Thursday brings a three-game WNBA slate, and the clearest DFS edge comes from Indiana with Caitlin Clark ruled out because of a back issue. That absence opens the door for Kelsey Mitchell to stay at the center of the offense while also making Lexie Hull a strong value play.
Portland also offers a high-upside guard in Carla Leite, who has settled in quickly after being selected third overall by the Fire in the expansion draft. On a short slate, that combination of usage, matchup, and price creates a tight pool of must-consider options on DraftKings.
1. G Kelsey Mitchell, Indiana Fever at Phoenix Mercury, $10,200
Mitchell is one of the most expensive plays on the board, but the role change without Clark makes the price easier to justify. In the three games Clark has missed this season, Mitchell has led the Fever with 33.4 fantasy points per game and a 29% usage rate, a clear jump from her 25% rate with Clark active.
Her production also rises to 1.1 fantasy points per minute when Clark is off the floor, and Phoenix presents a favorable matchup with an 11th-place defensive rating. Mitchell already showed this ceiling against the Mercury once this month, posting 45 fantasy points on June 24 even with Clark available.
2. G Lexie Hull, Indiana Fever at Phoenix Mercury, $5,700
Hull is another Fever guard who benefits from Clark’s absence, and her smaller salary makes her easier to fit into builds. With Clark inactive this season, Hull has averaged 24.6 fantasy points in 22 minutes per game, while her usage climbs 2.1 percentage points to 15.6% and she produces 0.9 fantasy points per minute.
That combination of minutes and efficiency gives her a path to clear value against a Mercury defense that has struggled. A finish above 20 fantasy points looks realistic, which is enough to make Hull one of the best midrange options on the slate.
3. G Carla Leite, Portland Fire vs. Las Vegas Aces, $8,800
Leite has been a strong fit with Portland after a quiet rookie year with the Valkyries, and the new role has come with steady fantasy production. She is leading the Fire with 27.1 fantasy points in 25.5 minutes per game while carrying a team-high 27.5% usage rate.
Her efficiency has also held up, with Leite shooting 44% from the field and 41% on three-pointers while generating 1.1 fantasy points per minute. She scored 36.2 fantasy points against the Aces on June 11, and that matchup could become even more appealing if A’ja Wilson sits with a leg issue, since Las Vegas has posted a 112.2 defensive rating with Wilson off the floor this season.
Even if Wilson plays, the matchup still rates well enough for Leite to project above 30 fantasy points. On a slate this small, that kind of floor and ceiling combination keeps her firmly in the conversation.
| Player | Matchup | Salary | Key DFS Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kelsey Mitchell | Indiana Fever at Phoenix Mercury | $10,200 | Benefits from Caitlin Clark’s absence and brings top-end upside |
| Lexie Hull | Indiana Fever at Phoenix Mercury | $5,700 | Strong value play with increased usage and efficient production |
| Carla Leite | Portland Fire vs. Las Vegas Aces | $8,800 | High-usage guard with a favorable matchup and 30-plus fantasy-point upside |
With only three games on the slate, the Fever pieces stand out most because Clark’s absence reshapes the offense. Leite gives DFS players a different path to ceiling production if the Aces remain short-handed, and dknetwork.draftkings.com highlights all three as strong DraftKings targets for Thursday.