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.
Here's what to look for during Friday night's season-opening games:
Indiana Fever at Washington Mystics
7 p.m. ET, Entertainment & Sports Arena, Washington, D.C.
Line: Mystics (-9)
Money line: Fever (+340), Mystics (-450)
Total: 162 points
Ruled out: Danielle Robinson (not with team), Alysha Clark (foot), Elizabeth Williams (not with team)
Fantasy need to know: Two-time WNBA MVP Elena Delle Donne is healthy and available for the Mystics, but she's already scheduled to sit out their second game on Sunday because of load management. Presumed starting center Elizabeth Williams is unavailable until she finishes her commitment overseas, and Alysha Clark (foot) is out as well. This bodes well for the production of Myisha Hines-Allen in the frontcourt next to Delle Donne, and it also could give No. 3 overall pick Shakira Austin the chance to play big minutes in her WNBA debut.
The Fever made a record four first-round picks in this season's WNBA draft, and the rebuilding squad will depend heavily on the rookies out the gates. With Alaina Coates, Danielle Robinson and Bria Hartley all finishing their seasons overseas, second overall pick NaLyssa Smith could be an impact scorer out of the gate, while fellow rookie Queen Egbo was a double-double machine in the preseason and could get some early run.
Best bet: Mystics -9. When Delle Donne plays, the Mystics hope to recreate the magic that led to their 2019 WNBA championship -- the last time Delle Donne was healthy. The Fever, meanwhile, are a team built around several rookies. In the season debut, with both teams having multiple players still playing overseas, the veteran squad with championship aspirations that's playing at home should be favored to comfortably handle the rebuilding Fever. -- André Snellings
Los Angeles Sparks at Chicago Sky8 p.m. ET, Wintrust Arena, Chicago, IL
Line: Sky (-3.5)
Money line: Sparks (+140), Sky (-170)
Total: 155.5 points
Ruled out: Katie Lou Samuelson (not with team), Kristi Toliver (not with team), Allie Quigley (knee), Kahleah Copper (not with team), Julie Allemand (not with team)
Fantasy need to know: The Sky will be without Finals MVP Copper and expected newcomer Allemand, who are both finishing up playing commitments overseas. Starting guard Quigley (knee) is also out. Starting bigs Candace Parker and Emma Meesseman, along with point guard Courtney Vandersloot, might all have to carry more weight than usual. Dana Evans and Azura Stevens could potentially enter the starting lineup, and if so might get enough run to get on the fantasy radar.
The Sparks will have most of their lineup available on Friday night, outside of center Amanda Zahul (suspended for the entire season) and guard Kristi Toliver. Toliver is an assistant coach for the Dallas Mavericks, and can't play until the Mavs are eliminated from the NBA playoffs. Starting bigs Nneka Ogwumike and Liz Cambage are the focal points of the team, with newcomer point guard Chennedy Carter as the other Sparks player worthy of fantasy starting consideration. -- Snellings
Las Vegas Aces at Phoenix Mercury10 p.m. ET, Footprint Center, Phoenix, AZ
Line: Aces (-4.5)
Money line: Aces (-200), Mercury (+165)
Total: 174 points
Ruled out: Brittney Griner (not with team), Brianna Turner (not with team), Diamond DeShields (not with team)
Fantasy need to know: The Aces have a new head coach in Becky Hammon, who replaces Bill Laimbeer, and the team's highest fantasy ceiling belongs to A'ja Wilson, who averaged 18.3 PPG, 9.3 RPG and 3.1 APG last season. Chelsea Gray, who averaged 11.1 PPG, 2.9 RPG and 5.6 APG, as well as Kelsey Plum, who averaged 14.8 PPG, 2.5 RPG and 3.6 APG, are both excellent fantasy options. Jackie Young and Dearica Hamby, a reserve the past two seasons, also deserve to be in lineups.
Skylar Diggins-Smith and Diana Taurasi return this season and are fixtures in fantasy starting linueps. Star center Griner, who has been detained in Russia since February, won't be available for the start of the 2022 season. The Mercury did add Tina Charles during free agency. After putting up 23.4 PPG, 9.6 RPG, 2.1 APG, 0.9 SPG and 0.9 BPG last season, Charles enters 2022 as an elite fantasy option. The Mercury will be without Turner and DeShields, who are both still playing overseas.
Best bet: Aces -4.5. The Aces should cover. Griner's absence is a huge loss for the Mercury, particularly on defense. Additionally, without Turner and DeShields, Phoenix lacks adequate depth. For the Mercury and new coach Vanessa Nygaard, slowing down Wilson and the Aces' explosive offense will be a major challenge. -- Eric Moody
Minnesota Lynx at Seattle Storm10 p.m. ET, Climate Pledge Arena, Seattle, WA
Line: Storm (-8.5)
Money line: Lynx (+300), Storm (-400)
Total: 162 points
Ruled out: Kayla McBride (not with team), Angel McCoughtry (knee), Damiris Dantas (foot), Napheesa Collier (personal), Mercedes Russell (personal)
Fantasy need to know: Make sure you start Sylvia Fowles. In three of her past four full seasons, she averaged a double-double. Last season, Fowles averaged 16.0 PPG and 10.1 RPG in 30.1 MPG. Aerial Powers is another must-start. She had an injury-plagued 2021 season but averaged 13.1 PPG, 3.6 RPG and 2.1 APG in 14 games. McBride is playing overseas and will not play against the Storm on Friday night. Odyssey Sims, who signed with the Lynx recently, will immediately benefit.
Seattle boasts plenty of star power. Breanna Stewart averaged 20.3 PPG, 9.5 RPG and 1.7 APG in 2021. Jewell Loyd added a career-high 18 PPG. And Sue Bird, the longest-tenured player in the WNBA who has assisted or scored on 32.9% of Storm buckets in her career, is the third must-start player on the Storm. Russell missed all of training camp and is unlikely to play Friday night, which opens up more playing time for Ezi Magbegor. In three starts last season, she averaged 10.3 PPG, 7.0 RPG and 2.0 APG.
Best bet: Storm -8.5. The Lynx will be without McBride, McCoughtry, Collier and Dantas. Fowles aside, the Lynx have a lot of questions and it might take some time for this unit to jell. However, the Storm will cover the spread. -- Moody