Each day of the WNBA season, our team of fantasy and betting experts breaks down every game on the slate, making note of everything from injuries and lineup changes to recent trends and more.
All odds are provided by Caesars Sportsbook. Times are ET.
Here's what to look for during today's slate:
Washington Mystics at Connecticut Sun
1 p.m., Uncasville, Connecticut
Line: Sun (-6.5)
Money line: Sun (-285), Mystics (+228)
Total: 159.5 points
BPI Win Prediction: Sun (74.8%)
Questionable: None
Ruled Out: Elena Delle Donne, Kiara Smith
Fantasy Need to Know: The Sun host the Mystics, a pair of 13-win teams that are just a few seasons removed from playing each other in the 2019 WNBA Finals. The Sun have hit a bit of a bump in the road losing three of their last four games while the Mystics have just won two straight. The Mystics have averaged 89.5 points per game over their last two games which is well above their season average prior to that (78.7). However Elena Delle Donne will be out for this game which will impact the offense and player rotation for Washington. On the other side, the Sun offense has struggled over their last four games averaging 77.3 points, 10th in the league during that span.
With Delle Donne out due to load management, rookie Shakira Austin should get more playing time and more touches (available in 58.3% of leagues). When Delle Donne is out of the lineup Austin averages 8.4 PPG and 7.5 RPG which are both more than what she averages when Delle Donne is in the lineup. She has two double-doubles this season and the first one came without Delle Donne in the lineup and the other came when Delle Donne only scored 7 points. In both situations Austin was forced into a bigger role as a rebounder and scorer.
Another option would be to play Alysha Clark who is a starter for the team and the fourth-leading scorer for the Mystics (available in 54.6% of leagues). She will also take on more offensively with Delle Donne out, in the six games without her this season Clark has filled up the box score, averaging 7.2 PPG, 4.2 RPG, 2.2 APG and she hit a three-pointer in five of those six games.
As for the Connecticut Sun their top-five leading scorers are all rostered in at least 80% of leagues so there aren't many options to choose from there. Natisha Hiedeman is the best option on the team having started 15 games this season and averaging 8.3 PPG, 2.1 RPG, 3.1 APG and she's hit a team-high 29 three-pointers this season.
Best bet: Under 159.5
With the Sun in a scoring slump heading into this game and the Mystics without Delle Donne, I would say the best bet is the under on this game. As mentioned, the Sun have lost three of their last four and are only averaging 77.3 PPG during that span. And the Mystics won't have their leading scorer which could slow down their offense that has been on fire over the last two games. On top of that both times these two teams have matchup up earlier this year they hit the under and neither team cracked the 80-point mark. -- Jenni LaCroix
Seattle Storm at Atlanta Dream
3 p.m. College Park, Georgia
Line: Storm (-5.5)
Money line: Storm (-225), Dream (+185)
Total: 157.5 points
BPI Win Prediction: Storm (57.6%)
Questionable: Nia Coffey
Ruled Out: Mercedes Russell
Fantasy Need to Know: Seattle has found their footing heading into the final games before the All-Star weekend going 8-2 over their last 10 games after starting the season 5-5. The Dream on the other hand are heading in the opposite direction going 2-7 over their last nine games. Atlanta has struggled with injuries this season but the pieces may be coming back together with Tiffany Hayes making her season debut in their last game against the Liberty and Nia Coffey possibly coming back from her knee injury that kept her out for the last five games (status: day-to-day). This matchup will feature four 2022 All-Stars: Breanna Stewart, Sue Bird, Jewell Loyd and rookie guard Rhyne Howard.
The best pickup on the Atlanta Dream would be Tiffany Hayes (available in 32.9% of leagues). She's back from a knee injury and missed the first 20 games of the season so she hasn't been rostered by as many leagues. In her season debut against the Liberty on June 30th she dropped 21 points and 3 rebounds, 1 assist, 1 steal and went 4-6 from beyond the arc. And this isn't just a one-off performance for Hayes, last season she did a little of everything averaging 14.7 PPG, 3.2 RPG, 3.1 APG, 1.6 SPG, and she hit 34 3-pointers.
Atlanta has a deep bench and lots of players who contribute that aren't heavily rostered in many leagues. The Dream bench is averaging 25.1 PPG this season, most in the league. Aari McDonald usually comes off the bench and she is available in 53.5% of leagues. This season she's averaging 11.2 PPG, 2.5 RPG, 2.9 APG, and 1.8 SPG. The Dream also acquired AD Durr from the Liberty on June 8 and Durr has been making an impact right away, with three 20-point games and a 13.1 PPG, 2.1 RPG, and 2.3 APG average.
Seattle's Stewart, Bird, Loyd, and Ezi Magbegor are all rostered in 89% or more of leagues, but one starter who is pretty widely available is Gabby Williams (available in 72.6% of leagues). Over the last five games Williams has been filling up the box score more than usual averaging 11.0 PPG, 5.4 RPG, 2.6 APG, and 0.6 SPG. She's had three double-digit scoring games in her last five games and prior to that stretch she hadn't scored double-figures at all this season.
Best bet: Storm (-225)
I mentioned earlier the Storm has found their stride over the last two games and are 8-2 during that span which is tied with Chicago for the best record in the league since June 7. Seattle has also won seven straight games against Atlanta dating back to 2019 and they have won by an average margin of +15.0 PPG. The Storm are also 10-4 against teams with a losing record (based on current win percentage, not at time of game). The Dream also haven't been very good against teams that are .500 or better so far this season, they are 0-9 in those matchups tied with the Lynx for the worst such record in the league. -- LaCroix
New York Liberty at Los Angeles Sparks
6 p.m., Los Angeles
Line: Sparks (-4)
Money line: Sparks (-180), Liberty (+152)
Total: 162.5 points
BPI Win Prediction: Sparks (64.3%)
Questionable: Rebecca Allen
Ruled Out: Betnijah Laney, Sami Whitcomb, Brittney Sykes, Rae Burrell
Fantasy Need to Know: Sami Whitcomb will sit out Sunday's game for rest, leaving more time and opportunity for Marine Johannes (available in 82.2% of leagues). Johannes has already started the last five games, and has averaged 15.8 PPG, 4.0 APG, 4.0 3PG, 1.8 RPG and 0.5 SPG in 34.5 MPG in her last four.
Lexie Brown (available in 93.1% of leagues) started the last game with Brittney Sykes (COVID-19) out. Sykes will miss Sunday's game, as well. Brown has played well in two straight, averaging 15.0 PPG, 4.0 3PG, 2.5 RPG, 1.0 APG and 0.5 SPG in 27.5 MPG in her last two outings.
Best bet: Liberty +4
These two teams have the same record, but the Liberty have been playing slightly better over the last extended stretch. Both have won three of their last five games, but the Liberty are +8 overall in that stretch while the Sparks are -11. Similarly, the Liberty are 7-4 over their last 11, while the Sparks are 5-6. With two teams playing similarly, I tend to take the points in the matchup, particularly if the team getting points is the one that's been playing slightly better. -- Andre Snellings
Las Vegas Aces at Minnesota Lynx
7 p.m., Minneapolis
Line: Aces (-5.5)
Money line: Aces (-225), Lynx (+185)
Total: 174.5 points
BPI Win Prediction: Aces (52.8%)
Questionable: None
Ruled Out: None
Fantasy Need to Know: A'ja Wilson is headed toward the All-Star break on an MVP push, averaging well over 20-10 in her last eight games, notching 21.9 PPG, 11.0 RPG, 2.4 BPG, 1.6 APG, 1.5 SPG and 1.4 3PG during that stretch. She leads one of the most dominant starting fives in the WNBA, with all five players universally rostered, so start them with confidence and expect them to play to expectations.
Sylvia Fowles still seems to be working herself into playing form as they approach the break, averaging only 20.5 MPG in her four starts since returning from a knee injury. Moriah Jefferson (available in 54.3% of leagues) continues to be the engine behind the Lynx, averaging 16.7 PPG, 6.3 APG, 3.8 RPG, 2.2 3PG and 1.0 SPG in 30.7 MPG in her last six outings.
Best bet: Over 175.0
Sunday will mark the fourth meeting between these two teams this season. Their combined point totals have averaged 182.3 PPG in their previous matchups, and they've gone over 175.0 combined points in every game so far. There's no reason to expect that trend to change on Sunday. -- Snellings
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July 03, 2022 at 10:47PM
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WNBA fantasy and betting tips for Sunday - ESPN
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