ESPN Fantasy and Betting Analysts5 minute read
Eric’s best bet for Friday’s WNBA action.
What to look for in the Seattle Storm.
Each day of the WNBA season, our team of fantasy and betting experts breaks down every game on the list, noting everything from injuries and lineup changes to current trends and more.
All odds are provided by Caesars Sportsbook. The times are ET.
Here’s what to look out for when planning today:
Washington Mystics at Chicago Sky
8:00 p.m. ET, Wintrust Arena, Chicago
line: Mystic -5.5
money line: Mystic (-225), Heaven (+185)
In total: 158.5 points
BPI Gain %: Mystic (56.5%)
injury report
Mystic: No injuries were reported
Heaven: Isabelle Harrison (Aus), Ruthy Hebard (Aus)
Best choice: Sky +4.5. Chicago is on fire this season. With impressive victories over the Lynx and the Mercury, they boast a 2-0 record, both wins coming away as they host the Mystics. Not only do they dominate the court, but they are also 2-0 against the spread. The Sky’s defense was rock solid, pushing opponents down to just 67.5 points on average. As for the Mystics, they haven’t had any trouble scoring goals so far this season, but have struggled defensively and with execution on the track. Back the sky for cover. – Eric Moody
Fantasy Streamer: Tianna Hawkins (present in 2.4% of ESPN leagues) She has double-digit fantasy points in two of the first three games. She doesn’t get many minutes, but is very efficient in the minutes she manages, averaging 5.7 PPG, 5.7 RPG, and 1.0 APG. In her career against Sky, she has a PPG average of 7.0, which is her fourth highest against a single opponent. She’s also scored 20 three-pointers against her in her career, her most three-pointers against a team. -Jennifer LaCroix
Fantasy Streamer: Alanna Smith (present in 30.4% of ESPN leagues) She recently caused a stir overseas, bringing her top game back to the WNBA this season in Sky’s fast offense. She has played 16 or more minutes in consecutive games and scored 33 fantasy points in Chicago’s last game against the Lynx. With Isabelle Harrison out through injury, Smith has a role to play in Sky’s rotation. -Moody
Best Bet: Mystics -4.5. Although I know Sky started the season strong, they played against two teams in the bottom half of the table (Mercury 1-2; and Lynx 0-3). Meanwhile, the Mystics have experience with teams in the top half of the table, having faced twice against Connecticut (3-0 at the start of the season) and the Liberty (1-1). -LaCroix
Dallas Wings at Seattle Storm
10:00 p.m. ET, Climate Pledge Arena, Seattle
line: wings -5.5
money line: Wings (-260), Storm (+210)
In total: 162.5 points
BPI Gain %: Storm (57.7%)
injury report
Wing: Teaira McCowan (Day-To-Day), Diamond DeShields (Aus), Lou Lopez Senechal (Aus)
Storm: No injuries were reported
Best Bet: Over 163.0. The Wings were on fire last Saturday, not one, not two, but three players lost 20 or more points to the Dream. Dallas amassed a whopping 85 points and secured a well-deserved win. On the other hand, the Storm’s last game was tough and they suffered a resounding 105-64 loss to the defending champions Aces. Both teams experienced total point overruns in their season openers, setting the stage for a high-scoring affair as Dallas faced Seattle. -Moody
Fantasy Streamer: Kia Nurse (present in 37% of ESPN leagues) Maybe the Storms only had limited playing time when the Storm lost to the Aces last Saturday, but I have a feeling that’s about to change against the Wings. Signed this off-season to follow in the footsteps of the legendary Sue Bird, Nurse is here to make a name for herself. Despite missing out last season through injury, her performance in 2021 has been promising, averaging 9.5 points, 3.5 rebounds and 1.8 assists in 26.1 minutes per game. If you need a streamer, don’t ignore Nurse. -Moody
Fantasy Streamer: Jordan Horston (present in 8.9% of ESPN leagues) is a rookie who is in the perfect position to make an immediate impact. She’s part of a team that doesn’t rank deep in the guard position, which means more minutes and opportunities to score fantasy points. In the first game of the season against the reigning champions, she had 8 points, 5 rebounds, 3 assists and 3 steals. With Gabby Williams still out with a concussion, Horston could be in the starting XI for the second game of the season and expect to make an important contribution in the Storm’s backcourt. -LaCroix
Best Bet: Over 160.0 The Wings have reached the over in six straight games and in 11 of their last 14 games. The Storm have also reached the over in six straight games and in eight of the last nine games they have played. Coming off a tough home loss to the Aces, the Storm are looking to prove themselves. While the Wings put on a good first game with three different players scoring over 20 points. And this season, in the seven games where the O/U was set at 161 or less, teams have made the overs in five of them. -LaCroix
