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 ESPN BET.
Here's what to look for during today's slate:
The WNBA has just two Commissioner's Cup games lined up for Thursday, and the matchup that catches my eye is between the New York Liberty and Atlanta Dream.
New York has been dominant with two wins in the in-season tournament so far, and they have a solid shot at reaching the Commissioner's Cup Final in June. However, the Connecticut Sun remain undefeated, which should motivate the Liberty, which currently have the second-best record in the league, to win this game.
Let's get into two streamers and two bets I like from the games on the slate.
Thursday's Fantasy Stream Team
Chennedy Carter, G, Chicago Sky (rostered in 21.9% of ESPN leagues)
It's surprising that she's still available in a high percentage of leagues. Carter is the first player with multiple 15-point games off the bench this season. From a fantasy perspective, she's scored 20 or more fantasy points in three consecutive games. Carter faces a Mystics team that ranks ninth in defensive rating, so the opportunity is there for a big game.
Aerial Powers, F, Atlanta Dream (12.5%)
Recently, Powers' minutes on the court are on the rise. During the past four games, she's played 18 minutes or more. Powers has also scored 18 or more fantasy points three times. Despite facing a tough Liberty team ranked fourth in defensive rating, Powers stands out as an intriguing option, especially if you find yourself in need of a F/C. Powers might just be the spark you're looking for.
Best bets
Elizabeth Williams over 6.5 rebounds. This is a great matchup for Williams since the Mystics rank last in the league in total rebounds. Meanwhile, the only other teams that average more rebounds per game than the Sky (36.9) are the Dallas Wings (37.9) and the Seattle Storm (38.0). Williams has surpassed this line in eight of her last 10 games and has averaged 30.5 minutes per game.
Liberty -6.5. The Liberty are on a hot streak and have covered the spread in each of the past two games. Meanwhile, the Dream are in the middle of the pack in terms of offensive rating and defensive rating, while New York ranks near the top of the league in both statistical areas. Also, Atlanta has struggled, going 3-7 against the spread in their past 10 games and 1-4 in their past five home games. Given these trends, the Dream might find it challenging to keep up with the Liberty's high-octane offense on Thursday night.
Chicago Sky at Washington Mystics
7:00 p.m. ET, Capital One Arena, Washington, D.C.
Line: Sky -3.5
Money line: Sky (-200), Mystics (+160)
Total: 156.5 points
BPI prediction:
Mystics: 56.2% chance to win.
Projected margin of victory: 1.7 points
Injury report
Sky: Diamond DeShields (Day-To-Day)
Mystics: Shakira Austin (Day-To-Day), Brittney Sykes (Out)
New York Liberty at Atlanta Dream
7:30 p.m. ET, State Farm Arena, Atlanta
Line: Liberty -6.5
Money line: Liberty (-290), Dream (+240)
Total: 164.5 points
BPI prediction:
Liberty: 60.4% chance to win.
Projected margin of victory: 2.9 points
Injury report
Liberty: Courtney Vandersloot (Day-To-Day), Nyara Sabally (Out)
Dream: Jordin Canada (Out)