RADIO
Another week of WNBA action is behind us and the Minnesota Lynx continue to struggle, sitting at just 2-4 with a game today against the 3-1 Sparks. A road loss today wouldn't necessarily mean panic time, but it would make Minnesota's chances at grabbing a top two seed feel more difficult, especially with how Los Angeles and Seattle have played this season.
Anyway, let's take a look at this Sunday's WNBA slate. We've got four games on the docket with a bunch of good players to choose from. In this article, I'll be providing you with some daily fantasy WNBA lineup picks for DraftKings and FanDuel on 6/3/18. 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: @juscarts
WNBA - DFS Guards
Courtney Vandersloot (G, Chicago Sky) – vs Las Vegas Aces (DK: $10,300, FD: $6,500)
Vandersloot returned from Europe on Friday and was underwhelming, posting just 11 points on 3-for-8 shooting in her first game back along with eight turnovers. She did have seven assists, though, and has an enticing matchup against the Aces, who earned their first win on Friday by holding the Mystics to 73 points. Unfortunately, their defense has struggled so much this season that they still have the league's worst scoring defense (allowing 91 points per game) and opposing teams are shooting a league-high 42.5 percent from deep against them and averaging the most assists per game against them as well. Enter Vandersloot, who shot 38.2 percent from deep in 2017 while averaging 8.1 assists per game, the most in the league. With Allie Quigley (hip) questionable, expect to see a ton of Vandersloot on the offensive end as she tries to get back into rhythm.
Chelsea Gray (G, Los Angeles Sparks) – vs Minnesota Lynx (DK: $9,800, FD: $8,000)
No other guard on today's slate has averaged as many daily fantasy points per game this season as Gray. The current leader in assists per game, Gray is also 11th in scoring and tied for third in steals. She had 18 points, eight assists, and six steals when these two teams met in the season-opener and her shooting -- after starting the year 0-for-5 from deep through two games -- is back on track now as well. The Lynx have done a decent job limiting percentages from three, but their opponents are shooting the most attempts from deep so far this season. If Gray continues to shoot well, she should put up strong fantasy numbers.
Tiffany Hayes (G, Atlanta Dream) – vs Phoenix Mercury (DK: $8,300, FD: $5,800)
Hayes has attempted 19 threes in the past three games. Though she's shot a below average percentage over the past two outings, her volume mixed with the Mercury's struggles at defending the perimeter (opponents are shooting 40.5 percent from three, the second highest percentage in the league) should lead to a strong performance for the seventh-year guard.
Jasmine Thomas (G, Connecticut Sun) – @ Washington Mystics (DK: $8,000, FD: $5,500)
The Mystics have sported a pretty strong defense this season, allowing the fifth-fewest points in the league, but their schedule -- already having played seven games, the most in the league -- might leave them a little vulnerable, as well saw on Friday when they handed Las Vegas its first win of the year. The Sun have played just four games and looked sharp in Friday's decimation of Chicago, a game in which Thomas passed and rebounded well, though she scored a season-low nine points. Expect better scoring numbers on Sunday.
WNBA - DFS Forwards
Sylvia Fowles (F, Minnesota Lynx) – @ Los Angeles Sparks (DK: $11,800, FD: $8,300)
Fowles doesn't come cheap, but she's off to a fantastic start to the year even as her team struggles. Among all players with forward eligibility who are playing on Sunday, Fowles is second in DraftKings points per game and fourth in FanDuel point per game and she's got a strong match-up against a Sparks team that she put up 15 points, 12 rebounds, and three blocks against to open the season. The Lynx are going to be playing with some desperation as they try to get the season moving in the right direction and Fowles -- one of the league's best bigs -- should be able to put up strong numbers against a team that's allowing the highest opponent rebound percentage, the second highest effective field goal percentage, and the third highest percentage of points from two point range.
A'ja Wilson (F, Las Vegas Aces) – @ Chicago Sky (DK: $11,000, FD: $7,800)
Wilson's hot start to her WNBA career has led to her DFS price rising, though this week the rise was smaller on the FanDuel side of things. Wilson tied the record for fewest games played before scoring 100 career points this week and is sixth in the league in scoring, seventh in rebounding, and 10th in blocks. The Sky have the league's best three point defense, but give up a league high 62 percent of points on two point field goals. The Aces score a higher percentage of their points on twos than any other team, so this seems like a match made perfectly for Wilson to continue her dominant play.
Sancho Lyttle (F, Phoenix Mercury) – @ Atlanta Dream (DK: $7,000, FD: $4,300)
The Dream have done a good job defending the three point line, which means we could see Phoenix working the ball inside more. That means a ton of Brittney Griner (who could easily go in the high priced spot that Fowles has in this article) and it could also mean some more opportunity for Lyttle. She has five or more rebounds in four straight games and has shot well when given opportunities this season.
Astou Ndour (F, Chicago Sky) – vs Las Vegas Aces (DK: $3,200, FD: $3,000)
Want to play a lineup full of stars and throw a couple of darts at the board to fill it out? Ndour could be a big surprise on Sunday with Stefanie Dolson (foot) doubtful. Ndour made her season debut on Friday and played 23 minutes, finishing with eight points and three rebounds. The Aces allow the fourth most rebounds in the league this season and Ndour showed some solid rebounding ability when she played extended minutes in games during the 2016 season.
