FanDuel Best WNBA DFS Picks: Mercury vs. Sparks 9/17/24

The WNBA presents a matchup between the Phoenix Mercury and Los Angeles Sparks. Let’s take a look at this game from a FanDuel perspective.

Before we dive into the Phoenix Mercury vs. Los Angeles Sparks game let’s review the rules for the FanDuel single game contest.

FanDuel Single Game Contest Rules

Here are the FanDuel single game contest rules. You have $60,000 to utilize on five players from either team. However, one of those players will be designated as your team MVP. The MVP accumulates 2x times the standard FanDuel fantasy points value.

The remaining four players in your lineup will be one star and three flex plays. The star player will receive 1.5x the standard fantasy points value. The final three flex positions will receive the standard FanDuel points value. Having stated that, it is highly important for you to identify the correct player for your MVP position if you hope to win a large field GPP (guaranteed prize pool) FanDuel single game contest.

If you have additional questions regarding the rules for the single game contest, I highly recommend that you check out the FanDuel website for more details.

Here are my FanDuel picks for tonight’s Phoenix Mercury vs. Los Angeles Sparks matchup.

FanDuel WNBA Player Selections

MVP-Dearica Hamby, Forward, Los Angeles Sparks $9,000

Talented Los Angeles forward Dearica Hamby has been the presence in the paint that the Los Angeles Sparks have needed to win games in 2024. Having stated that, how has Hamby been playing from an offensive standpoint this season?

In the 38 games that Los Angeles forward Dearica Hamby has played for the Los Angeles Sparks in the 2024 WNBA regular season, Hamby has averaged a whopping 17.1 points, 7.7 rebounds, 3.5 assists, and 1.7 steals a game.

Additionally, I certainly like Dearica Hamby’s matchup in this WNBA contest. Why? Hamby draws a Phoenix Mercury team that has struggled on the defensive side of the basketball all season. Through 38 games played in the 2024 WNBA regular season, the Phoenix Mercury are currently ranked a abysmal 12th in total opponent second chance points allowed a game (12.5), 11th in defensive rebounding percentage (68.5%), and ninth in total team defensive rating (105.3). Keep in mind that the WNBA has 12 teams in the entire league.

What did we learn from the data just presented? The Phoenix Mercury are currently not a good defensive team. Now the Phoenix Mercury will face one of the best players in the association in Los Angeles Sparks forward Dearica Hamby. I think it’s fair to say that Dearica Hamby should post quality fantasy numbers versus a rather vulnerable Phoenix Mercury defense later today.

In my opinion, Dearica Hamby is the most likely player to post the most fantasy points in this WNBA regular season game. For that specific reason, I am backing talented Los Angeles Sparks forward Dearica Hamby at the MVP position for this one game WNBA FanDuel contest.

Star-Natasha Cloud, Guard, Phoenix Mercury $8,500

Phoenix Mercury guard Natasha Cloud arrives at today’s game with the Los Angeles Sparks playing exceptional basketball from a statistical perspective. Let’s take a look at Cloud’s recent game data to shed light on my previous statement.

In the 36 games that Natasha Cloud has played in the 2024 WNBA regular season, Cloud has averaged an impressive 11.7 points, 4.1 rebounds, 6.9 assists, 1.4 steals, and 0.6 blocks a game.

Flex plays I like (FanDuel price noted): Rickea Jackson, Forward (Los Angeles Sparks) $7,500: Azura Stevens, Forward (Los Angeles Sparks) $8,000: Brittney Griner, Forward (Phoenix Mercury) $9,500: Diana Taurasi, Guard (Phoenix Mercury) $6,500.