RADIO
After a week full of days off and Tuesday's one-game Commissioner's Cup slate, we're finally back with a full night of WNBA action, as four games are on deck for tonight, highlighted by a meeting of the Storm and Sun.
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 7/29/22. These lineups picks will range from elite players to mid-priced options and value plays. The slates lock on 7/28/2022 at 7:00 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 Picks: Forward
Chiney Ogwumike (Los Angeles Sparks) - @ PHO - DK: $8,000; FD: $6,100
Liz Cambage left the Sparks this week, clearing the way for an all-Ogwumike starting lineup going forward.
That's good news for fantasy players who have Chiney Ogwumike in season-long fantasy, and it's good for us in DFS for now, as Chiney's DFS salary is still in the value range.
In four games as a starter this season, Chiney is averaging 11.8 points and 10.0 rebounds per game. She offers the Sparks an outside shooting threat that Cambage didn't.
Naz Hillmon (Atlanta Dream) - vs MIN - DK: $7,800; FD: $4,800
It's time to admit I'm wrong: I didn't think Hillmon's game would translate to the WNBA. In college, she was great at the basket, but showed almost zero range on offense, and she doesn't have the kind of imposing size that you want from a player whose game is predicated at scoring in the paint.
But Hillmon is starting to prove me wrong.
Offensively, she's still not really shooting much from outside the paint and she hasn't been particularly efficient, as she's shot under 40% in two of the last four games. But with an increase in volume, that efficiency hasn't really been an issue in fantasy for two reasons: rebounds and assists.
Hillmon has yanked down 10-plus boards in three of the last five games, and she now has four games in a row with at least two assists. Last time out, she delivered a strong fantasy showing, with nine points, 14 rebounds, four assists and two blocks.
Myisha Hines-Allen (Washington Mystics) - @ DAL - DK: $7,000; FD: $5,400
Elena Delle Donne will rest for this one, which should open up more opportunities for Myisha Hines-Allen.
There was a point this season when I was on team "fade MHA in fantasy" because nothing was working for her, but times have changed. Hines-Allen is still having some poor games, but she's sprinkling in some good showings, like when she had 13 points and eight rebounds against New York last time out. With Delle Donne out, expect MHA to see a high usage rate in this one, which should lead to her returning some really good value at this salary.
WNBA DFS Picks: Guard
Skylar Diggins-Smith (Phoenix Mercury) - vs LA - DK: $11,200; FD: $8,900
With Diamond DeShields out, the Mercury are in "well, we don't have a bench" mode for this one. That should mean a ton of points for Skylar Diggins-Smith, who scored 35 points with six rebounds and six assists in her most recent game against Seattle on July 22.
SDS had 22 points, four rebounds and five assists in her last game against the Sparks. This LA team is in a precarious spot, as it still is clinging to a playoff spot but also just lost its starting center, Liz Cambage, who...well, you read about that above.
I fail to see anything standing in the way of a dominant SDS game.
Sophie Cunningham (Phoenix Mercury) - vs LA - DK: $8,800; FD: $6,900
Cunningham has transitioned into being a stretch four for this Mercury team, largely out of necessity. You can read a great piece at Basketball News from Nekias Duncan about that move, if you're interested.
Cunningham is doing a lot of shooting and she's doing it well. In her 12 games as a starter, she's averaged 15.3 points and 5.7 rebounds per game while shooting 40.9% from three. As long as this team remains as shallow as it is and Cunningham keeps connecting from deep as efficiently as she has, she'll keep getting a lot of opportunities.
Erica Wheeler (Atlanta Dream) - vs MIN - DK: $7,100; FD: $4,700
Honestly, I'm not sure there's been a tougher thing to figure out this year than the Dream guard rotation. But with the Lynx allowing the most fantasy points per game to guards, I feel like we have to take a shot on someone in this backcourt. I think Rhyne Howard and Tiffany Hayes are both good picks, but I'm leaning towards Wheeler for the value.
With AD Durr set to miss this game, the guard rotation should be a little more solid. Wheeler has struggled with her shot, but she's played 20-plus minutes in pretty much every game, and she's coming off a solid night where she scored just five points, but boosted her value with seven rebounds, four assists and two steals.
WNBA Betting Picks for 7/28/2022
Looking to make some WNBA bets? Let's look at some options for you.
Yesterday's Results: N/A
Money Line Picks For 7/28
Let's keep it simple today. Here are my picks to win today's games:
Sun over Storm:Â Two good teams, but the Sun being at home makes me give them the slight edge. This is the game I'm most perplexed by, though.
Dream over Lynx:Â Both teams are on losing streaks, but the Lynx are on a longer losing streak and are on the road.
Mystics over Wings:Â Dallas remains the most perplexing team. Even with Delle Donne out and this game happening in Texas, I think the Mystics have the edge.
Sparks over Mercury:Â I really think the all-Ogwumike frontcourt will work. The Sparks are 2-2 with Chiney in the starting lineup vs. being 10-13 when she isn't. The Mercury lack depth. Should be a good game, but I think LA gets a boost in this first post-Cambage game.
