Every day of the WNBA season, our team of fantasy and betting experts breaks down every game on the scoreboard, taking note of everything from injuries and roster changes to recent trends and more.
All odds are provided by Caesars Sportsbook.
Here’s what to look for during Tuesday’s list:
Dallas Wings in Atlanta Dream
7:00 p.m. ET, Gateway Center Arena, Atlanta
Line: At 4)
money line: Wings (-170), Sleep (+145)
Total: 164 points
BPI Earning %: Sleep (54.9%)
Discarded: Erica Wheeler (foot), Kristy Wallace (concussion protocol), Kia Vaughn (COVID-19), Nia Coffey (knee), Satou Sabally (knee)
Fantasy needs to know: Isabelle Harrison (available in 44.6% of leagues) returned to the starting lineup three games ago in place of the injured Sabally and has averaged 11.3 PPG, 4.7 RPG, 2.0 APG and 0.3 SPG at 22 MPG during that period. That’s solid, transmittable production, and she has perks like her best 3-game streak as a starter this season that includes averages of 16.3 PPG, 7.0 RPG and 2.0 APG at 30 MPG.
2 related
The Dream are dealing with a lot of injuries, particularly to their starting backcourt, which has given young reserves Aari McDonald (available in 62.4% of leagues) and AD Durr (available in 95.9% of leagues) a chance to shine. McDonald, the third pick in the 2021 WNBA Draft, has averaged 17.3 PPG, 5.0 APG, 3.3 RPG, 2.0 SPG and 1.3 3PG at 38.7 MPG in his last three games. . The Dream recently traded for Durr, a 2019 rookie who sat out the last two seasons due to COVID, and in his last two games he posted 21.0 PPG, 3.5 RPG, 2.5 APG and 2.5 3PG on 28.5 MPG off the bench.
Best bet: Wings -4. The Dream has lost four games in a row, with an average margin of -8.3 PPG. That losing streak roughly corresponds to when they started dealing with so many injuries in their backcourt, and that’s still the situation Tuesday. The Wings are just 3-4 in their last seven games, but all of their losses have come to the Aces and Storm, the top two teams in the West by scoring margin. The Wings are healthier and play a little better going into action Tuesday. –Andre Snellings
Minnesota Lynx on Phoenix Mercury
10:00 p.m. ET, Footprint Center, Phoenix
Line: Mercury (-5)
money line: Lynx (+180), Mercury (-220)
Total: 168 points
BPI Earning %: Mercury (60%)
Questionable: Natalie Achonwa (hamstring)
Fantasy needs to know: During their four-game road trip, the Mercury (6-10) won two games and won three of the last five. With a 4-3 record in June, Phoenix snapped a seven-game losing streak. The Mercury have a 104.5 offensive rating and a 103.1 defensive rating in their last seven games. Skylar Diggins-Smith has led the way for Mercury with 20.1 PPG, 3.9 RPG and 5.7 APG. With five straight losses, the last-place Lynx (3-13) are struggling this season. Sylvia Fowles and Natalie Achonwa suffered long-term injuries for the Lynx. In their last five games, Minnesota ranks 10th in offensive rating (97.7) and 11th in defensive rating (109.3).
Diggins-Smith, Tina Charles, Diana Taurasi, Diamond DeShields and Brianna Turner are fantasy options to start with. Due to Sophie Cunningham’s sprained elbow ligament, Shey Peddy remains on broadcast radar. She is available in 92.6% of the leagues. Over the last four games, Peddy has averaged 17.4 fantasy points. The following Lynx players should be in your fantasy starting lineups: Aerial Powers, Moriah Jefferson, Kayla McBride, and Jessica Shepard. With Fowles out for the season, Nikolina Milic, who is available in 94% of the leagues, has helped fill the Lynx void. In the last three games, she has averaged 25.6 fantasy points. Feel free to add Milic if you need a streamer. The matchup between Minnesota and Phoenix on Tuesday will be the first of four this season.
Best bet: Mercury -5. There is no doubt that the Mercury will up the score here, as the Lynx have given up an average of 84.9 PPG. Minnesota won’t score enough points, and that’s why Phoenix covers the spread. –Eric Moody
Chicago Sky in Las Vegas Aces
10:00 p.m. ET, Michelob Ultra Arena, Las Vegas
Line: Aces (-7.5)
money line: Sky (+280), Aces (-350)
Total: 176 points
BPI Earning %: Aces (67.3%)
Fantasy needs to know: Candace Parker will return for the Sky after missing two games with a knee injury, and will presumably be in her usual starting role…although it is unknown if she will have any kind of minute restriction. Azura Stevens (available in 54.0% of leagues) would return to the bench after starting the last two games in Parker’s place, but she still has an edge, averaging 8.6 PPG, 3.5 RPG, 0 .9 BPG, 0.8 3PG, 0.6 APG and 0.4 SPG on 18.8 MPG in his eight games off the bench this season.
The Aces’ starting five is arguably the strongest in the WNBA, and they’re all on the universal roster (and worth starting) in fantasy hoops as well. Jackie Young missed two games with an ankle injury, but has come back and played big minutes in the last two games. His numbers haven’t returned to pre-injury levels yet, but with each game he’s getting stronger and could be back to normal as soon as tonight.
Best bet: Under 176 points. The Aces and Sky have combined with their opponents to score over 176 points once and to score exactly 176 points once in their last two games. Prior to that, however, the Aces and their opponents had only broken 176 once in their previous five outings. Likewise, the Sky’s two-game scoring surge came in the two games that Candace Parker missed. They hadn’t combined with their opponents to score more than 176 points in any of the most recent seven games Parker played. These two teams played on May 28 and combined for just 159 points. –Snellings
Washington Mystics at Los Angeles Sparks
22:00 ET, Crypto.com Arena, Los Angeles
Line: Mystics (-2.5)
money line: Mystics (-135), Sparks (+115)
Total: 163 points
BPI Earning %: Sparks (52.3%)
Discarded: Elena Delle Donne (rest)
Fantasy needs to know: The Mystics (11-7) will play the Sparks (5-9) for the first time this season on Tuesday. During their three-game tour of the West Coast, they will also take on the Seattle Storm and Las Vegas Aces, two of the best teams in the league. The Mystics rank seventh in offensive rating (99.9) and first in defensive rating (94.9). At 27.8 fantasy points per game, Elena Delle Donne leads all Washington players. Since mid-May, she hasn’t played three games in a row. While the Sparks get used to Fred Williams as head coach. Los Angeles ranks 6th in offensive rating (100.6) and 12th in defensive rating (106.9). Additionally, the Sparks allow a league-high 14.4 fast-break points per game, the most in franchise history.
For the Mystics, Delle Donne, Ariel Atkins and Natasha Cloud are essential starting points. If Delle Donne is down, she will forward Alysha Clark, who is available in 56.5% of leagues. In three of her last four games, she has scored 23 or more fantasy points. Shakira Austin, who is available in 48.4% of leagues, is also on the streaming radar. She has averaged 19.1 fantasy points per game this season. The Sparks’ Nneka Ogwumike, Liz Cambage and Brittney Sykes should all be included in the fantasy lineups. Jordin Canada, who is available in 63.6% of leagues, and Katie Lou Samuelson, who is available in 80.7% of leagues, are the top broadcast options for Los Angeles. Over the last three games, Canada has averaged 15.6 fantasy points. Samuelson has averaged 18.6 fantasy points per game in her last five games.
Best bet: Mystics -2.5. Offensively, the Mystics are averaging 78.9 PPG. As for Washington’s defense, he allows only 74.6 PPG to his opponents. There is no doubt that the Mystics are the best team and will cover even on the road. Washington is 6-2 against the spread in its road games. — Grumpy
Source: www.espn.com