RADIO
Two WNBA games on the schedule today. The Sky and the Mystics play in the marquee matchup of the afternoon, while the Sun and Fever get the basketball going an hour before that.
I'll be providing daily fantasy lineup picks for the WNBA this season here at RotoBaller. In addition, I'll be sprinkling in some basic betting picks. Not going to get complicated since there's limited space in this piece, but I'll throw you a bet or two each day that I like and, because I think this is important, that I'll be making myself.
In this article, I'll be providing you with some daily fantasy WNBA lineup picks for DraftKings and FanDuel on 5/22/22. These lineups picks will range from elite players to mid-priced options and value plays. The slate locks on 5/22/2022 at 2:00 p.m. ET. 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 Lineup Picks: Forwards
Alyssa Thomas (Connecticut Sun) - @ IND - DK: $10,400, FD: $8,700
Thomas has been consistently producing all season, averaging 19.3 points, 7.8 rebounds, 3.3 assists and 3.0 steals per game in 32.3 minutes of action. She fouled out against the Fever, but still played 34 minutes, with 17 points, seven rebounds, three assists, one block and three steals. If you were worried that Thomas would see her role shrink when this team was back at full strength, it appears you were wrong. (Yes, I'm kind of talking to myself.)
Myisha Hines-Allen (Washington Mystics) - vs CHI - DK: $7,400, FD: $6,300
MHA's pricing is at a season-low after she played on a minutes restriction last game. I would guess she won't be on that same kind of restriction on Sunday.
Hines-Allen had some really good games earlier in the season when she was playing heavy minutes. She averaged 13.5 field goal attempts per game in the first two games of the season, for instance, and pulled down eight rebounds in both. Her passing was also big, as she had 15 assists in the first three games. If healthy, there's some nice value here.
Emily Engstler (Indiana Fever) - vs CON - DK: $6,900, FD: $4,800 (Guard on FanDuel, for some reason)
First, why does FanDuel list Engstler as a guard? She's a power forward who might sometimes slide down to the three. She's never playing guard. Do better, FanDuel.
Anyway, Engstler has seen an increased role in the last two games with Nalyssa Smith hurt. Against the Dream, she had seven points, 10 rebounds and three assists in 21 minutes, then against the Sun she had eight points and six boards. The numbers could be better, but she's averaged 11 field goal attempts per game as a starter, so that's notable—if she can just get a few more of these shots to drop, she'll return some really nice value.
WNBA DFS Lineup Picks: Guards
Courtney Vandersloot (Chicago Sky) - @ WAS - DK: $9,800, FD: $6,900
Vandersloot had a bit of a slow start , but now has a points-assist double double in her last two games. Vandersloot gets most of her fantasy value from her passing. And hey—she's the best point guard in the league, so relying heavily on her getting assists is usually a good bet.
The Mystics are allowing the third-fewest assists per game, but I think in the early going, that's mostly just noise. I don't think there's really any matchup where I'd say "oh no, Vandersloot won't get a lot of assists in this one."
Kahleah Copper (Chicago Sky) - @ WAS - DK: $8,100, FD: $5,700
Copper makes her season debut after returning from her overseas commitments. If 2022 is a continuation of last year's playoffs, then Copper is a huge value at this price. In 10 postseason games, Copper averaged 17.7 points on 52% shooting with 5.3 rebounds, 1.9 assists and 1.2 steals per game. The team felt confident enough in Copper to move on from Diamond DeShields this offseason. Assuming Copper is able to maintain a full workload immediately, she becomes the best perimeter offensive threat on this team. (She also should lead to fewer minutes for some of Chicago's surprises like Rebekah Garnder, who has played well but won't see the same workload with Copper back.)
Danielle Robinson (Indiana Fever) - vs CON - DK: $7,300, FD: $6,600
I can't say I agree with how much the Fever are playing Robinson instead of Destanni Henderson since the Fever are a rebuilding team that needs to give the rookie minutes, but fantasy lineups aren't about my individual feelings about a team's rotation. It's about what the rotation actually is.
And for Indiana, that means taking note that Robinson has played at least 26 minutes in each game and that she had 10 points on 71.4% shooting with six assists in her last game. She's usually good for a handful of assists and rebounds in each game.
WNBA Betting Picks for 5/22/2022
Looking to make some WNBA bets? Let's look at some options for you.
Yesterday's Results: 1-1
Sun/Fever U 161
While these two teams combine to score 166.1 points per game, the Sun defense allows just 72.8. Indiana managed to score 85 against the Sun in their last meeting, but Connecticut has held its other opponents below 80, including holding the Sparks to 60 and the Liberty to 65. Indiana having a second explosive outing in a row against this Connecticut team? I don't see it.
