eric grumpyESPN
CloseFormer manager of a Fortune 100 financial services company, I am now living my dream creating NFL, NBA and WNBA sports betting and fantasy content for ESPN.
Every day of the WNBA season, our team of fantasy and betting experts breaks down each game on the whiteboard, taking note of everything from injuries and roster changes to recent trends and more.
All odds are provided by Caesars Sportsbook. The times are ET.
Here’s what to look for during today’s whiteboard:
Los Angeles Sparks at Atlanta Dream
7:30 p.m., Gateway Center, College Park, GA
Line: Sleep (-5.5)
money line: Sleep (-225), Sparks (+185)
Total: 158 points
BPI Earning %: Sleep (62%)
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Questionable: Chiney Ogwumike (face)
Discarded: Kristi Toliver (calf), Nia Coffey (knee), Tiffany Hayes (ankle), Monique Billings (ankle)
Fantasy needs to know: Even though Liz Cambage was the Sparks’ most hyped offseason addition, Nneka Ogwumike was the team’s most consistent fantasy option. In five of his last eight games, he’s scored 30 or more fantasy points. Ogwumike, Brittney Sykes, Jordin Canada, and Katie Lou Samuelson (available in 65% of leagues) should start in fantasy leagues. Los Angeles ranks 10th in offensive rating (97.7) and 11th in defensive rating (105.1) as it tries to snap a five-game losing streak.
Rhyne Howard certainly exceeded fantasy coaches’ expectations during her rookie season. Having the ability to contribute in multiple statistical areas has allowed Howard to average 30.3 fantasy points per game for a dream team that is solid on defense but ranks 11th on offense. Howard and Cheyenne Parker are the Atlanta players that belong in your lineup. With Tiffany Hayes out with an ankle injury, Aari McDonald (available in 64% of leagues) and Kristy Wallace (available in 96.6% of leagues) are very good broadcast options.
Best Bet: Dream (-5.5)
In this matchup, the Dream are the better team overall. Atlanta is 7-3 against the spread in the last 10 games. The Dream must cover.
Washington Mystiques in the Chicago Sky
8:00 p.m., Wintrust Arena, Chicago, IL
Line: Sky (-6)
money line: Sky (-250), Mystics (+205)
Total: 160 points
BPI Earning %: Heaven (65.8%)
• Cockcroft: Top picks in each draft slot
•
Bowen’s 18 favorite draft targets
• Karabel: Make draft | DO NOT write
• drills: 10 mt, without PPR | 12 mt 1/2 PPR
• Clay: 192 players who should be drafted
•Karabell Staggered Ranks: RB | WR
• NFL Nation: 11 Hard-to-Call RB Situations
Discarded: Elena Delle Donne
Fantasy needs to know: Following wins over the Storm and Aces, the Mystics have won nine of their last 12 games. Throughout the season, Elena Delle Donne has been his best option averaging 30.2 fantasy points per game. For Friday’s game against Sky he will rest. Myisha Hines-Allen will likely replace her in the starting lineup. Hines-Allen, Ariel Atkins, Natasha Cloud, Shakira Austin, and Alysha Clark (available in 52.6% of leagues) belong to fantasy lineups. The Mystics will need to bring their “A” game against the Sky, who just lost by six points to the Wings on Tuesday, one of their eight losses this season.
Candace Parker has been the best fantasy option for Sky this season. Due to illness, Parker missed the previous two games, but she’ll likely get her usual workload against the Mystics. The Sky ranks third in offensive rating (104.9) and fifth in defensive rating (98.3). Parker, Emma Meesseman, Courtney Vandersloot, Kahleah Copper, Allie Quigley, and Azura Stevens (available in 38.6% of leagues) should all be in your rosters.
Best Bet: Over 160
In the league, Sky and Mystics are two of the best teams. Both are trying to get a head start in the playoff standings. Matchups like this are always competitive. In 10 of Sky’s last 16 home games, the total has been exceeded.
Source: www.espn.com