Top WNBA DFS Picks and Lineup Strategies for August 21
The WNBA features a three-game slate Friday, including a matchup between the league's top team in the Lynx facing off against the Mystics, who are fighting for a playoff spot. Like the Lynx, the Valkyries have clinched a postseason berth and will take on a Sky team that is nearing elimination. Finally, two of the league's newest teams will square off, as the Fire will head to Toronto to face the Tempo, who are mired in a 12-game losing streak.
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WNBA Games Today
Minnesota Lynx at Washington Mystics: Lynx 16-2 on road, on five-game winning streak; Mystics 13-6 at home
Golden State Valkyries at Chicago Sky: Valkyries 10-5 on road; Sky 9-9 at home
Portland Fire at Toronto Tempo: Fire 7-10 on road; Tempo 6-12 at home, on 12-game losing streak
For the latest spreads and over/unders, visit RotoWire's WNBA Odds page. There you can also find player props, futures, picks, articles and sportsbook bonus codes.
WNBA Injury Report Today
For all the latest updates, visit RotoWire's WNBA Injury News page and our comprehensive WNBA Injury Report.
Minnesota Lynx - Olivia Miles (ankle): Probable; Napheesa Collier (rest): OUT
Washington Mystics - No injuries to report
Golden State Valkyries - No injuries to report
Chicago Sky - Aicha Coulibaly (knee): Questionable; Skylar Diggins (knee), DiJonai Carrington (foot): OUT
Portland Fire - No injuries to report
Toronto Tempo - Marina Mabrey (hip), Maria Conde (calf), Nyara Sabally (calf): OUT
Elite WNBA DFS Players
Guards
FanDuel
Carla Leite, Fire 
($6,300) at Tempo
Leite missed a game last week due to a knee injury, but she hasn't missed a beat during her two appearances since returning to action, as she posted 27.6 FD points during her first game back before logging 33.7 FD points against the Mercury on Sunday. Her DFS salary on FanDuel hovers slightly between the elite and mid-range tiers, which could allow managers to also roster 1-2 additional elite players. Leite's last full game before getting hurt came against the Tempo, when she posted 44.3 FD points in an Aug. 6 victory.
DraftKings
Olivia Miles, Lynx 
($11,200) at Mystics
Miles has the potential to provide value on both platforms on Friday's slate, but she's among the most reliable options on DraftKings among some other elite guards who have been slightly more inconsistent this season. Miles has posted at least 42.5 DK points in six of her last seven appearances, and she should have even more opportunities to thrive Friday while Napheesa Collier is resting.
Forwards/Centers
FanDuel
Natasha Howard, Lynx ($6,900) at Mystics
Howard is coming off one of her most lackluster fantasy performances since early July, as she was held to 20.2 FD points against the Valkyries on Wednesday. However, she's been largely dominant this season and has recorded at least 40.2 FD points in both of her appearances against the Mystics during the 2026 campaign. Napheesa Collier (rest) has been ruled out for Friday's matchup, so it wouldn't be surprising to see Howard handle more work in the frontcourt.
DraftKings
Kamilla Cardoso, Sky 
($10,000) vs. Valkyries
The elite frontcourt options on DraftKings for Friday's slate, but Cardoso is worth taking a chance on after she posted at least 45.0 DK points in each of her last two appearances. The Valkyries are a somewhat tough opponent against opposing frontcourt players, but I expect that Cardoso will continue to have enough opportunities to provide value at this salary, especially given her recent momentum.
Mid-Range WNBA DFS Picks
FanDuel
Nia Coffey, Lynx ($4,400) at Mystics
Like Natasha Howard above, Coffey is a player who could see increased work in Napheesa Collier's (rest) absence during Friday's matchup. Coffey has been inconsistent recently, including a scoreless outing against the Valkyries on Wednesday. However, her salary is reasonable enough on FanDuel for Friday to make her worth considering in DFS, especially if she ultimately draws the start against Washington. I also considered listing Bridget Carleton at $6,200 in the mid-range slot, especially since she has a $9,900 salary on DraftKings, but it's certainly possible that both Carleton and Coffey can be comfortably rostered at their salaries.
DraftKings
Tiffany Hayes, Valkyries 
($7,100) at Sky
Hayes has had somewhat shaky production while handling a bench role for the Valkyries recently, but her 28.8 DK points against the Lynx on Wednesday would have provided over 4x value at this salary, while she also posted 44.5 DK points against Chicago on Aug. 12. Given her recent success against the Sky, I'm inclined to target her in Friday's rematch.
WNBA DFS Value Picks
FanDuel
Kia Nurse, Tempo 
($4,100) vs. Fire
Nurse has had an inconsistent role for the Tempo for most of the season, but she's had steady production in her last four appearances, recording between 15.5 and 19.4 FD points in each of those outings. The Tempo are in the midst of a 12-game losing streak, but they're shorthanded enough that Nurse will likely continue to see enough minutes off the bench to be an intriguing DFS option at this salary.
DraftKings
Holly Winterburn, Fire ($3,600) at Tempo
Winterburn has played double-digit minutes in seven of her last eight appearances, a span that includes a performance against the Storm last Friday in which she posted 41.8 DK points. She hadn't topped 15.5 DK points in any of her other outings during that span, and she's coming off a showing against the Mercury on Sunday in which she was held to just 5.5 DK points. However, her salary is low enough on DraftKings for Friday's slate to make her an intriguing option in case she has another stellar performance.
