Lavender as they try to throw more speed at Stewart, making Lavender an interesting fantasy pick too?
Kysre Gondrezick (G, Indiana Fever: DK: $4,200, FD: $3,000)
Looking for a rock-bottom sleeper? Gondrezick played 15 minutes against Vegas, scoring eight points and adding three assists and a steal. This will likely be a blowout win for Seattle, which will allow Indiana to give their first-round pick a lot of late minutes. Risky, risky call, but someone who is worth pointing out as that deep sleeper who you can fit into any lineup.
