WNBA DFS Breakdown: Thursday

WNBA DFS Breakdown: Thursday

Rotowire DFS Tools

LINEUP OPTIMIZER

DAILY MATCHUPS  (Vegas Odds, Team Efficiency, Pace, Opposing Stats)

DAILY LINEUPS

VALUE REPORT

TEAM TRENDS

OPPONENT AVERAGES

DraftKings and FanDuel Price Differences

Top 5 FanDuel

NameDK Price% of budgetFD Price% of budgetDifference
Azura Stevens970019.4%590014.8%4.7%
Breanna Stewart1180023.6%780019.5%4.1%
Jewell Loyd810016.2%500012.5%3.7%
Arike Ogunbowale950019.0%620015.5%3.5%
Brittney Griner1070021.4%720018.0%3.4%

Top 5 DraftKings

NameDK Price% of budgetFD Price% of budgetDifference
Nia Coffey37007.4%38009.5%-2.1%
Glory Johnson46009.2%450011.3%-2.1%
Ruthy Hebard36007.2%37009.3%-2.1%
Morgan Tuck35007.0%36009.0%-2.0%
Allisha Gray530010.6%500012.5%-1.9%

Seattle Storm vs Atlanta Dream

Injuries

Note: All return dates are just estimates

Seattle

NamePosInjuryStatusReturn
Epiphanny PrinceGPersonalOUT8/8/2020
Sue BirdGKneeOUT8/8/2020
Kitija LaksaGNot Injury RelatedOUT1/1/2021

Atlanta

NamePosInjuryStatusReturn
Kalani BrownCIllnessOUT8/8/2020
Mikayla PivecGNot Injury RelatedOUT1/1/2021
Tiffany HayesGPersonalOUT2/1/2021
Renee MontgomeryGPersonalOUT2/1/2021
Maite CazorlaGPersonalOUT4/1/2021

 

2020 Player Stats

Seattle

PlayerTeamPosGMinPTSREBASTSTLBLK3PM
Breanna StewartSeaF530.218.88.43.22.41.82.2
Jewell LoydSeaG525.211.41.431.20.42
Jordin CanadaSeaG524.610.63.43.81.400
Alysha ClarkSeaF527.87.83.43.220.60.8
Sami WhitcombSeaG514.47.62.41.20.201.2
Ezi MagbegorSeaC513.67.22.60.20.40.60
Sue BirdSeaG32110.723.30.30.32.7
Natasha HowardSeaF5175.24.4010.40.2
Mercedes RussellSeaC515.244.20.80.20.40
Epiphanny PrinceSeaG411.531.30.80.300.5
Morgan TuckSeaF47.81.30.50.50.500
Crystal LanghorneSeaF21022.50.5000

Atlanta

PlayerTeamPosGMinPTSREBASTSTLBLK3PM
Chennedy CarterAtlG526.617.42.440.80.40.6
Betnijah LaneyAtlG533.617.45.242.801
Elizabeth WilliamsAtlF531.414.25.81.20.80.60
Monique BillingsAtlF528.69.89.60.81.20.80
Shekinna StricklenAtlG523.891.80.40.401.8
Courtney WilliamsAtlG3208.75.32.7000
Blake DietrickAtlG521.252.230.600.6
Jaylyn AgnewAtlF4820.80000.5
Glory JohnsonAtlF311.32.3200.700
Alexis JonesAtlG211.51.500100.5
Brittany BrewerAtlF210.510.50120
Erica McCallAtlF15020100

The Skinny

The first matchup of the day features a Seattle team that sits atop the west standings versus a Dream squad who owns a 2-3 record, with wins over just the 2-3 Wings and the 0-5 Liberty. As a result, the game features the biggest line of the day at 11, with the Dream expected to tally the lowest scoring output on the slate. The big question here is if the Storm's starters will play the whole game. This is the contest with the biggest blowout potential, which could result in emptying benches if the contest does become lopsided. Jordin Canada has thrived in the absence of Sue Bird over the last two games, amassing a combined 30 points and nine assists. Her position at point could pay dividends against a Dream team allowing a slate-high 18.6 assists per contest. Neither team guards the three-point line particularly well, which could boost the snipers for both teams in Breanna Stewart (2.2 3PM per game) and Jewell Loyd (2.0) for Seattle and Shekinna Stricklen (1.8) for Atlanta. Stewart also sits in a decent spot to keep her blocks at a high rate, as Atlanta sees four of its shots per contest swatted away by the opposition. there may not be much to love from the Dream aspect of this matchup against the league's most efficient defense, so it may be best to steer clear.

Dallas Wings vs Connecticut Sun

Injuries

Note: All return dates are just estimates

Dallas

NamePosInjuryStatusReturn
Luisa GeiselsoderCPersonalOUT5/1/2021
Imani McGee-StaffordCPersonalSUSP5/1/2022

Connecticut

NamePosInjuryStatusReturn
Briann JanuaryGIllnessGTD8/6/2020
Jacki GemelosGKneeGTD8/6/2020
Jonquel JonesFPersonalOUT2/1/2021

 

2020 Player Stats

Dallas

PlayerTeamPosGMinPTSREBASTSTLBLK3PM
Arike OgunbowaleDalG531.4201.62.21.201.4
Satou SaballyDalF529.213.27.221.20.80.4
Allisha GrayDalG514.892.60.80.60.21.2
Kayla ThorntonDalF524.27.64.60.41.401.6
Tyasha HarrisDalG518.870.83.60.601
Moriah JeffersonDalG518.2722.410.20.2
Katie Lou SamuelsonDalG516.85.62.40.40.80.41.2
Astou NdourDalC514.24.83.20.6010.8
Isabelle HarrisonDalC513.643.410.80.20
Bella AlarieDalF515.63.240.611.60
Marina MabreyDalG34.31100.300.3
Megan GustafsonDalF221.50.50000

Connecticut

PlayerTeamPosGMinPTSREBASTSTLBLK3PM
DeWanna BonnerConG536238.43.820.42.2
Alyssa ThomasConF535.815.211.44.22.200
Brionna JonesConC527.6114.61.220.80.2
Jasmine ThomasConG530.88.82.43.41.201
Natisha HiedemanConG518.64.82.81.40.400.6
Bria HolmesConG521.24.21.81.60.800.4
Kaleena Mosqueda-LewisConF516.242.40.600.20.8
Jacki GemelosConG36.730.700.301
Kaila CharlesConG45.31.5100.50.80
Theresa PlaisanceConF2720000.50
Beatrice MompremierConF43.50.810.3000

The Skinny

While the Wings' pace early in the season was faster than expected, they have slowed things down of late, as expected and sit ninth in the league in the category. Connecticut isn't much ahead, ranking eighth. Fortunately (for DFS purposes, that is) neither team is too keen on playing stout defense. The pair both rank in the bottom half of the league in the defensive efficiency, which salvages the games 159.0 line as second on the slate. Still, the two clubs rank fourth and fifth for expected scoring output (81.25 for Connecticut and 77.75 for Dallas) on the night. In terms of Dallas, they are typically one-and-done on the offensive end of the floor, surrendering a league-high 30 defensive boards per contest while sporting a slate-worst 45 percent rebound percentage. That should bode well for Alyssa Thomas, who clears the defensive glass a team-best 9.4 times per contest. DeWanna Bonner also figures to factor into that category, featuring 6.6 per game. Pick-pockets don't typically fare well against Dallas, which sports a league-low 5.2 steals allowed per game. They also tend to take advantage of opposing players who struggle to hang on to the ball, causing 16.0 turnovers per game. That could work slightly against players like Thomas, Bonner, Brionna Jones and Jasmine Thomas, who all average 2.4 or more turnovers per game.

Connecticut typically obliges as far as turnovers go, giving it away via steal a slate-high 9.6 times per game. That could work in the favor of Kayla Thornton, Arike Ogunbowale and Satou Sabally, who all average north of a steal per contest. The Sun have also had trouble getting shots off, seeing a slate-high 4.6 shots blocked per contest. Bella Alarie has thrived in that particular category and is coming off a career-high (albeit a short career thus far) four blocks against Chicago. She could be in line for another strong contest Thursday in that regard as she aims to extend her streak to five straight with at least one block.

Phoenix Mercury vs Chicago Sky

Injuries

Note: All return dates are just estimates

Phoenix

NamePosInjuryStatusReturn
Bria HartleyGFootGTD8/6/2020
Jessica BrelandFPersonalOUT1/1/2021
Yvonne TurnerGKneeOUT5/1/2021

Chicago

NamePosInjuryStatusReturn
Stefanie DolsonCAnkleOUT8/8/2020
Kiah GillespieFNot Injury RelatedOUT1/1/2021
Jamierra FaulknerGKneeOUT5/1/2021
Jantel LavenderCFootOUT5/1/2021

2020 Player Stats

Phoenix

PlayerTeamPosGMinPTSREBASTSTLBLK3PM
Bria HartleyPhoG52618.2441.402.6
Brittney GrinerPhoC530.816.66.82.601.60
Diana TaurasiPhoG527.616.42.861.80.41.8
Skylar Diggins-SmithPhoG527.6142.24.20.611.8
Brianna TurnerPhoF521.4871.81.20.80
Alanna SmithPhoF514.264.81.60.20.40.6
Sophie CunninghamPhoG518.6510.40.60.40.4
Kia VaughnPhoC513.63.63.40.40.60.20
Shatori Walker-KimbroughPhoG49.83.50.30.50.300.5
Nia CoffeyPhoF512.60.420.60.40.20

Chicago

PlayerTeamPosGMinPTSREBASTSTLBLK3PM
Azura StevensChiF528.414.26.61.411.62
Kahleah CopperChiG526.6144.21.60.401
Cheyenne ParkerChiF528.813.66.61.61.60.20.6
Allie QuigleyChiG525.212.43.22.60.60.22
Courtney VanderslootChiG531.411.44.28.610.21.6
Gabby WilliamsChiF524.410.65.22.61.40.22
Diamond DeShieldsChiG520.66.81.831.40.20
Ruthy HebardChiF58.82.430.2000
Stefanie DolsonChiC124844121
Stella JohnsonChiG11010000
Sydney ColsonChiG15000000

The Skinny

We have now arrived at the stop for the expected best source of DFS scoring on the slate. The two teams both sit in the top six of the pace metrics, with the Mercury checking in first and Sky in sixth, while the pair sport enough efficiency on offense to result in the two highest expected scoring outputs on the slate. Phoenix tends to send it's opponents to the line at a fairly high clip, potentially landing Cheyenne Parker (4.2 free-throw attempts per game) in a position for a solid night on the offensive end of the floor. There is no real advantage in terms of the glass efficiency for the two, so neither side gets a boost in that regard. Chicago, however, does send the ball to the opposing team at a fairly high clip, with opponents racking up 9.4 steals per game. Diana Taurasi (1.8 steals per game) tends to be active in the passing lanes and could be among the primary beneficiaries in that regard, along with Brianna Turner. Bria Hartley is considered a question mark for the contest, so it may result in bigger scoring nights for Taurasi, Brittney Griner and Skylar Diggins-Smith if the team's leading scorer is unable to take the floor.

The author(s) of this article may play in daily fantasy contests including – but not limited to – games that they have provided recommendations or advice on in this article. In the course of playing in these games using their personal accounts, it's possible that they will use players in their lineups or other strategies that differ from the recommendations they have provided above. The recommendations in this article do not necessarily reflect the views of RotoWire. Chris Benzine plays in daily fantasy contests using the following accounts: FanDuel: Crispy272001, DraftKings: Crispy27.
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ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Chris Benzine
Chris is the college football editor and the Kansas City Chiefs beat writer. He's a graduate of the University of Wisconsin-Madison.
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