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Justin Carter's top daily fantasy WNBA lineup picks for 5/25/24. Expert WNBA DFS advice for DraftKings and FanDuel.
Huge day of WNBA action. The Liberty and Lynx get us going in the afternoon, but then we have a four-game main slate on Saturday night. So, apologies to New York and Minnesota, but y'all aren't going to get discussed here since the focus of this article is DFS.
Last night, the Indiana Fever finally ended their losing skid, earning rookie Caitlin Clark her first WNBA victory in the process. It was a really exciting game that went down to the wire, so hopefully you were tuned in. A second straight win is a big ask though, as the team faces the Aces on Saturday night.
In this article, I'll be providing you with some daily fantasy WNBA lineup picks for DraftKings and FanDuel. These lineup picks will range from elite players to mid-priced options and value plays. The slate locks on Saturday, May 25, 2024, at 8:00 p.m. EDT. Want to talk more about the WNBA? I'm always available on X and always down to discuss women's basketball: @juscarts.
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WNBA DFS Picks: Forward
Alyssa Thomas (Connecticut Sun) at CHI (DK: $12.0K, FD: $9.0K)
It's going to get old talking about Alyssa Thomas every day, isn't it? But the do-it-all forward for the Connecticut Sun does...well, she does it all, and it shows up in the stat line and thus makes her a top fantasy play, so I keep talking about her. It's a self-perpetuating cycle, isn't it?
Anyway, through four games AT is averaging 17.0 points, 10.5 rebounds, and 8.3 assists per game. She's the engine that fuels this Connecticut team. Up next for her is a meeting with the Chicago Sky, who have been one of the league's better teams when it comes to points allowed per game, but that number feels a little skewed by two games against the injury-riddled Dallas Wings. I just don't see Chicago having a player who can really go stop Thomas.
Ezi Magbegor (Seattle Storm) vs. WAS (DK: $9.4K, FD: $7.1K)
Were you worried that Nneka Ogwumike's return last game might cut down on Ezi Magbegor's production? Well, no need for that, as the only major change was that Magbegor's minutes fell from 31:54 to 28:33, which isn't huge. Other than that, she remained a huge piece of the Storm offense, scoring 14 points on 5-for-12 shooting while grabbing nine rebounds and blocking three shots. Through five games, Magbegor has multiple blocks five times.
Ezi Magbegor said “GET THAT OUTTA MY HOUSE” ❌ pic.twitter.com/LIH76t3OiE
— WNBA Got Game (@wnbagotgame) May 23, 2024
Now, she faces a Mystics team that won't have its best inside player, Shakira Austin, who is out for personal reasons on Saturday night. That'll make things even easier for Magbegor, as the Mystics likely won't have the physicality to slow her down.
Temi Fagbenle (Indiana Fever) at LV (DK: $5.5K, FD: $5.2K)
A funny thing's happened lately for Indiana, which is that backup big Temi Fagbenle is playing big minutes and producing some really good stat lines. Two games ago, her performance led to head coach Christie Sides playing her over Aliyah Boston for long stretches, and then last night it led to Sides playing her over NaLyssa Smith for most of the second half.
The 31-year-old forward is back in the WNBA for the first time since 2019 and is having a career year, averaging 9.0 points, 5.0 rebounds, 1.2 assists, 1.0 steals, and 1.0 blocks per contest. On Friday night, she had 17 points on 6-for-12 shooting to help Indiana win its first game of the year. Her energy should be big in this game against the Aces.
WNBA DFS Picks: Guard
Kahleah Copper (Phoenix Mercury) vs. DAL (DK: $10.2K, FD: $7.8K)
Kahleah Copper's been too good in her career to call 2024 a breakout campaign. This is a player who has made three All-Star teams with the Chicago Sky. But Copper's move to the Phoenix Mercury has ratcheted her game up a level. Through four games, Copper is averaging 28.5 points per game on 50.6% shooting. She's also shooting an absurd 46.7% from three on 7.5 attempts per game. Copper's on fire.
Kahleah Copper through four games:
28.5 points on 64.0 True Shooting -- 53% on 2s, 47% on 3s (7.5 attempts!).
She's been virtually unstoppable to start the year -- a testament to her talent *and* the positions that new head coach Nate Tibbetts has put her in.
🗣️ SOUND ON pic.twitter.com/ybRjZ6AoWj
— Nekias (Nuh-KY-us) Duncan (@NekiasNBA) May 24, 2024
On Thursday against Washington, Copper had 20 points, five rebounds, two assists, and one steal and made three three-pointers. Up next are the Dallas Wings, a team that's been solid defensively so far but is dealing with so many injuries to key players that you have to think the defense starts to fall apart pretty quickly.
Chennedy Carter (Chicago Sky) vs. CON (DK: $6.2K, FD: $4.3K)
Chennedy Carter has had a resurgent season for the Sky and could be in for a larger workload on Saturday if Diamond DeShields, who is listed as questionable with a foot injury, fails to suit up.
Carter, a former lottery pick for the Atlanta Dream, was out of the league last year, but she's carved out a role as a shooter off the Chicago bench. Despite playing just 15.7 minutes per night, Carter is averaging 9.0 field goal attempts per game with averages of 9.3 points, 4.0 rebounds, and 2.0 assists. If DeShields is out, we could see the team forced to go small with more minutes for Carter beside Marina Mabrey and Dana Evans.
Sevgi Uzun (Dallas Wings) at PHO (DK: $5.8K, FD: $4.8K)
One big question entering the season was who would start at point guard for the Dallas Wings. I don't think a single person predicted it would be Sevgi Uzun. I mean, I wrote a whole article breaking down the Wings injury situation and didn't even mention her name. She seemed like a player who just snuck onto the roster and wouldn't have much of a role.
🇹🇷 Sevgi Uzun'un, #WNBA'deki ikinci maçı & ikinci ilk 5'i!
9 Sayı - 1 Ribaund - 6 Asist - 2 Stl pic.twitter.com/sliWJlwEUx
— ʀᴏᴏᴋɪᴇ 🌿 (@CoachRookie) May 19, 2024
Instead, she's started all three of Dallas's games, playing 30.3 minutes per night. She's averaging 5.7 points, 5.7 assists, and 1.0 steals per contest so far. The Mercury will likely put Diana Taurasi on her defensively since Uzun is the least dangerous of the Wings guards, but that could just give Uzun a chance to showcase some of the scoring ability that she hasn't really been able to flex yet.
