With the WNBA season coming to a close, we could see a lot of unusual lineups as teams try to rest players and nurse nagging injuries in preparation for the playoffs. With no home-court advantage in the Wubble, playoff teams have less incentive to try to move up in the standings. There are still teams competing for playoff byes, which are obviously valuable, but we are already seeing teams rest starters in games that aren’t particularly meaningful. With that in mind, let’s look at what the teams going Wednesday have to play for.
The Connecticut Sun have clinched a playoff spot and are locked into a first-round game, likely with either Chicago or Phoenix. They have already announced Jasmine Thomas and Briann January are out, and it is fair to wonder how much the other starters will play. Chicago is essentially in the same position as Connecticut. They could move up to fifth and presumably have an easier first-round matchup, but if there was ever a team in need of resting its starters, it is Chicago. Courtney Vandersloot, Kahleah Copper and Allie Quigley are all averaging 32+ minutes in their last four games. Even if they continue to start, there is a chance they will play fewer minutes.
Seattle likely needs at least one more win in their last three games to clinch a double-bye, and they may as well go for it against Dallas so they can rest in one or both of their last two games. Dallas is fighting for the last playoff spot and will likely continue to give their starters heavy minutes for as long as the game is close.
Phoenix is still fighting for a first-round bye, but with all of their frontcourt injuries, they may want to rest some starters anyway. Nia Coffey has already been ruled out, while Kia Vaughn and Alanna Smith are questionable. Phoenix will be ridiculously thin up front if Vaughn and Smith are out, but the Mercury probably cannot take the chance that their injuries will linger into the playoffs. Finally, Atlanta likely needs to win to keep its slim playoff hopes alive. Chennedy Carter topped 30 minutes Saturday for the first time since returning from an ankle injury, and I think we can expect similar minutes for her and most of Atlanta’s starters Wednesday.
As always, the lineups below are examples of lineups you can make using the players in the Playbook and are not for plug and play
| Guards |
| Player | Team | Opp. | DK $ | DK FPPG | FD $ | FD FPPG |
| Natisha Hiedeman | CON | PHO | 4500 | 10.62 | 3400 | 9.91 |
| Hiedeman played 28 minutes and took eight shots Monday. That's probably her floor Wednesday with Brian January and Jasmine Thomas both out. Hiedeman has been a bit disappointing this season in limited opportunities, but I wouldn't be at all surprised if she scored 15+ points in the rematch with the Mercury. |
| Kaila Charles | CON | PHO | 5100 | 11.24 | 4600 | 11.52 |
| Charles played 25 minutes Monday, and she has a chance to play even more than that with Briann January and Jasmine Thomas both out Wednesday. |
| Shatori Walker-Kimbrough | PHO | CON | 6300 | 14.07 | 5300 | 14.48 |
| She was held to just three points in 19 minutes Monday, but with Nia Coffey out, she could easily get back to playing 30+ minutes and scoring 30+ fantasy points. |
| Chennedy Carter | ATL | CHI | 7900 | 26.04 | 5400 | 25.43 |
| Carter has at least 32 fantasy points in three of her last four games despite averaging 26.5 minutes in those games. She will almost certainly play 30+ minutes in this one, making her a nice value in all formats. |
| Skylar Diggins-Smith | PHO | CON | 10000 | 30.91 | 6800 | 29.44 |
| I think Diana Taurasi will bounce back, and I could see playing her in a tournament hoping for lower ownership, but Diggins-Smith is cheaper and has been awfully consistent, with at least 32 fantasy points in six straight games. |
| Player | Team | Opp. | DK $ | DK FPPG | FD $ | FD FPPG |
| Marina Mabrey | DAL | SEA | 7300 | 19.48 | 5200 | 17.81 |
| Mabrey has scored at least 25 fantasy points in eight of her last 10 games. She is a safe play for cash games, even in a tough matchup against Seattle. |
| Allisha Gray | DAL | SEA | 8000 | 23.01 | 6200 | 23.01 |
| Washington managed to keep Gray off the boards, which limited her fantasy production, but she has still scored 30+ fantasy points in three of her last four games. Gray gives you a higher ceiling than Marina Mabrey if you can afford it. |
| | | | | | | | |
| Forwards |
| Player | Team | Opp. | DK $ | DK FPPG | FD $ | FD FPPG |
| Alisia Jenkins | PHO | CON | 3100 | 0.75 | 3200 | 0.55 |
| With Nia Coffery out and Kia Vaughn and Alanna Smith questionable, Jenkins and Brianna Turner may be Phoenix's only forwards Wednesday. The undrafted rookie is already on her third team this season, but she would be a punt play if Vaughn and Smith are out. |
| Natasha Howard | SEA | DAL | 8900 | 23.45 | 7000 | 24.14 |
| This is a nice matchup for Seattle, but with Jordin Canada set to return, I don't think you're getting great value on most of the storm rotation. Natasha Howard is an important exception. She may never be a GPP play while her minutes are capped, but she is safe for cash. |
| Alysha Clark | SEA | DAL | 8400 | 23.78 | 6100 | 24.75 |
| Clark isn't quite as safe as she was earlier in the season, but she does have at least 23.75 fantasy points in five of her last six games. She is a great option for attacking this matchup, especially on FanDuel. |
| Monique Billings | ATL | CHI | 8100 | 25.01 | 6300 | 25.34 |
| The Sky are 11th in fantasy points allowed to forwards, and they've basically given up on interior defense by playing Cheyenne Parker 25+ minutes per game. Billings has at least 38 fantasy points in three of her last eight games, and that kind of ceiling makes her a great tournament play. |
| Glory Johnson | ATL | CHI | 5900 | 13.43 | 5200 | 13.82 |
| Every time I click the "Draft Player" button on Glory Johnson, I Hate Myself for Loving You pops in my head. Johnson is averaging 20.6 minutes and 18.9 fantasy points in her last three games despite shooting 30.4 percent from the field in those games. I'll feel better about playing her if she starts again. |
| Player | Team | Opp. | DK $ | DK FPPG | FD $ | FD FPPG |
| Cheyenne Parker | CHI | ATL | 9700 | 27.75 | 6700 | 27.67 |
| Parker is averaging 41.7 fantasy points in her last three games, and while I don't necessarily expect that to continue, that kind of upside is hard to ignore in tournaments. |
| Kia Vaughn | PHO | CON | 6900 | 13.19 | 5800 | 12.96 |
| Whoever starts next to Brianna Turner in the frontcourt will likely be a strong DFS play. Vaughn is averaging 21.75 fantasy points in her last four games. |
| Satou Sabally | DAL | SEA | 9500 | 29.68 | 6600 | 28.99 |
| Sabally is averaging 35.6 FD fantasy points in her last five games, with at least 30 FD fantasy points in four of those. This is a tough matchup, but at least we know she will get all the minutes she can handle. |
Example Lineups
| DK Cash | | | DK GPP |
| Pos. | Player | Team | Opp | FPPG | Salary | | | Pos. | Player | Team | Opp | FPPG | Salary |
| G | Kaila Charles | CON | PHO | 11.24 | $5,100 | | | G | Shatori Walker-Kimbrough | PHO | @CON | 14.07 | $6,300 |
| G | Skylar Diggins-Smith | PHO | @CON | 30.91 | $10,000 | | | G | Chennedy Carter | ATL | @CHI | 26.04 | $7,900 |
| F | Alysha Clark | SEA | DAL | 23.78 | $8,400 | | | F | Monique Billings | ATL | @CHI | 25.01 | $8,100 |
| F | Natasha Howard | SEA | DAL | 23.45 | $8,900 | | | F | Alyssa Thomas | CON | PHO | 37.66 | $10,700 |
| F | Satou Sabally | DAL | @SEA | 29.68 | $9,500 | | | F | Cheyenne Parker | CHI | ATL | 27.75 | $9,700 |
| Util | Chennedy Carter | ATL | @CHI | 26.04 | $7,900 | | | Util | Marina Mabrey | DAL | @SEA | 19.48 | $7,300 |
| | | | | Total | $49,800 | | | | | | | Total | $50,000 |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| DK Pivot Cash | | | DK Pivot GPP |
| Pos. | Player | Team | Opp | FPPG | Salary | | | Pos. | Player | Team | Opp | FPPG | Salary |
| G | | | | | | | | G | | | | | |
| G | | | | | | | | G | | | | | |
| F | Glory Johnson | ATL | @CHI | 13.43 | $5,900 | | | F | | | | | |
| F | | | | | | | | F | | | | | |
| F | | | | | | | | F | Brianna Turner | PHO | @CON | 25.12 | $9,100 |
| Util | Courtney Williams | ATL | @CHI | 28.69 | $9,300 | | | Util | Brionna Jones | CON | PHO | 24.2 | $7,700 |
| | | | | Total | $15,200 | | | | | | | Total | $16,800 |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| FD Cash | | | FD GPP |
| Pos | Player | Team | Opp | FPPG | Salary | | | Pos | Player | Team | Opp | FPPG | Salary |
| G | Natisha Hiedeman | CON | PHO | 9.91 | $3,400 | | | G | Chennedy Carter | ATL | CHI | 25.43 | $5,400 |
| G | Chennedy Carter | ATL | CHI | 25.43 | $5,400 | | | G | Natisha Hiedeman | CON | PHO | 9.91 | $3,400 |
| G | Marina Mabrey | DAL | SEA | 17.81 | $5,200 | | | G | Shatori Walker-Kimbrough | PHO | CON | 14.48 | $5,300 |
| F | Natasha Howard | SEA | DAL | 24.14 | $7,000 | | | F | Monique Billings | ATL | CHI | 25.34 | $6,300 |
| F | Monique Billings | ATL | CHI | 25.34 | $6,300 | | | F | Alysha Clark | SEA | DAL | 24.75 | $6,100 |
| F | Satou Sabally | DAL | SEA | 28.99 | $6,600 | | | F | Cheyenne Parker | CHI | ATL | 27.67 | $6,700 |
| F | Alysha Clark | SEA | DAL | 24.75 | $6,100 | | | F | Satou Sabally | DAL | SEA | 28.99 | $6,600 |
| | | | | Total | $40,000 | | | | | | | Total | $39,800 |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| FD Pivot Cash | | | FD Pivot GPP |
| Pos | Player | Team | Opp | FPPG | Salary | | | Pos | Player | Team | Opp | FPPG | Salary |
| G | | | | | | | | G | | | | | |
| G | | | | | | | | G | | | | | |
| G | Allisha Gray | DAL | SEA | 23.01 | $6,200 | | | G | | | | | |
| F | | | | | | | | F | | | | | |
| F | Glory Johnson | ATL | CHI | 13.82 | $5,200 | | | F | | | | | |
| F | | | | | | | | F | Glory Johnson | ATL | CHI | 13.82 | $5,200 |
| F | | | | | | | | F | Alyssa Thomas | CON | PHO | 37.83 | $8,200 |
| | | | | Total | $11,400 | | | | | | | Total | $13,400 |
