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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. Times are ET. Here's what to look for during today's slate: "
  Phoenix Mercury at Chicago Sky
1:00 p.m., Wintrust Arena, Chicago
Line: Sky (-8)
Money line: Mercury (+285), Sky (-365)
Total: 168 points
BPI Win Prediction: Sky (69.8%) Questionable: None Ruled Out: None Notable: Chicago comes into this game with a 14-5 record, and the offense scored 91 points in a win against the Connecticut Sun last time out. The Sky rank third in offensive rating (105.0) and fifth in defensive rating (98.6). Candace Parker leads the way for Chicago with 32.5 fantasy points per game. The Mercury, who sit with a 9-12 record overall, are coming off a big win in their last matchup. In the blowout victory over the Indiana Fever, Phoenix scored 99 points. With three straight wins, the Mercury will need a strong offensive showing in order to defeat the Sky. Averaging 34.6 fantasy points per game, Skylar Diggins-Smith is Phoenix's top fantasy option. While Diggins-Smith, who earned her sixth all-star selection this year, took offense to some comments made by Mercury head coach Vanessa Nygaard about this year's game and ten-time all-star teammate Diana Taurasi's absence. In a media interview, Nygaard said, "there will be a game in Chicago, but it will not be an All-Star Game because Diana Taurasi is not there." Diggins-Smith, who has publicly feuded with Taurasi, added a clown emoji to a clip of Nygaard's comments. Digggins-Smith's retweet remains up, but the Phoenix Mercury has deleted the clip. Fantasy managers and sports bettors should be aware of this. According to their fantasy points per game averages, Parker (32.5), Emma Meesseman (27.3), Courtney Vandersloot (27.1), Kahleah Copper (24.0), and Azura Stevens (19.8) are the top fantasy options for the Sky. Stevens is available in 50.8% of leagues, so streamers should consider her. Diamond DeShields, Brianna Turner, Diggins-Smith, and Taurasi are all must-start options for the Mercury. This season, each of them averages over 19 fantasy points per game. Shey Peddy, who's available in 91.4% of leagues, remains an excellent streamer for fantasy managers. She has averaged 19.4 fantasy points over the last seven games. -Eric Moody Best bet: Over 169.5 While the Mercury have played better recently, Phoenix's defense remains a problem. This matchup has the potential to be high scoring. The totals have gone over in six of the Sky's last nine games at home. I recommend betting on the over. -Moody
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