The Minnesota Lynx are getting into the common season with a chip on their shoulder, significantly after stunning the league by ending because the second seed and incomes a spot within the 2024 WNBA Finals. With the returning core of their starters and additions to the teaching employees, the staff is able to run it again.
How the Lynx Have a Chip on Their Shoulders
The Minnesota Lynx are heading into the brand new season with dedication, significantly after dropping to the New York Liberty in final 12 months’s WNBA Finals, which went to 5 video games, and included additional time in Sport 5.
One factor the staff possesses is a chip on its shoulders because it goals to return to the WNBA Finals with expectations of profitable the championship this season, particularly with Lindsay Whalen’s return as an assistant coach and Eric Thibault’s addition to Cheryl Reeve’s teaching employees.
“It put that chip on our shoulder, proper?” Minnesota Lynx guard Courtney Williams stated Saturday. “We all know what it takes to get there and lose within the ultimate sport. We all know we have got to do, and that is what we usher in each day, and we stack in our days, and we’re not taking any shortcuts, as a result of that is the place we need to be once more. We need to recover from that hump this 12 months. Simply maintaining that chip on our shoulder.”
Through the years within the WNBA, groups that misplaced in Sport 5 of the Finals have efficiently bounced again to win a championship the next season. For instance, the 2008 Detroit Shock (now the Dallas Wings) claimed the title after dropping to the Phoenix Mercury the earlier 12 months. Equally, the 2017 Minnesota Lynx avenged their defeat towards the Los Angeles Sparks, who had narrowly overwhelmed them within the ultimate moments of Sport 5 of the 2016 WNBA Finals.
Napheesa Collier Emerges as a Main MVP Candidate Forward of the WNBA Season
Ahead Napheesa Collier had a season worthy of MVP recognition for the Lynx final 12 months, incomes the Defensive Participant of the 12 months award. She made important contributions within the WNBA Playoffs by breaking information beforehand held by Tamika Catchings and Diana Taurasi for essentially the most steals, blocks, and factors scored in a single postseason.
Moreover, Collier made historical past by changing into the primary participant to attain 20 or extra factors, eight or extra rebounds, six or extra blocks, and three or extra steals in a playoff sport. Now, she and Williams are desperate to proceed their success from the Lynx’s spectacular run within the finals and construct momentum for the upcoming season.
Because the Minnesota Lynx enter a brand new season with dedication, particularly after being so near profitable all of it within the 2024 WNBA Finals, they’re keen to construct on the momentum they established from final season.
Jessica Shepard’s Return to the Group
The Lynx are joyful to see the return of ahead Jessica Shepard, who was chosen at sixteenth general within the 2019 WNBA Draft by Minnesota, after lacking the final season.
The staff has missed her impression on each ends of the courtroom and is able to experiment with the frontcourt duo of Shepard and ahead Alanna Smith, who joined the Lynx final 12 months after having her breakout season with the Chicago Sky in 2023.
“I might say I’m a extra mature participant now,” Shepard advised the media Friday. “I’ve performed a number of basketball since I performed right here final, so I believe that’s the most important factor. Throughout, I believe I’m a greater participant.”
Collier has performed alongside and towards Shepard since their rivalry days between UConn and Notre Dame, in addition to throughout their rookie seasons. She and Williams have stated that Shepard makes everybody really feel good on the courtroom.
“I’ve at all times liked enjoying with Jess,” Collier stated Saturday. “I performed together with her my complete profession, performed towards her a number of my school profession. So, it has been enjoyable. Jess is such a wise participant, like Courtney (Williams) stated, when she’s on the market, it is enjoyable (and) makes everybody else look good. She’s a kind of gamers who helps all people else look good.”
In the course of the Lynx’s preseason win over the Chicago Sky, Shepard nearly had a triple-double of 10 factors, 9 rebounds, and 9 assists whereas taking pictures 62.5 p.c from the sphere in 23 minutes of play.
“She solely performed 23 minutes and nearly obtained a triple-double that you just’re talking of,” Reeve stated. “Jess is a really assured offensive participant, very good as you noticed together with her passing, and defensively it’s a troublesome project.”
Shepard is acknowledged for her physicality and toughness within the paint as a ahead. The Lynx are excited to welcome her again, as they missed her impression this previous season.
What Karlie Samuelson Will Convey to Minnesota
The Minnesota Lynx introduced in guard Karlie Samuelson via a commerce with the Washington Mystics on the day of the 2025 WNBA Draft. Samuelson is thought for her capacity to make three-pointers and contributions on each ends of the courtroom.
All through her profession, she moved between completely different groups throughout the league on seven-day and hardship contracts from 2018 to 2023, earlier than agreeing to a two-year cope with the Washington Mystics in 2024
“She’s very very like the others, she’s a pleaser and stresses out about doing issues the best means,” Reeve stated. “So hopefully these video games and placing her on the market and her being in that area, now she will be able to settle in.”
After changing Cecelia Zandalasini, who was chosen by the Golden State Valkyries within the enlargement draft earlier this offseason, the Lynx are optimistic about including Samuelson’s presence and her three-point taking pictures to the combo of their bench rotation.
Dorka Juhasz to overlook the 2025 WNBA Season
The Minnesota Lynx introduced on Sunday that ahead Dorka Juhasz will miss the 2025 WNBA season. She is at the moment enjoying for the Famila Schio of Italy and is competing within the Italian league finals with the staff.
All through her first two seasons with the Lynx, Juhasz was named to the WNBA All-Rookie Group alongside together with her teammate, guard Diamond Miller, in 2023, and was chosen at sixteenth general in the identical 12 months out of UConn. She additionally appeared in 72 video games and averaged 5.4 factors, 5.2 rebounds and 1.9 assists per sport for Minnesota.
Though the staff will miss Juhasz’s measurement, taking pictures capacity, expert passing, and rebounding, the Lynx are hopeful that Shepard and French heart Marieme Badiane will change her all through the season.
“I imply you discover out simply earlier than the season, it’s clearly an unlucky state of affairs however you realize, gamers make decisions,” Reeve advised the media after follow Monday. “(We’ll) cope with the hand.”
What’s Subsequent for the Lynx After the Preseason
The Minnesota Lynx end the preseason 1-1 after dealing with the Chicago Sky in each of the video games. Collier believes that the staff will proceed to develop their chemistry and that the timing of discovering themselves is pleasurable.
“To proceed to construct our chemistry,” Collier stated. “We’re wanting extra like ourselves, feeling good on the courtroom (and) clicking much more. We simply want to scrub up the little issues like we’re speaking about—We’re clicking extra, nevertheless it’s a brand new season. We’re discovering ourselves once more, and it is actually enjoyable. I am glad it is taking place in preseason, as a result of we have already really feel like, you realize, we’re there once more.”
Reeve offered updates on guard Kayla McBride, who missed each preseason video games because of private causes and said that “the whole lot’s advantageous.” McBride additionally spent this previous offseason enjoying within the inaugural season of Unmatched for Laces BC and abroad in Euroleague Ladies for Fenerbahce.
McBride has made a major impression on the Minnesota Lynx since becoming a member of the staff through the 2021 WNBA offseason. Previous to that, she spent the primary seven years of her skilled profession with the Las Vegas Aces. Recognized for her distinctive three-point taking pictures and general expertise, she brings a flexible sport to the Lynx.
The Minnesota Lynx will start their revenge tour on Friday, Might 16, as they journey to Dallas to tackle Minnesota native and first general choose on this 12 months’s draft, Paige Bueckers, and the Wings.
