Tuesday night’s WNBA slate features two games, with the New York Liberty traveling to Phoenix to take on the Mercury and the Los Angeles Sparks playing on the East Coast against the Connecticut Sun.
The Liberty are 6-1 on the road this season, while the Mercury are 5-2 at home. New York ranks in the top four in both offense and defense this season, while the Mercury have steadily improved, particularly on defense, with the return of Brittney Griner, who once again looks like her All-Star self.
Here are two fantastic streamers and three bets to consider.
Tuesday’s Fantasy Stream Team
Tyasha Harris, G, Connecticut Sun (rostered in 29.1% of ESPN leagues)
Harris logs high minutes (30.8 MPG), contributes in several statistical categories and plays for a Sun team that ranks in the top four in offensive and defensive rating. She has scored 19 or more Fantasy points in three of her last five games, including one with 30 Fantasy points. She should be productive against a Sparks team that ranks ninth in defensive rating.
Aari McDonald, G, Los Angeles Sparks (12.8%)
McDonald has played 24 or more minutes and scored 24 or more fantasy points in four straight games. She’s been excellent off the bench for the Sparks as of late, but she faces a tough matchup that could limit her fantasy ceiling.
Picks, projections and injury reports
Basketball Power Index by ESPN Analytics. Injury aggregation by Rotowire.com. All odds are provided by ESPN BET.
Los Angeles sparkles at the Connecticut Sun
7 p.m. ET, Mohegan Sun Arena, Uncasville, Connecticut.
Double: Sun -13.5
Money line: Sparks (+630), Sun (-1050)
Total: 153.5 points
BPI prediction:
Sun: 77.2% chance of winning.
Projected margin of victory: 8.4 points
Injury report
Sparks : Azura Stevens (out)
Sun: Moriah Jefferson (outgoing)
Best bet: Sun (-13.5).
Connecticut has won three straight games and plays at home against a Sparks team that has lost six of its last eight games. The Sun are a strong defensive team that excels at limiting transition points, while the Sparks rank 11th in offensive rating. Los Angeles is also 1-4 ATS in its last five road games, while the Sun are 4-0 ATS when favored by 10 points or more .
Best bet: Alyssa Thomas under 31.5 points, rebounds and assists.
The Sun could have a chance to take a significant lead against the Sparks on Tuesday night. Thomas has gone below that line in four of her last five games and she might not play the entire game if it ends in a blowout.
New York Liberty at Phoenix Mercury
10 p.m. ET, Footprint Center, Phoenix
Double: Freedom -5.5
Money line: Liberty (-225), Mercury (+185)
Total: 170.5 points
BPI prediction:
Freedom: 71.9% chance of winning.
Projected margin of victory: 6.4 points
Injury report
Freedom: Courtney Vandersloot (Out), Nyara Sabally (Out)
Mercury: No injuries reported
Best bet: Mercury (+5.5).
Phoenix’s defense has improved significantly since Griner returned to the lineup. The Mercury are 4-0 against the spread when Griner is on the court this season and have climbed to sixth in defensive rating over the last four games. Phoenix previously faced Liberty as double-digit underdogs in their last game on May 29. Tuesday night’s game should be another hotly contested game, especially with the Mercury playing at home. While the Liberty have won eight straight games and have the second-best record in the WNBA, New York is just 4-8 ATS this season when favored by six points or more.
