WNBA DFS picks for Friday, May 14

Welcome back to another WNBA DFS season. Last year, we saw a condensed season conducted in a bubble, with several key players opting out. Due to the conflicting seasons between the WNBA and European teams, many players will be late on their respective arrivals to their WNBA clubs. That will be something we have to navigate, in addition to the usual COVID-29 protocols. 

With this article, I’ll give you my daily four-player core for WNBA DFS, along with some other interesting options to round out your player pool. A formatted model designed to offer you some building blocks, along with some analysis on the importance of the roles they will play in each slate. You’ll also see projected starting lineups for a convenient search of expected starting lineups, especially in a time where getting news may be hard to come by. With that, let’s dive into Friday’s slate. 

(Sign up for the FULL WNBA season and get WNBA Bets too for just $29.99!)

DraftKings WNBA Picks for Tonight

Here are my favorite plays on DraftKings for WNBA DFS tonight.

Aerial Powers ($3,200)

As we can expect with any league at the beginning of the season, there are going to be some misprices. We can identify them as best as we can, then it’s a matter of whether the field views each player the same way. If Napheesa Collier were active, I might have actually considered avoiding Powers, as she could have arguably fallen fourth in line for usage. With Collier and McBride both out, I think we’ll see Powers’ role climb to similar heights as we saw with the Mystics. $3,200 is a disgustingly low price for someone who will see a usage north of 22%, while logging 28 plus minutes. 

Jonquel Jones ($7,000)

Another casualty of this slate when it comes to mispricing, Jones is a $10K-plus player (perhaps even $11K), so seeing her at $7,000 is surely going to raise some eyebrows. Consider this a hot take, but while Sylvia Fowles is similarly mispriced on DraftKings ($7,900), I don’t view Fowles as having anywhere near as much value, given her matchup. It’s very likely they draw similar ownership, in which case we should view Jones as being the better option of the two. This Atlanta Dream interior was horrible last season, and while they’ve added Cheyanne Parker (who is out Friday), we shouldn’t expect much to change. Atlanta has allowed the most second-chance points per game since the start of 2019, and fourth-most points in the paint per game over that same span. What strikes me most here is beyond Elizabeth Williams and Monique Billings, there are some serious depth concerns in the Dream frontcourt. If Jones puts either of them in foul trouble, Atlanta will be in a world of trouble. One thing worth noting is this will be Jones’ first game alongside DeWanna Bonner. Bonner’s arrival did not negatively impact Alyssa Thomas last season, so I would not expect it to hurt Jones. The Sun big averaged over 1 fantasy point per minute in 2019 with Alyssa Thomas off the floor, and Bonner’s presence should only take attention off Jones, making her an even bigger threat to the Dream interior defense. 

(Sign up for the FULL WNBA season and get WNBA Bets too for just $29.99!)

FanDuel WNBA Picks for Tonight

Here are my favorite plays on FanDuel for WNBA DFS tonight.

DeWanna Bonner ($7,800)

I have been back and forth, debating this spot for Bonner and Sabrina Ionescu, but Bonner has earned the slight lean for a couple reasons. The main reason is the uncertainty with the Liberty. They did not have a preseason game (and to my understanding just closed scrimmages). Ionescu did not play in their closed scrimmage at the beginning of training camp, and Walt Hopkins has mentioned easing Ionescu back. I would probably have Ionescu as a tournament play given her ceiling in limited action, but I’m not sure we get a full run from her. On the other hand, the Sun are down ball handlers. Jasmine Thomas is out, while Briann January will be limited at best. Bonner should take over primary ball handling duties in her point-forward role. While not tracked by the WNBA, she’s easily one of the top three in touches, and as I alluded to earlier with Jonquel Jones, with this being their first game together, it’s fair to question whether their respective roles will be impacted. Bonner’s peripherals did not change last season from her days with the Mercury. In fact, her usage and rebound rates saw a slight increase, in addition to her true shooting percentage. Arike Ogunbowale is another interesting tournament pivot, as the Sparks were dead last in perimeter defense last season, while Chennedy Carter, Betnijah Laney and Courtney Williams are the best options in the tier directly below.

Victoria Vivians ($3,300)

This price is just a joke. The former No. 8 overall pick in the 2018 draft is finally healthy after missing the entire 2019 season, in addition to virtually all of the bubble season in 2020. As a rookie, Vivians averaged just over 27 minutes per game, shooting 40% beyond the perimeter. Coach Marianne Stanley has been thrilled with Vivians’ training camp, and with Julie Allemand away from the team, Vivians should see a sizable role for the Fever. Vivians started at Small Forward in Indiana’s final preseason game, in a lineup that looked to be what will end up their Opening Night starting group. 

WNBA Injury Report

These players are OUT for tonight.

Fever @ Liberty: Julie Allamand, Lauren Cox, Natasha Howard, Kiah Stokes, Rebecca Allen, Leaonna Odom, Jocelyn Willoughby, Asia Durr
Sun @ Dream: Jasmine Thomas, Essence Carson, Alyssa Thomas, Shatori Walker-Kimbrough, Tiffany Hayes, Cheyanne Parker
Mercury @ Lynx: Bria Hartley, Kia Vaughn, Napheesa Collier, Kayla McBride
Wings @ Sparks: Amanda Zahui B, Maria Vadeeva, Kristine Anigwe, Tierra Ruffin Pratt, Sydney Wiese, Satou Sabally, Astou Ndour…. Marina Mabrey (Questionable)

(Sign up for the FULL WNBA season and get WNBA Bets too for just $29.99!)

WNBA DFS Plays

Guards: Arike Ogunbowale, DeWanna Bonner (DK), Sabrina Ionescu, Chennedy Carter, Betnijah Laney, Courtney Williams (FD), Brittany Sykes, Danielle Robinson, DiDi Richards (GPP), Victoria Vivians (DK), Bridget Carleton (FD)
Forwards: Nneka Ogwumike, Teaira McCowan, Sylvia Fowles (DK), Chiney Ogwumike, Charli Collier (GPP), Michaela Onyenwere, Jessica Breland (DK), Monique Billings (FD), Jantel Lavender, Kylee Shook (FD), Isabelle Harrison (FD)

Projected WNBA starting lineups

Indiana Fever: PG: Danielle Robinson, SG: Kelsey Mitchell, SF: Victoria Vivians, PF: Jantel Lavender, C: Teaira McCowan
New York Liberty: PG: Sabrina Ionescu, SG: Layshia Clarendon, SF: Betnijah Laney, PF: Michaela Onyenwere, C: Kylee Shook

Connecticut Sun: PG: Natisha Hiedeman, SG: Kaila Charles, SF: DeWanna Bonner, PF: Brionna Jones, C: Jonquel Jones
Atlanta Dream: PG: Chennedy Carter, SG: Courtney Williams, SF: Shekinna Stricklen, PF: Tianna Hawkins, C: Elizabeth Williams

Phoenix Mercury: PG: Skylar Diggins-Smith, SG: Diana Taurasi, SF: Kia Nurse, PF: Brianna Turner, C: Brittney Griner
Minnesota Lynx: PG: Crystal Dangerfield, SG: Bridget Carleton, SF: Aerial Powers, PF: Damiris Dantas, C: Sylvia Fowles

Dallas Wings: PG: Arike Agunbowale, SG: Moriah Jefferson, SF: Allisha Gray, PF: Kayla Thornton, C: Charli Collier
Los Angeles Sparks: PG: Erica Wheeler, SG: Kristi Toliver, SF: Brittney Sykes, PF: Nneka Ogwumike, C: Chiney Ogwumike

(Sign up for the FULL WNBA season and get WNBA Bets too for just $29.99!)