Best WNBA DFS Picks and Lineup Strategy for May 21
After a light start to the week, Thursday's three-game slate is the second such slate in a streak of five consecutive three-game slates between Wednesday and Sunday. The matchup between the Valkyries and Liberty is a must-watch game, especially if Sabrina Ionescu (foot) and Satou Sabally (illness) are cleared to play. Despite shorthanded frontcourts, the matchup between the Tempo and Lynx features plenty of talented guards, while the Sparks and Mercury also feature plenty of talent and are expected to engage in the closest matchup of the night.
WNBA Schedule Today
- Golden State Valkyries at New York Liberty
- Toronto Tempo at Minnesota Lynx
- Los Angeles Sparks at Phoenix Mercury
RotoWire WNBA DFS Tools
Daily Matchups (Vegas Odds, Team Efficiency, Pace, Opposing Stats)
Golden State Valkyries 
at New York Liberty 
Line: Liberty -7.0
O/U: 169.5
Injury Updates and Impact on WNBA DFS Lineups - Valkyries vs. Liberty
Note: All return dates are just estimates
Golden State
| Name | Pos | Injury | Status | Return |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cecilia Zandalasini | G | Concussion | OUT | 5/22/2026 |
| Juste Jocyte | G | Not Injury Related | OUT | 5/22/2026 |
| Iliana Rupert | C | Not Injury Related | OFS | 5/1/2027 |
New York
| Name | Pos | Injury | Status | Return |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sabrina Ionescu | G | Foot | GTD (Questionable) | 5/21/2026 |
| Satou Sabally | F | Illness | GTD (Questionable) | 5/21/2026 |
| Leonie Fiebich | F | Not Injury Related | OUT | 5/24/2026 |
| Raquel Carrera | C | Not Injury Related | OUT | 5/24/2026 |
| Betnijah Laney-Hamilton | G | Personal | OUT | 5/24/2026 |
| Marine Fauthoux | G | Knee | OUT | 6/3/2026 |
| Seehia Ridard | F | Personal | OFS | 5/1/2027 |
| Annika Soltau | F | Personal | OFS | 5/1/2027 |
| Manuela Puoch | F | Not Injury Related | OFS | 5/1/2027 |
Team Previews and DFS Implications for Valkyries vs. Liberty
The Valkyries and Liberty have been two of the strongest teams in the league early in the season, and each club could get a boost Thursday, as Tiffany Hayes isn't on the injury report for Golden State, while Sabrina Ionescu (foot) and Satou Sabally (illness) are game-time decisions.
While it's not yet clear whether Hayes will face any limitations following her two-game absence due to a finger injury, she's one of my favorite values on FanDuel with a $3,100 salary. Even if she's limited, she should have plenty of opportunities to exceed expectations at that salary, while her $7,900 salary on DraftKings that ranks third on the team is much riskier. One of my favorite Golden State values on DraftKings is Kiah Stokes with a $4,000 salary. The Valkyries' frontcourt has been somewhat inconsistent in terms of usage between Stokes and Janelle Salaun recently, but Stokes' salary on DraftKings is reasonable enough to be a fairly safe pick.
While Ionescu and Sabally returning would help the Liberty significantly as a team, their statuses as game-time decisions for Thursday's matchup creates risk for DFS managers. Both players have high-tier salaries on DraftKings, while Sabally's $5,800 salary on FanDuel is a bit more in the middle of the pack. Marine Johannes and Pauline Astier would be decent DFS values on both platforms if Ionescu and Sabally are unavailable, but I'd probably fade most of the Liberty's roster if Ionescu and/or Sabally suit up, as it's not yet clear how the workload could be distributed.
Toronto Tempo 
at Minnesota Lynx 
Line: Lynx -6.5
O/U: 172.5
Injury Updates and Impact on WNBA DFS Lineups - Tempo vs. Lynx
Note: All return dates are just estimates
Toronto
| Name | Pos | Injury | Status | Return |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nyara Sabally | F | Neck | OUT | 5/23/2026 |
| Temi Fagbenle | F | Shoulder | OUT | 5/23/2026 |
| Isabelle Harrison | F | Hand | OUT | 5/23/2026 |
| Julie Allemand | G | Hip | OUT | 5/23/2026 |
| Maria Kliundikova | C | Not Injury Related | OFS | 5/1/2027 |
| Yvonne Ejim | F | Personal | OFS | 5/1/2027 |
| Adja Kane | C | Not Injury Related | OFS | 5/1/2027 |
| Saffron Shiels | F | Not Injury Related | OFS | 5/1/2027 |
| Charlise Dunn | F | Not Injury Related | OFS | 5/1/2027 |
Minnesota
| Dorka Juhasz | F | Foot | OUT | 5/23/2026 |
| Napheesa Collier | F | Ankle | OUT | 6/6/2026 |
| Emma Cechova | F | Knee | OFS | 5/1/2027 |
Team Previews and DFS Implications for Tempo vs. Lynx
Marina Mabrey and Brittney Sykes have the Tempo's highest salaries on both platforms. On DraftKings, Sykes has the second-highest salary at $9,300, and I like her value more than Mabrey's potential due to Sykes' recent dominance, including three consecutive games with at least 50 DraftKings fantasy points. Both players have decent value on FanDuel, but I view Mabrey's $6,700 salary more favorably than Sykes' $8,300, as the discount would give DFS managers flexibility elsewhere. Among players with mid-range salaries, I like Kiki Rice and Laura Juskaite, as they've consistently outperformed their salaries in recent matchups.
Olivia Miles has the highest DFS salary for the Lynx on both platforms, but I prefer some of the team's players slightly down the board. On FanDuel, Courtney Williams, Kayla McBride, Natasha Howard and Nia Coffey are all intriguing options at their current salaries. Coffey is coming off a lackluster performance against Chicago on Sunday, but her $4,600 salary is the lowest of that group. Coffey is among my favorite Lynx options on DraftKings with a $5,700 salary, while Natasha Howard is also intriguing at $8,200.
Los Angeles Sparks 
at Phoenix Mercury 
Line: Mercury -3.0
O/U: 177.5
Injury Updates and Impact on WNBA DFS Lineups - Sparks vs. Mercury
Note: All return dates are just estimates
Los Angeles
| Name | Pos | Injury | Status | Return |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sania Feagin | F | Leg | OUT | 5/23/2026 |
Phoenix
| Name | Pos | Injury | Status | Return |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Monique Akoa Makani | G | Not Injury Related | OUT | 5/24/2026 |
| Sami Whitcomb | G | Knee | OUT | 6/17/2026 |
| Kathryn Westbeld | F | Knee | OFS | 5/1/2027 |
| Ines Pitarch-Granel | F | Not Injury Related | OFS | 5/1/2027 |
| Eszter Ratkai | G | Not Injury Related | OFS | 5/1/2027 |
Team Previews and DFS Implications for Sparks vs. Mercury
The Sparks will get a boost during Thursday's matchup since Ariel Atkins has been cleared to return from a two-game absence due to a concussion. Her $7,700 salary on DraftKings feels somewhat high during her first game back, but I like her value at $3,900 on FanDuel. I'm not heavily targeting any of the players who have salaries above $10,000 on DraftKings (Kelsey Plum, Nneka Ogwumike and Dearica Hamby), but I like Cameron Brink's value at $3,900. I also like her value at $4,200 on FanDuel. Brink's early-season bench role has led to deflated DFS salaries, but she's delivered value for DFS managers. Elsewhere on FanDuel, Erica Wheeler should provide decent value, while Ariel Atkins is one of my favorite plays on the slate at $3,900. Even if Atkins faces some limitations during her first game back, her salary is low enough to provide some leeway in case she's brought back into action slowly.
The Mercury have plenty of players with intriguing value on FanDuel, including at the top of the salary leaderboard. Alyssa Thomas' $7,900 salary is the highest on the team but falls at third on the entire slate, and she's one of my favorite values among Thursday's three matchups. Kahleah Copper ($5,400) and DeWanna Bonner ($5,300) are also relatively intriguing, and Natasha Mack is a tremendous value at $4,900, as she's recorded at least 28.5 FanDuel fantasy points in four of her five regular-season appearances this year. Mack is also an appealing option on DraftKings at $5,800, while Jovana Nogic is also intriguing at $4,700.
Top WNBA DFS Picks: Key Players to Watch
FanDuel
- Alyssa Thomas ($7,900)
- Marina Mabrey ($6,700)
- Natasha Howard ($6,000)
Among the top-tier DFS on FanDuel for Thursday's slate, Thomas is one of my favorite values since she would have provided at least 4x value in four of her five appearances to begin the 2026 campaign. Mabrey had a pair of lackluster performances over the weekend, but she bounced back with a season-high 30 points on the road against Phoenix on Tuesday. Howard has posted at least 40 FanDuel fantasy points in her last two appearances and should have ample opportunities to maintain her production against a depleted Tempo frontcourt.
Unlocking Value: WNBA DFS Sleeper Picks
- Natasha Mack ($4,900)
- Ariel Atkins ($3,900)
- Tiffany Hayes ($3,100)
DraftKings
- Brittney Sykes ($9,400)
- Natasha Mack ($5,800)
- Nia Coffey ($5,700)
Sykes has logged at least 50 DraftKings fantasy points in each of her last three appearances, making her a strong value for Thursday, especially since her DFS salary falls under the $10,000 mark. There's plenty of mid-range salary value to be found on Thursday's slate, including Mack, who would have provided over 5x value in four of her five regular-season appearances this year at her current salary. Coffey is intriguing on both platforms and has the potential to bounce back after she had limited production against Chciago on Sunday.
Unlocking Value: WNBA DFS Sleeper Picks
- Kiah Stokes ($4,000)
- Cameron Brink ($3,900)
- Laura Juskaite ($3,700)
