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Justin Carter's top daily fantasy WNBA lineup picks for 7/1/23. Expert WNBA DFS advice for DraftKings, FanDuel.
July, July, July! The calendar's turned to another month and the 2023 WNBA season continues its march to the All-Star break. Today, we've got a pair of games on tap. The first is in the afternoon and pits the Sun against the Aces, while the second is a late-night meeting between the Lynx and Mercury. Also of note: on FanDuel, today features two one-game slates, so this article is definitely taking a DraftKings bent today.
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 and FanDuel. These lineup picks will range from elite players to mid-priced options and value plays. The slates lock on 7/1/2023 at 3:00 PM ET. Want to talk more about the WNBA? I'm always available on Twitter and always down to discuss women's basketball: @juscarts.
WNBA DFS Picks: Forward
A'ja Wilson (Las Vegas Aces) - vs. CON - DK: $11,300, FD: $9,500
With Connecticut forced to play small after the Brionna Jones injury, there's a lot that the Aces could exploit in this matchup. That is why I'm going pretty heavy on the Vegas frontcourt today.
A'ja Wilson didn't really do a ton against the Liberty last time out, but she didn't have to. The guards took over, and Wilson was able to take it easy, scoring 16 points on 6-for-9 shooting. The nine field goal attempts were tied for her fewest of the season. She grabbed just three rebounds, her first time since June 8 to not grab double-digit boards.
I expect a different kind of game from Wilson on Saturday. Before the last game, she had three 20-point double-doubles in a row as she just absolutely obliterated opponents. Earlier this season, she had 23 points and 10 boards in a game against Connecticut.
Candace Parker (Las Vegas Aces) - vs. CON - DK: $8,300, FD: $7,000
After a slow start, Candace Parker has double-digit points in three of the last four games, including posting a full stat line against the Liberty last time out. She had 15 points, six rebounds, five assists, one block, and two steals.
If we assume the Sun use Alyssa Thomas to try to stop A'ja Wilson, that probably means Parker is matched up with Rebecca Allen for a lot of this game. Which...I love Rebecca Allen, but I don't think she's slowing Parker down much.
Of note: Parker was held in check in the first two meetings of these teams, but two things have changed since then. First, Parker's just playing better basketball now, as she's worked out some of the kinks from early in the year. And second, the Sun aren't the same now, as the Brionna Jones injury changed the makeup of the team.
Dorka Juhasz (Minnesota Lynx) - @ PHO - DK: $7,000, FD: $6,500
I feel like a broken record at this point with how often I recommend you play Dorka Juhasz, but she just keeps delivering. With Jessica Shepard set to miss her seventh consecutive game due to illness, I'll stick with Juhasz again.
She's posted 30-plus DraftKings points in back-to-back games and is coming off the best scoring effort of her career, scoring 11 points on 4-for-5 shooting against the Storm. The rookie also added eight rebounds, three assists, two blocks, and one steal. She's been filling up the stat sheet. While this matchup against Brittney Griner on the inside is kind of terrifying, there's still enough value here to make Juhasz worth the risk.
WNBA DFS Picks: Guard
DeWanna Bonner (Connecticut Sun) - @ LV - DK: $8,700, FD: $8,000
DeWanna Bonner struggled with her shot last game, going 3-for-12 from the floor with 12 points. But she still had a solid game from a fantasy perspective as she added five rebounds, one assist, and one block to the score sheet.
I think of playing Bonner in DFS as swinging for the fences. There are nights where her shot will be off and she'll hit something like 25% of her attempts, but there are other nights where the Sun's lack of scoring threats means that they'll lean heavily on the veteran.
Take the first two games between these teams as an example. In the first one, she went 2-for-9 from the floor with just five points. Two days later, she was 16-for-23 and scored a career-high 41 points. She can be a roller coaster. But on these two-game slates where finding the explosive player is more important, I'm more willing to take a risk on Bonner.
Diamond Miller (Minnesota Lynx) - @ PHO - DK: $8,000, FD: $8,500
Diamond Miller returned from injury a couple of games back and immediately made a huge impact. It's probably too late for her to challenge Aliyah Boston for Rookie of the Year, but she's establishing herself as a future star in this sport.
In her first game back, she was 8-for-13 with 18 points and added four rebounds, five assists, and one block. In her second game, she was 7-for-15 for 19 points with four rebounds, two assists, two blocks, and two steals.
Before her injury, Miller was becoming the No. 2 scoring threat on this team behind Napheesa Collier. Now that she's back, she's immediately picked that mantle back up.
Dijonai Carrington (Connecticut Sun) - @ LV - DK: $6,300, FD: $7,000
Dijonai Carrington was out of the Sun rotation earlier in the year. She's now played 20-plus minutes in three straight games, and she's averaged 19 points and six rebounds per game over that span. That includes a season-high 23 points on 8-for-11 shooting last time out against New York.
My way of thinking here? Ride the hot hand. The matchup isn't great, but Carrington has been playing some really good basketball over the last week or so. Take the bet that her strong play continues.
