2024-25 WNBA Offseason Guides: Minnesota Lynx
2024-25 WNBA Offseason Guides: Minnesota Lynx
Our series detailing where each franchise stands heading into the WNBA offseason continues with the team that came desperately close to another title, the Minnesota Lynx
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Previously published 2024-25 Offseason Guides:
Los Angeles Sparks
Dallas Wings
Chicago Sky
Washington Mystics
Atlanta Dream
Seattle Storm
Indiana Fever
Phoenix Mercury
Las Vegas Aces
Connecticut Sun
2024 record: 30-10, No. 2 seed, beat Phoenix 2-0 in the first round, beat Connecticut 3-2 in the semifinals, lost 3-2 to New York in the WNBA Finals.
2025 draft picks: The Lynx still have all their own picks in the 2025 draft, with their first-rounder falling at No. 11 overall. They also have an extra second-round pick, acquired from Chicago as part of the deal that let the Sky move up to No. 7 in 2024 to select Angel Reese.
Free agents: Myisha Hines-Allen (unrestricted free agent), Natisha Hiedeman (unrestricted free agent), Cecilia Zandalasini (reserved), Olivia Époupa (reserved).
Under contract for 2025: Napheesa Collier, Kayla McBride, Courtney Williams, Alanna Smith, Bridget Carleton, Diamond Miller, Alissa Pili, Dorka Juhasz.
2024 performance: I know it ended with a bitterly disappointing conclusion for the Lynx and their fans, but generally speaking the 2024 season was a remarkable success for Minnesota. Very few people had them projected among the genuine contenders at the start of the season, and yet the group coalesced into the best unit the franchise had seen since their 2011-17 championship era. Free agent additions Courtney Williams and Alanna Smith fit seamlessly into an undersized but extremely effective starting lineup which combined to create one of the best defensive teams in the league. Communication and collective effort filled holes whenever necessary on that end of the floor, while the perimeter threat from virtually everyone on the roster spread the floor around superstar Napheesa Collier on offense.
It took them to the absolute brink of what would've been one of the most surprising WNBA championships in a long time. While understandably upset about the events that went against them on the final night, the whole franchise can be proud of the season they put together. Now the question is whether they can replicate it next year, or if 2024 was really a matter of catching lightning in a bottle.
Offseason Finances: The Lynx already have the core of their 2024 roster under contract for 2025. All five regular starters are signed through next year, with Diamond Miller, Dorka Juhasz and Alissa Pili all still on their rookie-scale contracts as well (although someone will likely be lost in the Golden State expansion draft). They have just over $400,000 left in cap space after those eight, more than enough to throw the max at a free agent if they want to, and still have over $114,000 left for a second free agent (assuming an 11-player roster and the final spot going to their first-round pick).
However, given how important the unity of their group was this year, they may well spend their money trying to bring other players back. Natisha Hiedeman fit in well as the backup to Williams who could also play alongside her, and Myisha Hines-Allen was also a smooth fit after arriving in a deadline-day trade. They also hold Cecilia Zandalasini's reserved rights, which means they aren't required to offer her more than her applicable minimum, but they may need to go a little higher to encourage her to show up again and continue playing year-round. Maybe they'll poke around the free agent market first just to see what upgrades might be possible without upsetting their chemistry too much, but if they want to bring the rest of that bench unit back then the $400,000 will dwindle quite quickly.
Offseason priorities: It's nice to be able to start one of these without saying "well first they have to decide what they're doing with their head coach." It's safe to say that four-time and newly re-anointed Coach of the Year Cheryl Reeve is safe. They will have to make a slightly awkward decision for the expansion draft, with former No. 2 overall pick Diamond Miller right on the edge. If we presume the five starters from this year's group will be protected in an effort to repeat their success next year, the Lynx would only have one protected spot left. That could be used on Miller - spoiler for my future mock expansion draft: I think it will be - but it's not a certainty. Her future is now one of the important issues for the Lynx to handle. She was supposed to be a big part of their plans alongside Collier, but injury ruined much of her 2024 season and then she never managed to fight her way back into the rotation after returning. There's still an enormous amount of raw talent there - she finished No. 40 in our #RankingTheW exercise before this season - but this year was a big step back. The Lynx will know a lot more about how much of it was her still being held back by the injury after her return, and how much was her simply being played out of the rotation by her own teammates. Of course, she may still be worth protecting in order to trade her later, even if the Lynx ultimately think it's time to move on.
Beyond that question, it's a case of stick or twist. The easy choice when you've had a successful year, especially when that success is grounded in your collective unit and chemistry rather than pure star talent, is to run it back as much as possible. Re-sign everyone you can, maybe add a rookie or two to the end of the bench, and go again. They'd be less of a surprise, but potentially just as good. However, 2024's improvement was built on carefully considered semi-gambles in the free agent and trade market. So maybe you try the same thing again. I'd be surprised by anyone who changes the approach, like a low-post big they need to run the ball through, but some free agent shopping here and there to make them deeper and more injury-proof might not hurt. The trade for Hines-Allen illustrated that they could add pieces to this group without breaking the chemistry as long as it's the right piece. Maybe some true size to bang in the paint against certain opponents, or a slightly more considered ballhandler for when Williams is having a rough night, or an electric injection of offense from the bench (that might just be Miller's new role). If they work out as well as 2024's additions, who knows what might happen in 2025.
Future assets: The Lynx gave up their 2026 second-rounder in the deadline trade for Hines-Allen but still hold their other picks in 2026. They also have swap rights to Chicago's 2026 first-round pick from the aforementioned trade that moved the Sky up for Reese, which could prove very useful if the Sky are a mess again next year. Minnesota also still hold the suspended rights to Jessica Shepard, who could help deepen their post rotation if she wants to return, and the draft rights to French big Maïa Hirsch. She's not exactly been tearing it up in Europe since being drafted, but she's still only 20 years old, 6-foot-5, and mobile with some range. If she wants to come over for camp one year, the Lynx will happily take a look.
Thanks for reading the Her Hoop Stats Newsletter. If you like our work, be sure to check out our stats site, our podcast, and our social media accounts on Twitter, YouTube, Facebook, and Instagram.
Lynx definitely need a big. They couldn't handle JJ( which led to her mvp), Sabally and Stewie on the boards. They should sign and develop Taiyanna Jackson.