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We have got a four game slate on our hands today, featuring the top teams in the league. The slate is stacked with studs, making finding the value plays difficult but crucial. This article will cover each game and provide the top picks of the day. For a more detailed breakdown on Cash and GPP plays, join the DFS Army and join us on slack. Let’s dive in!
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Connecticut Sun @ Washington Mystics
This is the third meeting between these two teams this season. The Sun need a victory in this one to remain in first place in the Eastern Conference. They’ll lean heavily on Chiney Ogwumike to get it done. The matchup is great for Jonquel Jones, but it’s impossible to trust her right now, as she is inconsistent and her minutes are volatile. Jonquel Jones makes for a good GPP play though. The guards of the Sun are all in play today against a Mystics team that struggles against guards. Jasmine Thomas, Courtney Williams, and Alex Bentley could have excellent games. Brionna Jones has been getting minutes with Alyssa Thomas out and has put them to good use. If Thomas is out today, Jones becomes a viable punt.
For the Mystics, it all revolves around Elena Delle Donne. The team goes as she goes and the matchup tonight is an excellent one for her. It becomes extremely hard finding another Mystics who is playable in this matchup. The Sun are good against guards and centers. Kristi Toliver had one good game against them in the most recent meeting. She could be used in GPPs. LaToya Sanders is expensive and has a tough matchup, but could possibly be used as a GPP flyer.
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Phoenix Mercury @ New York Liberty
The Mercury’s season has been solid, driven by the play of Diana Taurasi and Britney Griner. The Liberty are in the top 3 defensively against guards and centers. Something will have to give here tonight. Both players are in play, but do so cautiously as the matchup is a tough one, and there is the possibility of them underperforming their price. The liberty can be attacked through their forwards. This puts Sancho Lyttle and DeWanna Bonner in play today. A good GPP strategy will be to fade Taurasi and Griner and focus instead on Lyttle and Bonner. I don’t have much love for any other Mercury players.
The Liberty have been dreadful this season. It’s hard to see how they can pull off a win here, but since they are at home, they could possibly keep the game competitive. To do this, they’ll have to rely on their guards and perhaps Tina Charles. The matchup for Charles is not a positive one, but she might be able to perform in it as she did earlier this season. The problem with playing the Liberty guards is the minutes inconsistency due to having too many guards on the roster. My favorite guards today are Brittany Boyd who is in great form, and Bria Hartley who appears to get the most consistent minutes on the team. You can play other guards as GPP punts, hoping for an out-of-the-blue fantastic game.
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Seattle Storm @ Minnesota Lynx
The Lynx have found some of their defensive fortitude over the past four games, making this a tough matchup for the visiting Storm. The matchup at center and forward is a tough one. Natasha Howard will be presented with her WNBA Championship ring before the game. Howard will want to have a great game against her former team, but she’ll be matched up against Fowles or Brunson most of the time. The same goes for Stewart who has not found much success against the Lynx in her career. You can chase the narrative with Howard but do so with caution. The best place to attack the Lynx is through guards. This puts Jewell Loyd, Sue Bird, and perhaps Jordin Canada in play tonight.
For the Lynx, it all revolves around Sylvia Fowles and Maya Moore offensively. Fowles has found tremendous success against the Storm in the past, and while the Storm have improved defensively from last season, Fowles is still in play here. Maya Moore has been en fuego over the last five games. She has a good matchup here, especially with Alysha Clark likely out again. Fire her up in all formats! Finally, the Lynx guards have a neutral matchup here, making the likes of Seimone Augustus and Lindsay Whalen playable in limited fashion. I’m off Danielle Robinson until she shows more consistency (watch as she goes off today because of this).
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Dallas Wings @ Los Angeles Sparks
During the last meeting, the Wings blew out the Sparks in Dallas. It will be a miracle if they can do the same tonight and they know it. The Wings will be going in hoping to keep this one close and competitive. They can attack the Sparks through their bigs, so it all starts with Liz Cambage. The matchup is neutral for Cambage and she should be able to excel in it. Glory Johnson and Kayla Thornton have a neutral matchup as well, but they both limit each other’s upside, making it difficult to roster them at their price. I have zero interest in any Wings guard. Maybe you could take a flyer on Allisha Gray, but this is the worst matchup in the whole league.
For the Sparks, it all starts with Candace Parker and Nneka Ogwumike. We know they’ll be motivated to set the record straight after the previous result. I prefer Candace here over Nneka but they are both in play. The matchup is excellent for Chelsea Gray, and I expect her to be the top guard on this slate. Fire her up in all formats. The return of Odyssey Sims to the bench makes it difficult to roster her, and the other guards have limited upside, making them only playable as GPP punts.
TOP PLAYS
Guards
Elite: Chelsea Gray, Jewell Loyd, DeWanna Bonner, Diana Taurasi, Jasmine Thomas, Courtney Williams, Sue Bird
Value: Brittany Boyd, Alex Bentley, Bria Hartley, Natasha Cloud, Allisha Gray, Jordin Canada
Forwards
Elite: Elena Delle Donne, Liz Cambage, Sylvia Fowles, Britney Griner, Candace Parker, Maya Moore, Chiney Ogwumike
Value: Sancho Lyttle, Brionna Jones, Cecilia Zandalasini, Azura Stevens, Amanda Zahui B
