Welcome to the DFS Army WNBA Full Court Press! You have to start your research somewhere, and often times going game by game and breaking down every matchup and its key players is the first step in our process. My name is Glen aka @Blande on Twitter, make sure to give me a follow as I’ll occasionally make updates to the advice in the article. But, you’ll mostly find me in our VIP coaching forums where I provide detailed lineup maneuvers and answer all lineup questions. If you are not yet a member of the DFS Army, join now and use promo code Blande to get 20% off by clicking here. With that said, let’s get it started!
FULL COURT PRESS:
Phoenix Mercury @ Seattle Storm
PHO Projected Starters: Briann January, Yvonne Turner, Essence Carson, DeWanna Bonner, Britney Griner
The Mercury head into Seattle to take on the Storm today. Both teams are hampered by injury. Diana Taurasi is out for the Mercury, and they are extremely thin at forward. No matter what happens in this game, the starters will get significant run as a result. Bonner and Griner are the top players on this Mercury team today. Both are excellent options tonight and should play over 30 minutes here. Essence Carson had a solid preseason for her new team, and while she hasn’t been known to break the bank in the past, she’ll be playing heavy minutes here and will be needed. Both Yvonne Turner and Briann January struggled during the preseason. That said, they are both streaky players, if they get hot, watch out. They are best suited towards GPPs. The best options off the bench for the Mercury today will be Sophie Cunningham at guard and Alanna Smith at forward. Cunningham had a solid preseason and will get 20-23 minutes tonight. Smith played solid minutes as well and impressed with them.
SEA Projected Starters: Jordin Canada, Jewell Loyd, Kaleena Mosqueda-Lewis, Natasha Howard, Crystal Langhorne
The Storm are missing key players this season. They’ll have to rely on Loyd, Howard, and Canada to carry them this season. Jewell Loyd is a fantastic option here. This is her team and they’ll go as she goes this season. This is by no means and easy matchup, but her usage is going to be high and she’ll be putting up a lot of shots. Natasha Howard came into her own last season, and with Crystal Langhorne battling with Griner, this will open excellent opportunities for rebounding and scoring for Howard. Jordin Canada is the PG of this team with Sue Bird out, and she’ll be a chalky option today and for good reason given her price. She’ll be playing close to 30 minutes here tonight. Mosqueda-Lewis is a sharpshooter. She can be streaky and has GPP potential, but she is inconsistent as well, so tread carefully. I do not pick on Britney Griner, so beware of Crystal Langhorne here. She is in a bad spot! Finally, off the bench for the Storm, Shavonte Zellous will get 20-25 minutes in relief role for the guards. Zellous is another streaky player who can put up 30 fpts in 25 minutes. On the forward side, Mercedes Russell had a fantastic preseason, and should Langhorne get into foul trouble, which is very possible, Russell will get a lot of minutes.
5-star play: Britney Griner, DeWanna Bonner, Jewell Loyd, Natasha Howard
4-star play: Jordin Canada, Essence Carson, Briann January
Deeper Value: Mercedes Russell, Shavonte Zellous, Yvonne Turner
GPP Sleeper: Mercedes Russell
Washington Mystics @ Connecticut Sun
WAS Projected Starters: Kristi Toliver, Shatori Walker-Kimbrough, Ariel Atkins, Emma Meesseman, LaToya Sanders
The Mystics are missing Delle Donne tonight, which is a huge blow for them. Without her, a lot will be placed on the shoulders of Toliver and Meesseman. Kristi Toliver is one of the top point guards in the league. However, she runs into an impressive PG defense today as the Sun were one of the best against PGs last season. Toliver is capable of having an excellent performance even in a bad spot but beware. The outlook is better for Emma Meesseman who gets a good matchup here tonight and her scoring will be required by her team, making her a great option. Shatori Walker-Kimbrough had an excellent preseason, and with Natasha Cloud likely out with a knee injury, she stands to play around 30 minutes tonight. She is a solid option given those minutes. Ariel Atkins had a solid season last year and will look to build on it tonight. She’ll be given the minutes to do something tonight, making her a good option as well. LaToya Sanders average 23 Fpts in 23 MPG against the Sun last year. With EDD out, she’ll get around 30 minutes, making her an interesting option on the slate. Off the bench, Tianna Hawkins and Kim Mestdagh stand out as the top options for this Mystics team. They are deep GPP plays for the most part.
CON Projected Starters: Jasmine Thomas, Courtney Williams, Shekinna Stricklen, Alyssa Thomas, Jonquel Jones
One of the top teams in the league, the Sun returned most of their core pieces. Jonquel Jones re-enters the starting lineup this season and we can expect fireworks from her. Jones was a revelation last season, and she’ll look to build on that. Her matchup today is a good one. Courtney Williams has a thing for the Mystics. She shows up every time she gets to play them and would be looking to continue her fine preseason form tonight. Jasmine Thomas is also in a good spot here tonight and has been in good form during the preseason. Alyssa Thomas can singlehandedly take over a game as we saw plenty of times last season. She has not had a good preseason, but this is money time and you know what you can get with her. I’m not a fan of Shekinna Stricklen, she barely plays starters minutes and she is extremely inconsistent. She is an MME kind of play, where you are hoping to catch her on one of her good games. Off the bench, Bria Holmes, Morgan Tuck, and Layshia Clarendon are all deep GPP options here tonight, especially if this game gets out of hand.
5-star plays: Jonquel Jones, Emma Meesseman, Courtney Williams
4-star plays: Jasmine Thomas, Alyssa Thomas, Kristi Toliver, Ariel Atkins
Deeper Value: Shatori Walker-Kimbrough
Chicago Sky @ Minnesota Lynx
CHI Projected Starters: Courtney Vandersloot, Allie Quigley, Diamond DeShields, Cheyenne Parker, Stefanie Dolson
The Sky have built on their roster from last year, adding help to their core. Courtney Vandersloot is the leader of this team and dictates play. She is a great option tonight in what should be a nice battle in Minnesota. Diamond DeShields showed up big time in every game against the Lynx last season, she’ll look to continue her fine form this season as well. Allie Quigley is one of the best shooters in the league. She always puts up points, her lack of peripheral stats is sometimes worrying, but you know you’ll get a solid floor with her and tremendous upside. I’m not a fan of bigs versus the Lynx and you can be sure I won’t be going near Stefanie Dolson who just can’t get it going against the Lynx. However, Cheyenne Parker is an interesting option tonight. She makes for a nice GPP option. Off the bench, Katie Lou Samuelson should get good run here. She is a rookie who had an excellent college career and a good preseason. Gabby Williams is a solid option off the bench for the Sky here as well, and should Stefanie Dolson run into foul trouble as she is wont to do, Williams could get some solid run.
MIN Projected Starters: Danielle Robinson, Odyssey Sims, Stephanie Talbot, Damaris Dantas, Sylvia Fowles
Sylvia Fowles is the stud on this team. She is one of the best players in the league and should feast against the Sky. The Sky just don’t have anyone to stop her tonight. Odyssey Sims is looking like the best pickup of the offseason behind Cambage of course. She has been excellent during the preseason and has slotted perfectly into the vacuum left by Maya Moore. She will have a field day here with the Sky. Danielle Robinson is a solid point guard who can rack up the assists in this matchup, making her a nice play here. Damaris Dantas has herself a nice matchup to exploit here tonight. She has some upside, but it’s hard to get a picture of just what her role will be on this team. Stephanie Talbot or Napheesa Collier could get the start here tonight. Talbot just joined the team and could still be getting in sync with the other players. Collier is a rookie who had an excellent college career and has immense upside. Don’t sleep on Lexie Brown either. She is an excellent ball handler who had an excellent preseason.
5-star plays: Sylvia Fowles, Odyssey Sims, Courtney Vandersloot
4-star plays: Diamond DeShields, Allie Quigley, Danielle Robinson
Deeper Value: Damaris Dantas, Napheesa Collier, Gabby Williams
GPP Sleeper: Cheyenne Parker, Lexie Brown
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