Each day of the WNBA season, our team of fantasy and betting experts breaks down every game on the slate, making note of everything from injuries and lineup changes to recent trends and more.
All odds are provided by Caesars Sportsbook.
Here’s what to look for during Wednesday’s slate:
Phoenix Mercury at Los Angeles Sparks
10:30 ET, Crypto.com Arena, Los Angeles, CA
Line: Sparks (-1)
Money line: Mercury (+100), Sparks (-120)
Total: 166 points
Questionable: Chiney Ogwumike (leg), Rae Burrell (knee)
Ruled out: Shey Peddy (back)
Fantasy need to know: The Sparks have a 2-5 record going into tonight’s game against Mercury after being beaten by the Las Vegas Aces on Monday night, giving up 104 points. Nneka Ogwumike is the top fantasy option for Los Angeles. In six of her seven games this season, she has scored 30 or more fantasy points. Liz Cambage is another must-start player from a fantasy perspective. She’s averaged 15.3 PPG, 5.7 RPG, 1.6 APG, 0.7 SPG and 2.0 BPG. While Cambage has averaged 24.4 MPG this season, she has played over 30 minutes only once. Both Brittney Sykes and Jordin Canada are also solid fantasy starters. If you’re looking for a streamer, consider Lexie Brown, who is available in 87.1% of leagues. She has averaged 29.6 MPG and 18.3 fantasy points so far in 2022.
On the other side of this matchup is the Mercury who has a 2-4 record who were also handled easily by the Aces in their last game. In terms of offensive rating, the Mercury rank sixth, but their defense remains a weakness. Phoenix is last in the league with a defensive rating of 107.8. Skylar Diggins-Smith has been the Mercury’s best player so far. She’s averaged 17 PPG, 4.3 RPG, 4.5 APG, 1.0 SPG and 0.8 BPG in 33.5 MPG. Diggins-Smith missed the last three games due to illness. She is not listed on the injury report heading into tonight’s game. Diana Taurasi has scored 29 or more fantasy points in four of six games. The soon-to-be 40 year old guard has averaged 31.3 MPG. While Tina Charles continues to be a reliable two-way threat for the Mercury as well. She’s averaged 14 PPG, 8.5 RPG, 2.2 APG and 0.7 SPG. Brianna Turner and Diamond DeShields are also strong options. Shey Peddy is out tonight due to a back injury. As a result, Sophie Cunningham will see more minutes. The fourth-year wing is available in 92% of leagues for those in need of a streamer. — Eric Moody
Best bet: Sparks -1. All season, the Mercury defense hasn’t looked good, and the team is obviously missing Brittney Griner on the defensive end. The Sparks offense should have success offensively against Phoenix, and Los Angeles should cover the spread. — Moody
