The Minnesota Lynx are turning heads once again, and for good reason. As we dive into their season preview, there's plenty of reason to be excited—especially if you're a fan of smart basketball, resilient rosters, and a coach who knows how to get the most out of her squad.
On paper, the Lynx might not have been the flashiest team over the last two years. But that didn't stop them from going a combined 64-20 in the regular season, making two semifinal appearances, and reaching the Finals. So, why start doubting them now?
Sure, they've lost some key contributors from last year's run—players like Alanna Smith, Natisha Hiedeman, Jessica Shepard, and Bridget Carleton, plus DiJonai Carrington, who was only with the team for part of the season. But the Lynx front office has been busy.
Enter Natasha Howard, a familiar face returning to Minnesota. At 34, she's far from done. Last season with the Fever, she averaged 11.4 points and 6.6 rebounds while shooting 55.2 percent from the field—good for third-best in the WNBA. Then there's Olivia Miles, widely considered the top prospect from the 2026 draft class, and Dorka Juhász, who just took home EuroLeague Women MVP honors after sitting out the 2025 WNBA season. At just 26 years old, Juhász is a force to be reckoned with.
But here's the real headline: Minnesota still boasts its top three scorers from last year. Napheesa Collier, Kayla McBride, and Courtney Williams combined for 58.9 percent of the Lynx's league-leading 86.1 points per game. Collier is recovering from surgery on both ankles and isn't expected back until early June, but once she returns, watch out. McBride, ranked No. 23 by ESPN, has been one of the league's premier sharpshooters, knocking down 208 three-pointers at a 40.1 percent clip over the past two seasons. And Williams, ranked No. 25, is known as the "Midrange Monster" by ESPN analysts—but don't sleep on her developing three-point game. She hit a career-high 1.3 triples per game last season at 38 percent.
With a mix of proven stars, savvy veterans, and rising talent, the Lynx are poised to prove the doubters wrong once again. Whether Collier's early-season absence or the departure of key role players will slow them down remains to be seen. But if history is any guide, counting out Reeve and Phee is a risky bet.