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Justin Carter's top daily fantasy WNBA lineup picks for 8/22/23. Expert WNBA DFS advice for DraftKings and FanDuel.
We've got a busy Tuesday night in the WNBA, with four games on the docket. Among the key games to watch are a meeting between the Sun and Mystics, as well as a Wings and Lynx game later in the night.
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.
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 slates lock on 8/22/2023 at 7:00 PM 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
A'ja Wilson (Las Vegas Aces) @ ATL (DK: $11,800, FD: $9,400)
Wilson scored 25 points on 10-for-21 shooting last time out against the Sparks, pulling down nine rebounds and adding one block and three steals. It was the fifth time in the past six games that Wilson had scored at least 20 points and the third time in the last five that she had at least 20 field goal attempts.
The defending MVP has positioned herself well to win another MVP award this season, averaging 20.9 points and 9.4 rebounds per game. She's shooting 52.7% from the floor.
🚨THREAD ALERT🚨
— Nekias (Nuh-KY-us) Duncan (@NekiasNBA) August 21, 2023
I dropped em on the latest @dunkerspotpod, but here’s what my fake award ballot heading into the final 10ish games would be:
MVP: A’ja Wilson, Breanna Stewart, Alyssa Thomas, Satou Sabally, Nneka Ogwumike
DPOY: Alyssa Thomas, A’ja Wilson, Breanna Stewart (1/5) pic.twitter.com/UJylQ13tAp
The last time she faced the Dream, Wilson's shot was a little off, as she was 9-for-22 from the floor, but she still had a strong overall showing with 21 points, nine rebounds, three assists, two blocks, and five steals.
Elizabeth Williams (Chicago Sky) vs. SEA (DK: $8,500, FD: $6,700)
Williams has scored in double figures in three consecutive games, with a pair of double-doubles over that span. The best of those games came three games ago against Washington, with Williams scoring 14 points on 5-for-9 shooting while yanking down 12 rebounds and adding three assists, one block, and one steal. She's been on a strong run as of late.
The last time Williams played against the Storm, she was held to just 2-for-7 shooting and eight points, but she still had a strong fantasy line because of her six rebounds, three assists, six blocks, and one steal. She has a chance to feast on the defensive end again against a team that allows the most rebounds and fifth-most blocks per contest.
Shakira Austin (Washington Mystics) vs. CON (DK: $5,600, FD: $5,600)
Austin is a really great value, especially on DraftKings. While she's likely going to be on a minutes restriction as she works her way back into the lineup, her talent can still shine in limited action.
In her most recent appearance, she played 15 minutes against the Fever, scoring six points on 3-for-7 shooting with five rebounds, two assists, one block, and one steal.
On the season, Austin—who missed all of July with a hip injury—is averaging 10.5 points and 7.3 rebounds. Her production is worth a lot more than the $5,600 that she costs on both platforms.
WNBA DFS Picks: Guard
Jewell Loyd (Seattle Storm) @ CHI (DK: $10,800, FD: $8,000)
Loyd remains the league's leading scorer by a fairly wide margin, averaging 24.1 points per game while Breanna Stewart is second at 22.6 per game. Seattle's lack of scoring options has meant a heavy reliance on Loyd, who is averaging a career-high in scoring but also a career-low in field goal percentage.
Last time out, Loyd scored 31 points on 10-for-25 shooting to go along with five rebounds, four assists, one block, and one steal in a win over Minnesota.
That's 31 points for @jewellloyd, her 10th game with 30+ this season.
— Across the Timeline (@WBBTimeline) August 21, 2023
She's the 4th player in WNBA history to score 30+ in 10+ games in one regular season:
Maya Moore, 2014: 12x
Diana Taurasi, 2008: 10x
Tina Charles, 2021: 10x
Jewell Loyd, 2023: 10xhttps://t.co/hhGVFf9YW8
In her last meeting with the Sky, Loyd had just 15 points, but she added six rebounds and six assists.
Tiffany Hayes (Connecticut Sun) @ WAS (DK: $7,800, FD: $5,900)
Tip Hayes has really made an impact in her first season with Connecticut, averaging 12.1 points, 3.2 rebounds, and 2.7 assists per game this season. She comes into Tuesday's game having scored in double figures in seven consecutive games.
She hasn't had huge showings against Washington this season, but she did have one really strong DFS line against them earlier in the year, as she had 13 points, three rebounds, eight assists, and one steal in a win over Washington back in May.
Aari McDonald (Atlanta Dream) vs. LV (DK: $5,500, FD: $4,600)
Rhyne Howard is questionable for this game and Allisha Gray is doubtful. All signs point to Aari McDonald seeing an increased role in Tuesday's meeting with the Las Vegas Aces.
McDonald's numbers this year have been disappointing vs. what her expectations are, as many saw a third-year breakout coming from the former University of Arizona star. But with Gray coming over from Dallas, the Dream backcourt was solidified, and there just hasn't been a lot of room for McDonald.
But I believe she can deliver when she gets the minutes. She's played 30-plus minutes twice this season and has shot just 20% in those games, so I'm not going to hold her 4.5 points per game in those two contests against her. Instead, I'd rather focus on her 6.5 assists per game in those two contests. I also think the 8.4 points per game she's averaged in the 10 games where she played 20-29 minutes are worth noting as well here.
