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Justin Carter's top daily fantasy WNBA lineup picks for 6/22/23. Expert WNBA DFS advice for DraftKings, FanDuel.
We've got three WNBA games on the docket tonight, with two games to get us started at 8:00 p.m. ET as the Mystics visit the Sky and the Sun visit the Lynx. After that, we get the Fever and the Storm facing off to close the action.
If you're looking for WNBA daily fantasy picks and some betting advice this season, then you're in the right place. I'll be here providing picks for any slate with two or more games, as well as adding a little betting advice.
In this article, I'll be providing you with some daily fantasy WNBA lineup picks for DraftKings, FanDuel. These lineup picks will range from elite players to mid-priced options and value plays. The slates lock on 6/22/2023 at 8:00 p.m. ET. Want to talk more about the WNBA? I'm always available on Twitter and always down to discuss women's basketball: @juscarts.
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WNBA DFS Picks: Forward
Alyssa Thomas (Connecticut Sun) - @ MIN - DK: $11,500, FD: $9,400
With Brionna Jones out, Thomas is set to take on an even larger role for this Sun team. Considering she's already an MVP candidate, that "larger role" probably can't grow too much, but there should still be enough of a boost to make Thomas the top forward play on this slate.
Thomas has played 40 minutes (or more, because of an overtime game) in three consecutive outings, and last time out she finished with a triple-double, scoring 13 points on 6-for-12 shooting with 15 rebounds and 12 assists. It marked the third time in the last five games she has double-digit assists, and Jones' absence increases her rebounding ceiling as well.
Nikolina Milic (Minnesota Lynx) - vs. CON - DK: $5,500, FD: $4,400
I thought that until Jessica Shepard returned, Milic and Dorka Juhasz would split minutes, with the split going more in Juhasz's favor. That's why I recommended Juhasz last game. But something changed in that contest: Milic firmly established herself as the Shepard replacement. So, with Shepard set to miss her fourth game in a row due to illness, we turn to Milic as one of today's best value plays.
Last game, Milic played a season-high 28 minutes. She was 4-for-10 from the field with nine points, five rebounds, and four assists. She's averaged 8.5 points and 4.0 rebounds per game over the past four games.
Olivia Nelson-Ododa (Connecticut Sun) - @ MIN - DK: $3,700, FD: $3,400
Connecticut hasn't really had much use for depth at the five. Brionna Jones has averaged 31.4 minutes per game this season, leaving Nelson-Ododa just picking up some scraps.
But Jones went down with a non-contact lower leg injury last game. We haven't heard an update on the details of the injury and how long she'll be out, but what we do know is that Jones has already been ruled out for this game, which likely shifts Nelson-Ododa into the starting center role.
While she's only averaging 2.5 points and 1.6 rebounds per game, a jump from 8.5 minutes per game to the 30-plus she'll likely play on Thursday can do a lot for a player's stats. I wouldn't go too heavy on ONO because we don't know how many touches she'll get, but she has a chance to be a huge value.
WNBA DFS Picks: Guard
Jewell Loyd (Seattle Storm) - vs. IND - DK: $10,900, FD: $8,600
After a temporary dip in her scoring that saw the league leader in points per game score under 20 points for three straight games, Jewell Loyd has bounced back with back-to-back games scoring at least 30 points.
In those two games, Loyd's made a combined 13 three-pointers and has taken at least 20 field goal attempts in both contests. Last time out, she had 33 points on 8-for-20 shooting to go along with two rebounds, four assists, and three steals. The Storm's lack of scoring threats means that this team relies more heavily on Loyd than any other team relies on any particular player, something that makes her the top guard play on this—or, usually, any—slate.
Marina Mabrey (Chicago Sky) - vs. WAS - DK: $9,700, FD: $7,000
Mabrey has been Chicago's top scorer this season, with her 17.5 points per game beating out Kahleah Copper's 16.4. She also leads the team in threes made per game with 2.0.
Last time out against the Mystics, Mabrey was uncharacteristically off from three, shooting just 1-for-7 from deep. To put that in perspective, she was 9-for-16 in the previous two games.
But even with the poor shooting, she still scored 11 points, plus she added three rebounds, three assists, and one block. A bad night for Mabrey was still a relatively solid night. Based on her recent scoring numbers—20 plus points in three of the last five games—Mabrey should be a good bet to bounce back tonight.
Brittney Sykes (Washington Mystics) - @ CHI - DK: $8,300, FD: $6,500
Sykes has posted two really good stat lines in a row. One of those came against this same Chicago team that she faces on Thursday night, as she scored 16 points on 6-for-8 shooting with six rebounds, four assists, and three steals in 27 minutes.
There's a lot of good stuff about Sykes, but her steal numbers are maybe the most impressive. She's recorded multiple steals in five of the last six games, including five of them in 19 minutes against the Mercury a couple of games ago. The Sky allow the fourth-most steals per game.
