RADIO
It's Saturday night and the basketballs are out and we're going to head on over to the DFS site of your choice to play some WNBA fantasy. (That was supposed to be a reference to the Mary Chapin Carpenter song "Down at the Twist and Shout," but it probably didn't land right.) Two games on tonight's slate, as the Aces host the Fever and the Storm host the Mercury.
If you're looking for WNBA daily fantasy picks and some betting advice this season, then you're in the right place. I'll be here providing picks for any slate with two or more games, as well as adding a little betting advice.
In this article, I'll be providing you with some daily fantasy WNBA lineup picks for DraftKings, FanDuel. These lineup picks will range from elite players to mid-priced options and value plays. The slates lock on 6/24/2023 at 9:00 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 Picks: Forward
Candace Parker (Las Vegas Aces) - vs. IND - DK: $9,100, FD: $6,800
Before I start breaking down players, I just want to say that I kind of hate this slate. There's just something about the four teams playing that makes it so that there's not a lot of great value options, so you've got to play some people who you don't feel very confident in. Because I try to make a lineup in this article that would be valid on one of DraftKings or FanDuel, that's going to be reflected in these picks.
Anyway, let's talk about Candace Parker. Her Aces career hasn't really looked the way the rest of her career has, but that'll happen on a team with as many scoring threats as Vegas. The good news for fantasy is that she's finding other ways to impact the game now, like recording at least five assists in four consecutive games, and recording at least one steal in six straight.
Sure, you wish the scoring was higher, but she's scored in double figures in two of the last four games. Before that, she had just three games all season with 10 or more points. If she can knock down a few shots and keep contributing everywhere else, she'll have a strong showing.
NaLyssa Smith (Indiana Fever) - @ LV - DK: $8,800, FD: $6,200
Aliyah Boston has officially surpassed Smith as Indiana's best big, but Smith's still putting up good numbers of her own, including recording a double-double last time out, as she went 5-for-11 with 12 points and 14 boards against the Storm.
Last time she faced the Aces, she just missed out on another double-double, scoring 10 points and pulling down nine rebounds. Her volume—10 or more field goal attempts in five of the last six games—and her rebounding make her a strong fantasy option.
Michaela Onyenwere (Phoenix Mercury) - @ SEA - DK: $7,400, FD: $5,200
It sounds like Brittney Griner could return tonight, which complicates things with the Mercury rotation. But I don't really think it has a huge impact on Onyenwere's production.
In the last full game that Onyenwere played beside Griner, against the Fever back on June 11, Onyenwere had a double-double, scoring 11 points and grabbing 12 rebounds. She's actually only had more points once since then, and hasn't had more than nine boards in the last four games. (Her numbers are skewed by a game against New York where she exited early with a facial injury, though.)
Anyway, I think Griner's return might actually open up a little more space for the former Rookie of the Year to operate in. She's a solid mid-priced option on this slate.
WNBA DFS Picks: Guard
Jewell Loyd (Seattle Storm) - vs. PHO - DK: $11,100, FD: $8,400
Look, Jewell Loyd's going to take a bunch of shots. She's had 20 or more field goal attempts in three consecutive games. Her shot was off last game as she scored just 19 points on 5-for-21 shooting, but she scored over 30 in the two previous games.
The Mercury allow the second-most points per game this season, and it appears they might get Diana Taurasi back for this one, something that might weaken their perimeter defense more. Loyd has a chance to have a huge night here.
It's worth noting she only had 17 points the last time these teams played, but that was more about volume, as she took just 11 field goal attempts. She shot 54.5%, so they were falling—it's just that she wasn't taking them at the same volume she usually does.
Erica Wheeler (Indiana Fever) - @ LV - DK: $7,000, FD: $5,900
Wheeler's not the most exciting option, but like I said above, this slate's not my favorite, so sometimes we have to take a risk. Wheeler's a fine risk to take.
She's scored in double figures in two of the last three games, and in the game where she didn't she finished with eight assists. She's had at least four assists in five consecutive games. Wheeler's got a pretty high floor here, even if her ceiling is debatable.
Kia Nurse (Seattle Storm) - vs. PHO - DK: $6,000, FD: $4,500
Kia Nurse has really struggled, shooting 33.3% or worse in three consecutive games. But she's taken at least seven field goal attempts in each of those games, and she's made three three-pointers in two of the past three games.
This Mercury defense might be a really good thing to help Nurse get her shot on track. The last time she faced Phoenix, she had eight points, four rebounds, three assists, one block, and one steal
