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WNBA bets and fantasy picks: Dana Evans rising for Sky

Dana Evans has been running the show as the starting point guard for the Sky and is a quality streaming pickup for Thursday, Photo by Ron Hoskins/NBAE via Getty Images

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 today's slate:

Thursday night's WNBA slate features three games, including the Chicago Sky traveling to Barclays Center to face the New York Liberty. The Liberty are 4-0 and sit atop the WNBA standings this season and will look to extend their streak against a Sky team that's only played two games so far.

Thursday's fantasy stream team

Dana Evans, G, Chicago Sky (rostered in 44.2% of ESPN leagues)

Evans' running the show as the Sky's starting point guard this season, racking up 20 or more fantasy points and logging 30-plus minutes in two consecutive games.

Stefanie Dolson, C, Washington Mystics (38.6%)

Dolson is contributing to multiple statistical categories and has scored 17 or more fantasy points in every game this season, while averaging 26.8 minutes.

Tyasha Harris, G, Connecticut Sun (9.8%)

Harris has played 25-plus minutes in three consecutive games and has scored 20 or more fantasy points in two of her three games played this season. Harris can score points and dish out assists but doesn't contribute much else, which limits 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.


Minnesota Lynx at Connecticut Sun
7 p.m. ET, Mohegan Sun Arena, Uncasville, Connecticut


Line: Sun -5.5
Money line: Lynx (+220), Sun (-280)
Total: 162.5 points

BPI prediction:
Sun: 57.6% chance to win.
Projected margin of victory: 2.1 points

Injury report
Lynx: Dorka Juhasz (Out)
Sun: No injuries reported

Best bet: Alyssa Thomas over 7.5 assists.

Thomas has cleared this line in two of her three games played, averaging 37.5 minutes. Thomas has the third-highest usage rate on the Sun and is well-positioned to surpass 7.5 assists against a Lynx team that ranks 10th in assists allowed per game.


Chicago Sky at New York Liberty
7 p.m. ET, Barclays Center, Brooklyn


Line: Liberty -16.5
Money line: Sky (+1000), Liberty (-2000)
Total: 166.5 points

BPI prediction:
Liberty: 82.6% chance to win.
Projected margin of victory: 10.7 points

Injury report
Sky: Isabelle Harrison (Out), Diamond DeShields (Day-To-Day), Kamilla Cardoso (Out)
Liberty: No injuries reported

Best bet: Sky (+15.5).

The Liberty are the superior team in this matchup with the best net rating in the WNBA and are playing at home. However, the team is only 1-3 against the spread. The Liberty have struggled to cover when projected as heavy favorites and considering the Sky are 8-4 against the spread over their past 12 games dating back to last season, 15.5 points feels like too much.


Washington Mystics at Phoenix Mercury
10 p.m. ET, Footprint Center, Phoenix


Line: Mercury -6.5
Money line: Mystics (+240), Mercury (-290)
Total: 163.5 points

BPI prediction:
Mercury: 56.9% chance to win.
Projected margin of victory: 1.9 points

Injury report
Mystics: Brittney Sykes (Out), DiDi Richards (Day-To-Day), Shakira Austin (Day-To-Day)
Mercury: Brittney Griner (Out)

Best bet: Mystics (+6.5).

The Mercury (2-1. 3-0 ATS) are coming off an upset victory over the defending champion Las Vegas Aces. While Diana Taurasi, Kahleah Copper, and Natasha Cloud have been vital contributors for a Mercury team that ranks fourth in offensive rating, Phoenix's defense is terrible. The Mercury ranks second to last in defensive rating, so don't be surprised if the Mystics are successful offensively in this game. It should be closer than this spread suggests and Washington could even win outright.