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Justin Carter's top daily fantasy WNBA lineup picks and betting picks for 5/21/22. Expert WNBA DFS advice for DraftKings and FanDuel and today's best bets.
Two WNBA games on the schedule today. The Mercury visit the Aces this afternoon, followed by a night game between the Lynx and the Wings. Two enticing games but for different reasons. The first should be a competitive game between two talented teams. The second is a chance to either see if Dallas is for real or if the Lynx have finally shook off their terrible start.
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 5/21/22. These lineups picks will range from elite players to mid-priced options and value plays. The slate locks on 5/21/2022 at 3:00 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.
WNBA DFS Lineup Picks: Forwards
Sylvia Fowles (Minnesota Lynx) - @ DAL - DK: $10,500, FD: $8,200
Fowles is going to be able to bully this Wings team. Teaira McCowan is barely in the rotation but is the only big with the size to maybe slow down Fowles, but even if she does play, Fowles averaged 17.3 points per game against McCowan's Fever team last season.
As for this season, Fowles is averaging 18.5 points and 10.0 rebounds per game, plus 1.3 steals and 1.2 blocks per contest. She's scored 20 or more points in three of the last four games and has shot over 70% from the floor in the last four. She's also had 11 or more rebounds in all four of those games.
A'ja Wilson (Las Vegas Aces) - vs PHO - DK: $10,300, FD: $8,900
Wilson took just eight shots the last time she played Phoenix. Even with that low volume, she had 39.5 DK points, because she finished with 16 points, 10 rebounds, three assists, two blocks and one steal.
The former MVP has really shown out defensively this year, with three games of four or more blocks. She only had two last time she played Phoenix. While her scoring volume is down, Wilson will still score 15-plus points while also filling up the stat sheet.
Satou Sabally (Dallas Wings) - vs MIN - DK: $6,500, FD: $5,500
After returning from her overseas commitments, Sabally is set to make her season debut on Saturday. This is probably your only shot to get Sabally into your fantasy lineup at a price this low.
Sabally averaged 11.9 points, 5.9 rebounds and 2.8 assists per game last year. Before her Achilles injury last year, Sabally had been posting some strong numbers. In the game before she was hurt, she had 12 points, six rebounds and seven assists, for instance. She has the skill to be an elite three-and-D player in this league and the positional versatility to play virtually every position in this postionless Vickie Johnson offense.
WNBA DFS Lineup Picks: Guards
Chelsea Gray (Las Vegas Aces) - vs PHO - DK: $7,700, FD: $5,400
Gray is so cheap on FanDuel. Sure, part of that is because her numbers this year have been inconsistent, but I think this is going to be a good game for her.
Riquna Williams is out again. With Williams out last game, Gray posted some good numbers, playing 34 minutes and going 6-for-10 from the floor, with 17 points, seven assists, three rebounds and two steals. Her assist upside in this offense is high, and she's shot well in all but one game. There's a lot of attention being paid to Kelsey Plum and Jackie Young when talking about this Aces team, but Gray is still one of the league's top point guards and based on her minutes, she's no longer hampered by the ankle injury from training camp that restricted her minutes at the start of the season.
Moriah Jefferson (Minnesota Lynx) - @ DAL - DK: $7,500, FD: $6,200
Revenge Game Alert!
Jefferson was a member of the Wings for the last few years but was bought out after one game this season. She landed in Minnesota, where she's been incredible. She's played 33 or more minutes in each game with the Lynx and has at least 14 points and five assists in each of those contests. The Wings defense has been surprisingly decent this season so I don't necessarily think Jefferson is a slam-dunk play, but I do think she provides a really high floor right now and I'm definitely factoring in how she's going to really, really want to go out and show the Wings they made a mistake moving on from her.
Diamond DeShields (Phoenix Mercury) - @ LV - DK: $6,700, FD: $4,800
This is a "watch the injury report" special. Skylar Diggins-Smith missed last game with a non-COVID illness and is questionable for Saturday. If she's out, then I think there's some real value with Diamond DeShields.
With no SDS last game, DeShields played a season-high 34 minutes. She was 9-for-19 with 22 points plus added a rebound and a steal. It was a productive game, even though her usual handful of rebounds and assists weren't there.
WNBA Betting Picks for 5/21/2022
Looking to make some WNBA bets? Let's look at some options for you.
Yesterday's Results: 1-1
Las Vegas Aces Spread (-7)
This is dependent on Skylar Diggins-Smith not playing. Without her, the Mercury lose a key piece of their team. They didn't have her against the Wings last game, and Dallas beat Phoenix by 10. Vegas is a tier above the Wings. This is a competitive game if SDS plays, but even with her earlier in the year, the Aces beat the Mercury by eight.
Minnesota Lynx ML
The Lynx have struggled this year, winning just once. But as the team has gotten closer to full strength, it's played better and better. Dallas has had some highs, but there's still some inconsistency from this Wings team. I'm taking the road underdogs to win here. As I mentioned in the DFS part of this article, I'm not sure how Dallas contains Sylvia Fowles, plus this is a revenge game for Moriah Jefferson. Unless Arike Ogunbowale has another explosive game like she did against Phoenix, I sense an upset brewing.
