RADIO
Two games on the slate for Thursday, as the Wings visit the Mercury and the Lynx visit the Aces for a couple of late-night matchups. Can Minnesota win its second game of the season?
Just as I have for the last couple of years, I'll be providing daily fantasy lineup picks for the WNBA this season here at RotoBaller. But because I also moved to a state with legalized sports betting earlier this year, I'll be sprinkling in some basic betting picks. Not going to get complicated since there's limited space in this piece, but I'll throw you a bet or two each day that I like.
In this article, I'll be providing you with some daily fantasy WNBA lineup picks for DraftKings and FanDuel on 5/19/22. These lineups picks will range from elite players to mid-priced options and value plays. The slate locks on 5/19/2022 at 10:00 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 Lineup Picks: Forwards
Sylvia Fowles (Minnesota Lynx) - @ LV - DK: $10,500, FD: $8,500
In her final WNBA season, Big Syl is averaging 18.2 points, 9.8 rebounds, 1.6 assists, 1.6 steals and 1.4 blocks per game. She's the engine for this depleted Lynx team.
Fowles has taken fewer than 10 shots just once this season and after starting slow on the boards, has at least 11 rebounds in each of the last three games. She has at least a steal and a block in each game as well. I worry a little about Vegas because of how good A'ja Wilson has been defensively this year, but Fowles is a different kind of matchup that might force the Aces to go with a more traditional center for longer stretches. Except...they don't have one. We'll see what Vegas tries to do to contain Fowles, but I'd guess it won't work super well.
Isabelle Harrison (Dallas Wings) - @ PHO - DK: $8,300, FD: $6,600
At the beginning of this season, I think we all thought that center would be a mess in Dallas. How would the team manage to make the rotation work with Isabelle Harrison, Teaira McCowan, Charli Collier and Awak Kuier?
The answer: barely play anyone at center aside from Harrison, who has now played 28 or more minutes in three straight games. And it's working for her, as she's scored at least 15 points and grabbed at least five rebounds in each of those games. It looks like Dallas is content to roll with Izzy at the five, so let's roll with her in DFS.
Brianna Turner (Phoenix Mercury) - vs DAL - DK: $8,000, FD: $6,500
Brianna Turner doesn't take a lot of shots. She's averaging just three of them per game. But she's been efficient in two of those three games and she makes up for her lack of scoring on the other end, where she's racking up the steals. Turner also has just one block this season, but that's a trend that should change, especially against this Wings team that gets blocked the sixth-most per game. Dallas also allows the fourth-most rebounds per contest.
WNBA DFS Lineup Picks: Guards
Jackie Young (Las Vegas Aces) - vs MIN - DK: $8,900, FD: $6,700
After playing in the last two games, Riquna Williams is out with a foot sprain for this game. That means that the Aces will continue to rely on their starters on the wing, including Jackie Young, who has scored 19 or 20 points in four of five games this season. The Notre Dame product has started reliably hitting from deep this season and has at least one steal in each game. The Lynx allow the most steals per game in the W...and allow opponents to shoot 40% from deep, the worst mark in the league. Play Aces guards on Thursday night. Young is my favorite mix of value and upside of the three, but Kelsey Plum and Chelsea Gray should do well too.
Kayla McBride (Minnesota Lynx) - @ LV - DK: $7,600, FD: $6,200
What a difference some guards make. After adding point guard Moriah Jefferson in free agency a couple games ago and then getting Kayla McBride back from overseas last game, the Lynx finally look like an actual basketball team.
In her season debut, McBride played 38 minutes, going 8-for-18 from the floor with 24 points. She also added three rebounds and three assists, plus two steals. She was 4-for-7 from deep. McBride was instantly the best perimeter threat on this team and should see some big usage this season.
Diamond DeShields (Phoenix Mercury) - vs DAL - DK: $6,400, FD: $4,600 (forward on FD)
The volume is there, as DeShields has taken 11 or more field goals in each game. The shots aren't dropping, as she's shooting under 40% from the floor, but I like the volume and I like the matchup with Dallas, as the Wings are letting teams shooting 46% through four games. Add in some rebounding upside against the team allowing the fourth-most rebounds and you can see why DeShields is an interesting value play on Thursday's slate.
WNBA Betting Picks for 5/19/2022
Looking to make some WNBA bets? Let's look at some options for you.
Minnesota Lynx Spread (+11.5)
The Lynx look significantly better with Moriah Jefferson and Kayla McBride and are coming off of a win over the Sparks. Vegas is the better team in this matchup, but...11.5 is a doozy of a line. I think the oddsmakers are looking too much at pre-McBride Lynx numbers.
Dallas Wings Spread (+4.5)
Just going all underdogs on these spreads. The Wings are 2-2 on the year. The only big loss the team had was 84-68 to the Mystics, but the Mystics are one of the best teams in the W. The Mercury are good, but don't hit those same heights. A pair of .500 teams meeting up with both coming off of a loss...I think it's close enough for me to go with the Wings spread here.
