We have five games on Sunday’s WNBA schedule, but much to my chagrin, both sites have decided to split the slates, with a three-game early slate and a two-game main slate. I am a bit bummed I don’t get to put together a lineup using all five games, but considering how many players enter their games questionable Sunday, maybe having a split slate is a good thing.
Often when I create my optimal lineups in the morning, I can just set it and forget it. I will obviously check the starting lineups and injury news if I have time, but often it turns out to be unnecessary. That is not the case Sunday. Both slates could hinge on the health of a few players, as we have high-usage starters who are playable for fantasy if they start and who will give opportunities to talented teammates if they are out.
While we do have Optimal Lineups for Sunday’s games, we are doing it a bit differently than in the past. I have decided to create one lineup for each slate on each site. Instead of creating a cash and a GPP lineup for the three-game slate, I have created a GPP lineup for each slate. That being said, I think all of these lineups could be pretty solid for cash as well.
| Player | FanDuel Price | DraftKings Price | Comments |
| Lindsay Whalen, G, MIN | $ 4,500 | $ 4,700 | Whalen has gotten the last two games off to rest, so you obviously need to make sure she is starting before you put her in a lineup. The rest should be beneficial for the 36-year-old, and she could play even more minutes than normal while Danielle Robinson is out with an ankle injury. |
| Tanisha Wright, G, MIN | $ 3,600 | $ 4,100 | Wright played 34 minutes Thursday with Lindsay Whalen out and Danielle Robinson suffering an injury. With Robinson out, she should play enough to make her a cash play, but she would be a must-play in all lineups if Whalen is out as well. |
| Cecilia Zandalasini, F, MIN | $ 3,700 | $ 4,500 | Zandalasini has started each of the last two games with Rebekkah Brunson out, averaging 26 minutes. Her production has been lackluster to this point, but every starter is in play in a two-game slate, especially considering her price. |
| Erlana Larkins, F, MIN | $ 3,700 | $ 3,700 | Larkins came off the bench Thursday and had eight points, two rebounds and three assists in 20 minutes. She would be a must-start if she starts in place of Zandalasini Sunday. |
| Sylvia Fowles, F, MIN | $ 8,600 | $ 11,900 | Fowles enters Sunday with four consecutive double-doubles, and she is averaging 1.5 blocks per game during that span. She is averaging 7.1 more fppg on DraftKings in home games this season, and she is averaging 24.0 points and 16.5 rebounds in two games against Seattle. |
| Jewell Loyd, G, SEA | $ 7,400 | $ 9,900 | Loyd and Sue Bird both played very well against Minnesota nine days ago, but I think Loyd is slightly better positioned to take advantage of Minnesota's lack of backcourt depth thanks to her speed and quickness. |
| Stephanie Talbot, G, PHO | $ 5,100 | $ 6,000 | Talbot has scored at least 20 fantasy points in each of her last four games and six of her last seven. Her ceiling isn't particularly high, but her floor is. |
| Skylar Diggins-Smith, G, DAL | $ 7,700 | $ 10,500 | It probably isn't a coincidence Skylar Diggins-Smith had a 33.3 percent usage rate Saturday with Liz Cambage out. I would still be a bit uneasy using Diggins-Smith in a cash lineup, but I suspect she will have the ball in her hands a ton again Sunday. |
| Glory Johnson, F, DAL | $ 7,000 | $ 7,300 | Some of us remember how good Glory Johnson was last season. She didn't do a ton with Liz Cambage out Saturday, but I'm hoping she sees more minutes Sunday. It is kind of ridiculous for Theresa Plaisance to play more minutes than Glory Johnson, no matter how well Plaisance is shooting. |
| Azura Stevens, F, DAL | $ 6,400 | $ 8,800 | Stevens had 10 points and six rebounds in just 20 minutes Saturday, her fourth consecutive game with double-digit points. She has a chance to play significantly more minutes Sunday if Cambage is out again. |
| Liz Cambage, F, DAL | $ 8,700 | $ 12,700 | Cambage has scored at least 39 fantasy points in eight consecutive games, but her price is actually down significantly on DraftKings. She is the only Wing who didn't play Saturday, so if she starts, she could have a huge game. |
| Tina Charles, F, NY | $ 8,200 | $ 11,700 | Charles has scored at least 30 fantasy points in three consecutive games and five of her last six. She hosts a depleted Atlanta frontcourt playing in a back-to-back. |
| Jessica Breland, F, ATL | $ 7,700 | $ 9,500 | Breland has scored at least 30 fantasy points in each of her last three games, including the last two without Angel McCoughtry. Even if the points dry up, she should be safe for minutes and rebounds. |
| Elizabeth Williams, F, ATL | $ 6,900 | $ 8,100 | Williams is averaging 16.7 points, 7.0 rebounds and 3.7 blocks over her last three games. She has had 12 field goal attempts in two of those games. |
| Gabby Williams, F, CHI | $ 4,800 | $ 6,100 | Williams has played at least 28 minutes in each of her last two games, and she had 11 points, seven rebounds, three assists and three steals against Connecticut Friday. |
| Courtney Williams, G, CON | $ 7,200 | $ 9,000 | I expect Connecticut to play very well in their rematch against the Sky, but I have a hard time deciding who I like to get the fantasy points. Courtney Williams has been better at home all season, and she is a good candidate to rebound considering she is shooting just 40 percent over her last three games and 45.6 percent for the season. |
| Kia Nurse, G, NY | $ 4,400 | $ 5,200 | Nurse has played at least 32 minutes in each of her last two games with Ephiphanny Prince and Shavonte Zellous out, averaging 14.0 points, 4.5 rebounds, 2.0 assists and 2.0 steals. She is pretty much a must-play if both of her aforementioned teammates are out. If she starts, or just one of them is out, I'm probably still playing her. |