WNBA DFS Breakdown: Tuesday

WNBA DFS Breakdown: Tuesday

Rotowire DFS Tools

LINEUP OPTIMIZER

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

DAILY LINEUPS

VALUE REPORT

TEAM TRENDS

OPPONENT AVERAGESRotowire DFS Tools

LINEUP OPTIMIZER

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

DAILY LINEUPS

VALUE REPORT

TEAM TRENDS

DraftKings and FanDuel Top Values (RotoWire Optimizer)

Top 5 FanDuel

PLAYERPOSTEAMOPPSALFPTSVAL
Damiris DantasFMIN@NY520032.076.2
Riquna WilliamsGLVA@SEA370021.435.8
Kayla McBrideGMIN@NY520029.135.6
Leilani MitchellGWASPHO470026.365.6
Aerial PowersFMIN@NY560030.75.5

Top 5 DraftKings

PLAYERPOSTEAMOPPSALFPTSVAL
Aerial PowersFMIN@NY370030.818.3
Erica McCallFWASPHO380018.34.8
Sylvia FowlesFMIN@NY820037.74.6
Stella JohnsonGWASPHO450019.524.3
Breanna StewartFSEALVA1100046.144.2

Minnesota Lynx at New York Liberty

Injuries

Note: All return dates are just estimates

Minnesota

NamePosInjuryStatusReturn
Natalie AchonwaCKneeGTD5/18/2021
Rennia DavisGFootOUT5/20/2021
Napheesa CollierFNot Injury RelatedOUT5/28/2021
Maya MooreFPersonalOUT3/1/2022

New York

NamePosInjuryStatusReturn
Leaonna OdomFAchillesGTD5/18/2021
Natasha HowardCNot Injury RelatedOUT5/21/2021
Nayo Raincock-EkunweFNot Injury RelatedOUT5/1/2022
Asia DurrGIllnessOUT5/1/2022
Han XuCNot Injury RelatedOUT5/1/2022
Marine JohannesGNot Injury RelatedOUT5/1/2022
Jocelyn WilloughbyFAchillesOUT5/1/2022

2021 Player Stats

Minnesota

PlayerMinPTSREBASTSTLBLKFG%3PA3P%FGAFTA
Aerial Powers3018630243.8250163
Kayla McBride3617620245.5250116
Crystal Dangerfield3317142050333.3161
Sylvia Fowles30111123241.700122
Damiris Dantas327740033.352090
Rachel Banham9300005025020
Natalie Achonwa132310000032
Jessica Shepard50100000000
Bridget Carleton120100002030

New York

PlayerMinPTSREBASTSTLBLKFG%3PA3P%FGAFTA
Betnijah Laney35.5253.530.5048.665017.56.5
Sabrina Ionescu3418.55.57.50.503765013.56
Michaela Onyenwere2714.550.51052.64509.53
Kylee Shook2765210.540107.50
Sami Whitcomb255.55.531133.34.533.360
Jazmine Jones1551.5111501.566.740
Reshanda Gray123.52.500.5060002.51
DiDi Richards132201.50500020
Rebecca Allen153520016.752060
Joyner Holmes50010000000
Layshia Clarendon30000000000

The Skinny

The Liberty emerged from their weekend two-game set versus the Fever with a clean 2-0 record thanks to Betnijah Lany, Sabrina Ionescu and surprisingly strong contributions from rookie Michaela Onyenwere right out of the gate. The trio combined to account for a large portion of New York's scoring and Ionescu started the season strong with a double-double. Even so, the weekend success draws minimal fantasy value for the Liberty against a tough Lynx defense. The one area where Minnesota struggled a bit was on the boards with Napheesa Collier still unavailable and Natalie Achonwa now questionable with a knee injury. Unfortunately, that's also the area where New York is at its weakest with Natasha Howard still unavailable. The return of Kiah Stokes should ease the burden slightly, as she provides a bit more experience and depth to a thin Liberty frontcourt. Her return likely draws minutes away from Kylee Shook on Tuesday. 

Minnesota came up short in its season-opening bid but will aim to bounce back against a Liberty team that started out well thanks, in part, to playing another expected bottom-of-the-standings squad in the Fever. That's why Minnesota sports the highest spread on the slate as 4.5-point favorites. Even so, the two clubs are projected for the two lowest-scoring outputs on the slate. New York struggled mightily to contain Indiana on the glass in the first two contests, so that is an area where the Lynx should be able to exploit them to an extent. the two primary threats in that capacity are Syliva Fowles and Damiris Dantas, who put up 11 and seven rebounds respectively in the opener. The two appear above in the top five value plays along with Aerial Powers, who appears to have been overlooked again and figures to be a must-play on DraftKings.

Phoenix Mercury at Washington Mystics

Injuries

Note: All return dates are just estimates

Phoenix

NamePosInjuryStatusReturn
Kia VaughnCNot Injury RelatedOUT5/21/2021
Bria HartleyGKneeOUT6/1/2021

Washington

NamePosInjuryStatusReturn
Elena Delle DonneFBackOUT5/21/2021
Myisha Hines-AllenFSuspensionOUT5/21/2021
Klara LundquistGSuspensionOUT5/1/2022
Alysha ClarkFFootOUT5/1/2022

2021 Player Stats

Phoenix

PlayerMinPTSREBASTSTLBLKFG%3PA3P%FGAFTA
Skylar Diggins-Smith35.51824.510.544.85.527.314.55
Diana Taurasi30.516.56501.5327.533.312.57
Brittney Griner3716.58203.5520012.54
Brianna Turner35.510.592.512.566.7007.51
Kia Nurse29.58511.5028.6412.510.53.5
Megan Walker168121042.952072
Shey Peddy14322.50.505025020
Cierra Burdick51110.50500010
Alanna Smith2.5010.51000.5010
Sophie Cunningham50000001020

Washington

PlayerMinPTSREBASTSTLBLKFG%3PA3P%FGAFTA
Tina Charles3214600031.3333.3165
Theresa Plaisance199712233.3812.5120
Erica McCall249910042.91074
Natasha Cloud30873402040104
Kiara Leslie156201033.31034
Ariel Atkins215612128.6333.370
Stella Johnson123110120333.350
Shavonte Zellous162200001032
Sydney Wiese40000001010
Leilani Mitchell220131005060
Jillian Alleyne60300000020

The Skinny

The Mercury split their two-game set over the opening weekend, starting things off with a two-point win thanks to a buzzer beater by Diana Taurasi before falling to the Sun in the second game of the campaign. They head to Washington with a great chance at picking up win No. 2 versus a Mystics squad still down two key pieces in Elena Delle Donne and Myisha Hines-Allen. Beyond Tina Charles, the Mystics don't have a ton to turn to in the frontcourt, which resulted in Theresa Plaisance playing 19 minutes in the opener after averaging just under seven per game last season. Surprisingly, rebounding still went the way of Washington in the opener, so it may not be as big of an advantage in that respect for the Mercury. The Mystics did have some struggles staying with the opposition on defense, resulting in 21 free-throw attempts, and allowed the Sky to shoot 47.1 percent from beyond the arc. Those two areas bode well or Diana Taurasi, who led the team in both categories in the opener.

Washington sports two appearances among the top value plays on tonight's slate, with Erica McCall checking in second on the DraftKings board following her nine-point, nine-rebound effort against the Sky. She seems likely to play considerable minutes off the bench again Tuesday but should see her minutes wane once the regulars are back in the frontcourt. Leilani Mitchell also finds her way onto the value board and figures to be the more secure play of the two in terms of workload. She started the season out struggling from the field, missing all six of her shots, including five from deep. She should possess a much more respectable output on that front in general and figures to see a larger workload than the 22 she played in the opener if that occurs Tuesday. Tina Charles posted a solid opener but figures to have her hands full with Griner down low.

Las Vegas Aces at Seattle Storm

Injuries

Note: All return dates are just estimates

Las Vegas

NamePosInjuryStatusReturn
Angel McCoughtryFKneeOUT5/1/2022
Iliana RupertCNot Injury RelatedOUT5/1/2022

Seattle

NamePosInjuryStatusReturn
Epiphanny PrinceGSuspensionOUT5/20/2021
Mercedes RussellFSuspensionOUT5/20/2021

2021 Player Stats

Las Vegas

PlayerMinPTSREBASTSTLBLKFG%3PA3P%FGAFTA
A'ja Wilson3324540156.31100165
Liz Cambage1916500158.300123
Jackie Young311234114020150
Kelsey Plum2611040040333.3102
Chelsea Gray317230037.525080
Dearica Hamby237922033.31092
Ji-Su Park1344100500040
Riquna Williams232541116.73060

Seattle

PlayerMinPTSREBASTSTLBLKFG%3PA3P%FGAFTA
Breanna Stewart36281310147.4837.5198
Jewell Loyd3522461056.3633.3162
Candice Dupree3012501237.500160
Sue Bird2611580057.165070
Eziyoda Magbegor147401275110040
Jordin Canada1663600500045
Stephanie Talbot17641005045040
Katie Lou Samuelson235611166.725030
Kiana Williams30000000000

The Skinny

In a rematch of the opener, the Aces and Storm once again go at it after a surprisingly one-sided opener that was pretty much over after the third quarter. Vegas clearly doesn't believe that outcome will repeat considering the Storm are about one-point favorites to open the season 2-0 with another win Tuesday. Breanna Stewart started the season strong with a 28-point, 13-board effort that included a barrage of three-point attempts (eight) and field-goal attempts (19). She matched eight three-point attempts just four times a season ago (three against the Aces) and compiled at least 19 shots attempts only seven times over 26 games (including the playoffs). Look for her to pull the trigger again early and often from deep Tuesday, though her success on the glass versus Las Vegas last season fluctuated wildly so a repeat of the opener shouldn't be counted on in that capacity. Jewell Loyd, Candice Dupree and Sue Bird should once again be the other featured players in the rotation, with the final spot on the floor changing hands frequently.

Despite an overall tough opener for the Aces, A'ja Wilson managed to collect 24 points, five boards and four assists and Liz Cambage posted 16 and four for herself. The pair of stars will need the supporting cast to show up a bit more in the rematch if the Aces are to flip the script. Jackie Young's shot volume (14) suggests she could be in line for higher output in Round 2 if she can manage to knock down a few more, while the same can be said for Dupree on the side for the Storm. Riquna Williams started and logged 23 minutes in the opener, so she also has the playing time to draw some added value Tuesday, checking in second on the FanDuel value board.

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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