2023 Minnesota Lynx season
WNBA team season
The 2023 Minnesota Lynx season was the 25th season for the Minnesota Lynx of the Women's National Basketball Association , and the fourteenth season under head coach Cheryl Reeve .
Reeve signed a multi-year contract extension to return as Head Coach in November, while also moving from General Manager to President of Basketball Operations.[ 1] Clare Duwelius as the fourth General Manager in franchise history.
The Lynx earned the second overall pick through the 2023 WNBA Draft Lottery. They went into the lottery selection holding the fourth best odds to get the first overall pick, but still moved up two selections.[ 2]
On November 22, 2022, Natalie Achonwa announced her pregnancy via Instagram.[ 3]
The WNBA announced that the first WNBA Canada Game would feature the Chicago Sky and the Lynx on Saturday, May 13, 2023, at Scotiabank Arena in Toronto, ON. This would be the first-ever WNBA preseason game in Canada.[ 4]
On September 4, Napheesa Collier was announced as the first-ever winner of the Sylvia Fowles Altruism Award. The Sylvia Fowles Altruism Award will be an annual award recognizing a Lynx player who best embodies the altruistic traits of kindness, selflessness and overall regard for the well-being of others throughout the community. [ 5]
The Lynx season started out slowly as they lost five straight games to start the season, ending May 0–5. The losing streak was extended to six as the Lynx lost their first game in June. They won their first game of the season on June 3. They followed up the win with another loss, but then beat Los Angeles back to back. They lost two of their next three games, but won two straight games against Seattle to end June with a 6–4 record. Their two game win streak carried over into July, where the Lynx won their first three games of the month. This five game winning streak was followed by a three game losing streak. The Lynx would win four of their last five games of the month to finish July with a 7–4 record, and make it back to .500 overall. The better fortunes would not stick around to begin August as the Lynx lost three of their first four games. They did win three of their next four before losing the last two games of the month to finish August 4–6. Entering September, the Lynx were solidly in the hunt for a playoff spot. They won their first two games of the month and secured a playoff spot on September 5. They would lose their last two games of the season and finish September 2–2.
The Lynx finished the season 19–21, which saw them finish in a tie for fifth place in the playoff standings. In the tiebreaker with the Atlanta Dream and the Washington Mystics they finished second. The tiebreaker was overall record against the teams and Minnesota was 3–3. As the sixth overall seed in the 2023 WNBA Playoffs the Lynx would face off against the Connecticut Sun , with the first two games of the series being in Connecticut. In the first game of the series, the Sun got off to a hot start and ended up winning game one 90–60. Needing to win to force a third game, the Lynx won a close game in Connecticut 82–75. However, they could not seal the series at home, losing 75–90 to end their season.
Transactions
WNBA draft
Transactions
Date
Transaction
November 3, 2022
Signed Head Coach Cheryl Reeve to Multi-Year Contract Extension. Reeve also promoted to President of Basketball Operations[ 6]
December 13, 2022
Named Clare Duwelius as General Manager[ 7]
January 13, 2023
Extended Qualifying Offers to Bridget Carleton and Anna Cruz [ 8]
January 16, 2023
Maya Moore officially announced her retirement from the WNBA[ 9]
February 3, 2023
Signed Damiris Dantas , Bridget Carleton , Lindsay Allen , Nikolina Milić , and Tiffany Mitchell [ 10]
February 4, 2023
Signed Kiana Williams , Stephanie Watts , and Maya Dodson to Training Camp Contracts[ 11]
February 18, 2023
Signed Rachel Banham [ 12]
March 15, 2023
Hired Kristin Haynie as Assistant Coach[ 13]
April 14, 2023
Signed Diamond Miller , Dorka Juhász , Brea Beal , and Taylor Soule to Rookie Scale Contracts[ 14]
Signed Myah Selland and Keishana Washington to Training Camp Contracts[ 15]
April 20, 2023
Assistant Coach Kristin Haynie announces she will leave to become the Head Coach at Central Michigan [ 16]
April 26, 2023
Hired Elaine Powell as Assistant Coach[ 17]
May 3, 2023
Waived Keishana Washington[ 18]
May 8, 2023
Waived Stephanie Watts and Kiana Williams [ 19]
May 14, 2023
Waived Maya Dodson and Myah Selland[ 20]
May 16, 2023
Waived Brea Beal [ 21]
May 18, 2023
Waived Damiris Dantas and Taylor Soule[ 22]
Placed Natalie Achonwa on the Inactive List due to Pregnancy/Child-Birth
June 14, 2023
Signed Emily Engstler to a Hardship Contract[ 23]
June 26, 2023
Signed Kayana Traylor to a Hardship Contract[ 24]
July 20, 2023
Released Kayana Traylor from the Hardship Contract[ 25]
July 26, 2023
Released Emily Engstler from the Hardship Contract[ 26]
July 28, 2023
Signed Emily Engstler to a 7-Day Contract[ 27]
September 8, 2023
Signed Kayla McBride to a Contract Extension[ 28]
Roster Changes
Roster
2023 Minnesota Lynx roster
Players
Coaches
Pos.
#
Nat.
Name
Height
Weight
DOB From
Yrs
F 11
Achonwa, Natalie (Maternity Leave)
6' 3" (1.91m)
198 lb (90kg)
1992-11-22
Notre Dame
8
G 2
Allen, Lindsay
5' 8" (1.73m)
145 lb (66kg)
03-20-1995
Notre Dame
5
G 15
Banham, Rachel
5' 9" (1.75m)
175 lb (79kg)
1993-07-15
Minnesota
7
G/F 6
Carleton, Bridget
6' 1" (1.85m)
190 lb (86kg)
1997-05-22
Iowa State
4
F 24
Collier, Napheesa
6' 2" (1.88m)
185 lb (84kg)
1996-09-23
Connecticut
4
G/F 14
Juhász, Dorka
6' 5" (1.96m)
192 lb (87kg)
1999-12-18
Connecticut
R
G 21
McBride, Kayla
5' 10" (1.78m)
186 lb (84kg)
1992-06-25
Notre Dame
9
F 31
Milić, Nikolina
6' 3" (1.91m)
172 lb (78kg)
04-12-1994
Serbia
1
G 1
Miller, Diamond
6' 3" (1.91m)
163 lb (74kg)
2001-02-11
Maryland
R
G 25
Mitchell, Tiffany
5' 9" (1.75m)
152 lb (69kg)
1994-09-23
South Carolina
7
G/F 3
Powers, Aerial
5' 9" (1.75m)
166 lb (75kg)
1994-07-17
Michigan State
7
F 10
Shepard, Jessica
6' 3" (1.91m)
184 lb (83kg)
1996-09-11
Notre Dame
2
Head coach
Cheryl Reeve (La Salle )Assistant coaches
Katie Smith (Ohio State )Rebekkah Brunson (Georgetown )Elaine Powell (LSU )Athletic trainer
Wisconsin-La Crosse )Assistant trainer
Mankato )Legend (C) Team captain(FA) Free agent(IN) Inactive(S) Suspended
Depth
Schedule
Preseason
Regular Season
2023 game log
May: 0–5 (Home: 0–2; Road: 0–3)
June
: 6–4 (Home: 2–3; Road: 4–1)
Game
Date
Team
Score
High points
High rebounds
High assists
Location
Record
6
June 1
Connecticut
L 84–89
Napheesa Collier (30)
Jessica Shepard (12)
Collier Shepard (4)
Target Center 0–6
7
June 3
@ Washington
W 80–78
Kayla McBride (24)
Napheesa Collier (9)
Jessica Shepard (6)
Entertainment and Sports Arena 1–6
8
June 7
@ New York
Postponed until July 28 due to poor air quality [ 29] Barclays Center
9
June 9
Indiana
L 69–71
Napheesa Collier (28)
Napheesa Collier (14)
Allen Shepard (4)
Target Center 1–7
10
June 11
Los Angeles
W 91–86
Napheesa Collier (24)
Jessica Shepard (13)
Napheesa Collier (6)
Target Center 2–7
11
June 16
@ Los Angeles
W 77–72
Napheesa Collier (25)
Napheesa Collier (6)
Rachel Banham (6)
Crypto.com Arena 3–7
12
June 18
@ Las Vegas
L 62–93
Napheesa Collier (18)
Dorka Juhász (9)
Carleton Juhász (3)
Michelob Ultra Arena 3–8
13
June 20
@ Los Angeles
W 67–61
Napheesa Collier (26)
Napheesa Collier (14)
Lindsay Allen (8)
Crypto.com Arena 4–8
14
June 22
Connecticut
L 68–89
Napheesa Collier (21)
Collier Engstler (7)
Lindsay Allen (7)
Target Center 4–9
15
June 27
Seattle
W 104–93
Napheesa Collier (33)
Dorka Juhász (12)
Lindsay Allen (9)
Target Center 5–9
16
June 29
@ Seattle
W 99–97 (OT)
Napheesa Collier (31)
Collier Juhász (8)
Lindsay Allen (6)
Climate Pledge Arena 6–9
July
: 7–4 (Home: 4–3; Road: 3–1)
Game
Date
Team
Score
High points
High rebounds
High assists
Location
Record
17
July 1
@ Phoenix
W 86–76
Diamond Miller (25)
Napheesa Collier (9)
Lindsay Allen (8)
Footprint Center 7–9
18
July 5
Indiana
W 90–83
Napheesa Collier (32)
Napheesa Collier (8)
Lindsay Allen (6)
Target Center 8–9
19
July 7
Phoenix
W 75–64
Napheesa Collier (12)
Napheesa Collier (12)
Napheesa Collier (5)
Target Center 9–9
20
July 9
Las Vegas
L 89–113
Napheesa Collier (18)
Carleton Collier Milić (5)
Rachel Banham (7)
Target Center 9–10
21
July 12
Dallas
L 67–107
Napheesa Collier (11)
Allen Milić (5)
Allen Banham (6)
Target Center 9–11
22
July 18
@ Atlanta
L 73–82
Napheesa Collier (35)
Dorka Juhász (12)
Lindsay Allen (5)
Gateway Center Arena 9–12
23
July 20
Los Angeles
W 73–70
Napheesa Collier (22)
Dorka Juhász (10)
Diamond Miller (9)
Target Center 10–12
24
July 22
Las Vegas
L 81–98
Diamond Miller (17)
Collier Juhász (8)
Lindsay Allen (4)
Target Center 10–13
25
July 26
Washington
W 97–92
Napheesa Collier (24)
Napheesa Collier (11)
Diamond Miller (9)
Target Center 11–13
26
July 28
New York
W 88–83
Kayla McBride (26)
Dorka Juhász (10)
Allen McBride Shepard (4)
Barclays Center 12–13
27
July 30
@ Connecticut
W 87–83
Kayla McBride (19)
Jessica Shepard (14)
Lindsay Allen (6)
Mohegan Sun Arena 13–13
August
: 4–6 (Home: 1–3; Road: 3–3)
Game
Date
Team
Score
High points
High rebounds
High assists
Location
Record
28
August 1
@ Connecticut
L 69–79
Lindsay Allen (16)
Dorka Juhász (11)
Diamond Miller (6)
Mohegan Sun Arena 13–14
29
August 4
New York
L 66–76
Napheesa Collier (18)
Jessica Shepard (11)
Lindsay Allen (10)
Target Center 13–15
30
August 8
@ Chicago
W 88–79
Napheesa Collier (29)
Diamond Miller (11)
Kayla McBride (7)
Wintrust Arena 14–15
31
August 10
@ Indiana
L 73–91
Rachel Banham (18)
Jessica Shepard (7)
Lindsay Allen (5)
Gainbridge Fieldhouse 14–16
32
August 18
@ Seattle
W 78–70
Napheesa Collier (24)
Dorka Juhász (12)
Collier Juhász McBride (4)
Climate Pledge Arena 15–16
33
August 20
Seattle
L 74–88
Kayla McBride (18)
Napheesa Collier (9)
Diamond Miller (6)
Target Center 15–17
34
August 22
Dallas
W 91–86
Napheesa Collier (29)
Napheesa Collier (7)
Dorka Juhász (7)
Target Center 16–17
35
August 24
@ Dallas
W 90–81
Napheesa Collier (25)
Collier McBride (7)
Tiffany Mitchell (7)
College Park Center 17–17
36
August 26
New York
L 76–111
Diamond Miller (18)
Diamond Miller (9)
Rachel Banham (4)
Target Center 17–18
37
August 29
@ Washington
L 72–83
Diamond Miller (25)
Napheesa Collier (10)
Collier Juhász (4)
Entertainment and Sports Arena 17–19
September
: 2–2 (Home: 2–0; Road: 0–2)
2023 season schedule
Playoffs
Standings
Playoffs
Bold Series winner
Statistics
Regular Season
‡ Waived/Released during the season
† Traded during the season
≠ Acquired during the season
Playoffs
Awards and honors
References
^ "Lynx Sign Head Coach Cheryl Reeve to Multi-Year Contract Extension" . lynx.wnba.com . WNBA. Retrieved November 20, 2022 .^ "Minnesota Lynx Secure No. 2 Pick in WNBA Draft" . lynx.wnba.com . WNBA. Retrieved November 20, 2022 .^ Youngblood, Kent. "Lynx center Natalie Achonwa announces pregnancy" . startribune.com . Star Tribune. Retrieved November 23, 2022 . ^ "First-Ever WNBA Canada Game to Feature Lynx and Chicago Sky in Toronto" . lynx.wnba.com . WNBA. Retrieved February 5, 2023 .^ a b "Minnesota Lynx Announce Sylvia Fowles Altruism Award" . lynx.wnba.com . WNBA. Retrieved September 4, 2023 .^ Philippou, Alexa (November 3, 2022). "Cheryl Reeve gets extension, promotion to Lynx president" . ESPN.com . ESPN. Retrieved November 20, 2022 . ^ "Minnesota Lynx Name Clare Duwelius as General Manager" . lynx.wnba.com . WNBA. Retrieved December 13, 2022 .^ @RachGall (January 13, 2023). "The Minnesota Lynx have extended Qualifying Offers to Bridget Carleton and Anna Cruz. @Winsidr" (Tweet ) – via Twitter . ^ "Lynx Forward Maya Moore Announces Her Retirement From The WNBA" . lynx.wnba.com . Lynx PR. Retrieved January 17, 2023 .^ "Minnesota Lynx Return Four" . lynx.wnba.com . WNBA. Retrieved February 3, 2023 .^ "Minnesota Lynx Sign Three To Training Camp Roster" . lynx.wnba.com . WNBA. Retrieved February 5, 2023 .^ "Lynx Re-Sign Guard Rachel Banham" . lynx.wnba.com . WNBA. Retrieved February 19, 2023 .^ "Lynx Complete Coaching and Basketball Operations Staff" . lynx.wnba.com . WNBA. Retrieved March 16, 2023 .^ "Lynx Sign 2023 Draft Selections" . lynx.wnba.com . WNBA. Retrieved April 15, 2023 .^ "Minnesota Lynx Sign Keishana Washington and Myah Selland to Training Camp Roster" . lynx.wnba.com . WNBA. Retrieved April 15, 2023 .^ "Minnesota Lynx Statement Regarding Kristin Haynie" . lynx.wnba.com . WNBA. Retrieved April 22, 2023 .^ "Minnesota Lynx Add Elaine Powell and Michael Wexler to Basketball Operations Staff" . lynx.wnba.com . WNBA. Retrieved April 26, 2023 .^ "Lynx Waive Guard Keishana Washington" . lynx.wnba.com . WNBA. Retrieved May 4, 2023 .^ "Lynx Waive Kiana Williams and Stephanie Watts" . lynx.wnba.com . WNBA. Retrieved May 13, 2023 .^ "Lynx Waive Maya Dodson and Myah Selland" . lynx.wnba.com . WNBA. Retrieved May 14, 2023 .^ "Lynx Waive Brea Beal" . lynx.wnba.com . WNBA. Retrieved May 18, 2023 .^ "Lynx Waive Damiris Dantas and Taylor Soule" . lynx.wnba.com . WNBA. Retrieved May 21, 2023 .^ "Lynx Sign Emily Engstler" . lynx.wnba.com . WNBA. Retrieved June 16, 2023 .^ "Lynx Sign Guard Kayana Traylor" . lynx.wnba.com . WNBA. Retrieved June 28, 2023 .^ "Lynx Activate Aerial Powers" . lynx.wnba.com . WNBA. Retrieved July 21, 2023 .^ "Lynx Forward Jessica Shepard Cleared to Return" . lynx.wnba.com . WNBA. Retrieved July 27, 2023 .^ "Lynx Sign Forward Emily Engstler" . lynx.wnba.com . WNBA. Retrieved August 1, 2023 .^ "Lynx Sign Kayla McBride to Multi-Year Contract Extension" . lynx.wnba.com . WNBA. Retrieved September 24, 2023 .^ "MLB, WNBA postpone games due to smoke from Canadian wildfires" . ESPN . Retrieved June 7, 2023 .^ "Connecticut Sun's Alyssa Thomas, Washington Mystics' Elena Delle Donne Highlight Reserves For 2023 AT&T WNBA All-Star Game" . wnba.com . WNBA. Retrieved July 1, 2023 .^ "Lynx Forward Napheesa Collier Named Western Conference Player of the Week" . lynx.wnba.com . WNBA . July 5, 2023. Retrieved July 8, 2023 .^ "Lynx Forward Napheesa Collier Named Western Conference Player of the Week" . lynx.wnba.com . WNBA. Retrieved September 10, 2023 .^ @WNBA (September 22, 2023). "Your 2023 WNBA All-Defensive Second Team ⬇️ @BetnijahLaney @ezimagbegor @nnekaogwumike @PHEEsespieces @E_Williams_1 #MoreThanGame" (Tweet ) – via Twitter . ^ "Kia WNBA MVP Breanna Stewart, Kia WNBA Defensive Player of the Year A'ja Wilson and Record-Setting Alyssa Thomas Headline 2023 All-WNBA First Team" . wnba.com (Press release). WNBA. October 15, 2023. Retrieved October 16, 2023 .^ Kennedy, Alex (August 2, 2023). "Breanna Stewart, A'ja Wilson are WNBA Players of the Month for July" . basketballnews.com . Retrieved August 2, 2023 . ^ a b "Indiana Fever's Aliyah Boston Named 2023 Kia WNBA Rookie of the Year" . WNBA . October 2, 2023. Retrieved October 2, 2023 .
External links
Franchise Arenas Head coaches Administration
Retired Numbers All-Stars Seasons Playoff appearances Conference Championships Commissioner's Cup Championships WNBA Championships Culture and lore Rivals Media
