2018 Minnesota Lynx season
The 2018 WNBA season of the Minnesota Lynx was their 20th season in the Women's National Basketball Association (WNBA) . The Lynx finished the 2017 season with a record of 27–7, finishing first in the Western Conference (and the league as a whole) and qualifying for the playoffs, before ultimately beating Los Angeles in the WNBA Finals to win their league-tying best fourth championship.
The Lynx returned to the home arena, Target Center , for the 2018 season, following a year playing at the Xcel Energy Center and Williams Arena due to renovations.
The season started out shakily for the Lynx, going 2–3 in May. The Lynx lost their season opener in a re-match of last years finals to Los Angeles. They also lost on the road to the eventual #2 and #3 playoff seeds, Atlanta and Washington. However, the Lynx turned it around in June, posting a 7–3 record. This included a 6-game winning streak, which included wins over 4 eventual playoff teams. Momentum slowed in July, with the Lynx going 6–4. Three of their four losses in July came versus teams that ended up missing the playoffs. The Lynx finished the season on a cold note, going 3–6 in August. A two-game winning streak separated two three game losing streaks. However, the team won their last game of the season to secure the 7th seed in the playoffs .
The Lynx first-round playoff matchup saw them play in Los Angeles versus the Los Angeles Sparks . This match-up was a re-match of the past 3 WNBA Finals. The Lynx lost the game 68–75.
Transactions
WNBA draft
WNBA Draft Trades
The Lynx traded the drafts rights to Park Si-Ju and Kahlia Lawrence to the Las Vegas Aces in exchange for the draft rights to Jill Barta and the rights to the Aces's 2nd Round Pick in the 2019 Draft.
Trades and Roster Changes
Date
Trade
February 1, 2018
Re-Signed F Rebekkah Brunson [ 1]
February 7, 2018
Traded F Natasha Howard to the Seattle Storm for a 2018 2nd Round Pick and the ability to swap 2019 1st Round Picks [ 2]
February 7, 2018
Re-Signed F Cecilia Zandalasini and Signed F Lynetta Kizer and F Endy Miyem [ 3]
February 28, 2018
Signed F Breanna Richardson [ 4]
March 6, 2018
Acquired G Danielle Robinson via trade from the Phoenix Mercury and a 2nd Round Pick in 2019 in exchange for the 12th Pick in the 2018 WNBA Draft [ 5]
March 13, 2018
Signed G Tanisha Wright [ 6]
April 17, 2018
Signed 3rd Round Picks F Jill Barta and G Carlie Wagner, F G'mrice Davis, F Camille Zimmerman, and C Vionise Pierre-Louis [ 7]
May 4, 2018
Waived F G'mrice Davis [ 8]
May 5, 2018
Signed F Jillian Alleyne [ 9]
May 9, 2018
Waived F Jill Barta, F Breanna Richardson, and C Vionise Pierre-Louis [ 10]
May 15, 2018
Waived F Jillian Alleyne and G Carlie Wagner [ 11]
May 17, 2018
Waived F Endy Miyem [ 12]
June 6, 2018
Re-signed F Endy Miyem [ 13]
June 30, 2018
Waived F Lynetta Kizer
July 5, 2018
Signed F Lynetta Kizer to a 7-Day Contract
July 12, 2018
Signed F Erlana Larkins to a 7-Day Contract [ 14]
July 19, 2018
Signed F Erlana Larkins to a 2nd 7-Day Contract
July 30, 2018
Signed F Erlana Larkins to Rest-Of-Season Contract
August 13, 2018
Waived F Endy Miyem
August 14, 2018
Signed G Sydney Colson to Rest-Of-Season Contract
Additions
Subtractions
Roster
2018 Minnesota Lynx roster
Players
Coaches
Pos.
#
Nat.
Name
Height
Weight
DOB From
Yrs
G 33
Augustus, Seimone
6' 0" (1.83m)
172 lb (78kg)
04-30-1984
LSU
12
F 32
Brunson, Rebekkah
6' 2" (1.88m)
181 lb (82kg)
12-11-1981
Georgetown
14
G 51
Colson, Sydney
5' 8" (1.73m)
140 lb (64kg)
08-06-1989
Texas A&M
4
F 14
Fagbenle, Temi
6' 4" (1.93m)
180 lb (82kg)
09-08-1992
USC
1
C 34
Fowles, Sylvia
6' 6" (1.98m)
220 lb (100kg)
10-06-1985
LSU
10
G 12
Jones, Alexis
5' 9" (1.75m)
166 lb (75kg)
05-08-1994
Baylor
1
F 2
Larkins, Erlana
6' 2" (1.88m)
200 lb (91kg)
04-02-1986
North Carolina
8
F 23
Moore, Maya
6' 0" (1.83m)
175 lb (79kg)
06-11-1989
Connecticut
7
G 3
Robinson, Danielle
5' 9" (1.75m)
128 lb (58kg)
05-10-1989
Oklahoma
6
G 13
Whalen, Lindsay
5' 9" (1.75m)
170 lb (77kg)
05-09-1982
Minnesota
14
G 30
Wright, Tanisha
5' 11" (1.8m)
166 lb (75kg)
11-29-1983
Penn State
12
F 9
Zandalasini, Cecilia
6' 2" (1.88m)
175 lb (79kg)
03-16-1996
Italy
1
Head coach
Cheryl Reeve (La Salle )Assistant coaches
Shelley Patterson (Washington State )James Wade (Kennesaw )University of Nevada, Reno )Athletic trainer
Wisconsin-La Crosse )Assistant trainer
Iowa )Legend (C) Team captain(FA) Free agent(IN) Inactive(S) Suspended
Schedule
Preseason
2018 pre-season game log
May: 1–1 (Home: 1–0; Road: 0–1)
2018 season schedule
Regular season
2018 game log
May: 2–3 (Home: 1–1; Road: 1–2)
June: 7–3 (Home: 4–1; Road: 3–2)
Game
Date
Team
Score
High points
High rebounds
High assists
Location
Record
6
June 1
Phoenix
L 85–95
Maya Moore (25)
Sylvia Fowles (11)
Tanisha Wright (4)
Target Center 2–4
7
June 3
@ Los Angeles
L 69–77
Maya Moore (18)
Sylvia Fowles (8)
Sylvia Fowles (5)
Staples Center 2–5
8
June 7
@ Washington
W 88–80
Sylvia Fowles (21)
Sylvia Fowles (12)
Danielle Robinson (5)
Capital One Arena 3–5
9
June 9
@ Connecticut
L 75–89
Sylvia Fowles (20)
Sylvia Fowles (14)
Alexis Jones (4)
Mohegan Sun Arena 3–6
10
June 16
New York
W 85–71
Sylvia Fowles (25)
Sylvia Fowles (9)
Danielle Robinson (8)
Target Center 4–6
11
June 19
Dallas
W 91–83
Maya Moore (21)
Sylvia Fowles (17)
Maya Moore (7)
Target Center 5–6
12
June 22
@ Phoenix
W 83–72
Maya Moore (23)
Rebekkah Brunson (11)
Maya Moore (5)
Talking Stick Resort Arena 6–6
13
June 24
@ Las Vegas
W 88–73
Maya Moore (23)
Sylvia Fowles (10)
Lindsay Whalen (9)
Mandalay Bay Arena 7–6
14
June 26
Seattle
W 91–79
Maya Moore (32)
Sylvia Fowles (17)
Rebekkah Brunson (6)
Target Center 8–6
15
June 29
Atlanta
W 85–74
Maya Moore (24)
Sylvia Fowles (15)
Lindsay Whalen (7)
Target Center 9–6
July: 6–4 (Home: 3–3; Road: 3–1)
Game
Date
Team
Score
High points
High rebounds
High assists
Location
Record
16
July 1
@ Dallas
W 76–72
Maya Moore (26)
Sylvia Fowles (9)
Lindsay Whalen (6)
College Park Center 10–6
17
July 3
Indiana
L 59–71
Rebekkah Brunson (13)
Rebekkah Brunson (12)
Rebekkah Brunson (6)
Target Center 10–7
18
July 5
Los Angeles
W 83–72
Sylvia Fowles (27)
Rebekkah Brunson (12)
Sylvia Fowles (7)
Target Center 11–7
19
July 7
@ Chicago
L 63–77
Maya Moore (16)
Sylvia Fowles (13)
Danielle Robinson (5)
Wintrust Arena 11–8
20
July 11
@ Indiana
W 87–65
Sylvia Fowles (20)
Sylvia Fowles (10)
Sylvia Fowles (7)
Bankers Life Fieldhouse 12–8
21
July 13
Las Vegas
L 77–85
Lindsay Whalen (22)
Sylvia Fowles (17)
Tied (5)
Target Center 12–9
22
July 15
Connecticut
L 64–83
Sylvia Fowles (12)
Sylvia Fowles (8)
Temi Fagbenle (4)
Target Center 12–10
23
July 18
Indiana
W 89–65
Sylvia Fowles (30)
Sylvia Fowles (16)
Erlana Larkins (8)
Target Center 13–10
24
July 21
@ Phoenix
W 80–75
Maya Moore (38)
Rebekkah Brunson (11)
Danielle Robinson (3)
Talking Stick Resort Arena 14–10
25
July 24
New York
W 85–82
Sylvia Fowles (27)
Sylvia Fowles (11)
Seimone Augustus (5)
Target Center 15–10
August: 3–6 (Home: 1–3; Road: 2–3)
2018 season schedule
Playoffs
2018 playoff game log
WNBA First Round: 0–1 (Home: 0–0; Road: 0–1)
2018 playoff schedule
Standings
Notes
(#) x – Qualified for playoffse – Eliminated from playoffs
Playoffs
Note: Teams re-seeded after second round and semi-finals.
Statistics
Regular season
Awards and Milestones
Recipient
Award/Milestone
Date Awarded
Maya Moore
WNBA Western Conference Player of the Week
June 24, 2018[ 20]
July 2, 2018 [ 21]
Rebekkah Brunson
WNBA's All-Time Leading Rebounder (3,318)
July 5, 2018 [ 22]
Cheryl Reeve
WNBA's Winningest Female Head Coach (206)
July 5, 2018 [ 23]
Maya Moore
WNBA Cares Community Assist Award - June
July 12, 2018 [ 24]
Seimone Augustus
WNBA All-Star Selection
July 17, 2018 [ 25]
Maya Moore
Sylvia Fowles
Maya Moore
Best WNBA Player - ESPY's
July 19, 2018 [ 26]
Rebekkah Brunson
WNBA All-Star Selection Replacement
July 25, 2018 [ 27]
Maya Moore
WNBA Western Conference Player of the Week
August 13, 2018[ 28]
Sylvia Fowles
WNBA Peak Performer – Rebounds
August 19, 2018[ 29]
Top 20 Players
With the Lynx entering their 20th season in the league, the organization began ranking their Top 20 Players of All-Time.[ 30]
References
^ "Minnesota Lynx Re-Sign Five-Time WNBA Champion Rebekkah Brunson" . lynx.wnba.com . Retrieved February 1, 2018 .^ "Minnesota Lynx Acquire Multiple Draft Picks in Exchange for Forward Natasha Howard" . lynx.wnba.com . Retrieved February 7, 2018 .^ "Minnesota Lynx Re-Sign Forward Cecilia Zandalasini and Add Forwards Lynetta Kizer and Endy Miyem" . lynx.wnba.com . Retrieved February 7, 2018 .^ "Minnesota Lynx Sign Forward Breanna Richardson" . lynx.wnba.com . Retrieved February 28, 2018 .^ "Minnesota Lynx Acquire Guard Danielle Robinson and a 2019 Second Round Pick in Exchange for a 2018 First Round Pick" . lynx.wnba.com . Retrieved March 6, 2018 .^ "Minnesota Lynx Sign Guard Tanisha Wright" . lynx.wnba.com . Retrieved March 13, 2018 .^ "Minnesota Lynx Complete 2018 Training Camp Roster" . lynx.wnba.com . Retrieved April 17, 2018 .^ "Twitter" . Lynx PR Twitter . twitter.com. Retrieved May 4, 2018 .^ "Lynx Sign Forward Jillian Alleyne" . lynx.wnba.com . Retrieved May 5, 2018 .^ "Lynx Waive Forwards Jill Barta and Breanna Richardson and Center Vionise Pierre-Louis" . lynx.wnba.com . Retrieved May 9, 2018 .^ "Minnesota Lynx Waive Forward Jillian Alleyne and Guard Carlie Wagner" . lynx.wnba.com . May 15, 2018. Retrieved May 21, 2018 .^ "Minnesota Lynx Finalize 2018 Roster" . lynx.wnba.com . May 17, 2018. Retrieved May 21, 2018 .^ "Minnesota Lynx Re-Sign Forward Endy Miyem" . June 6, 2018. Retrieved June 6, 2018 .^ "Minnesota Lynx Sign Forward Erlana Larkins" . July 12, 2018. Retrieved July 12, 2018 .^ "Minnesota Lynx Re-Sign Forward Cecilia Zandalasini and Add Forwards Lynetta Kizer and Endy Miyem" . lynx.wnba.com . Retrieved February 7, 2018 .^ "Minnesota's Plenette Pierson to Retire After 2017 Season" . wnba.com . Retrieved August 21, 2017 .^ "Atlanta Dream Sign Two-Time WNBA Champion Renee Montgomery" . dream.wnba.com . Retrieved February 1, 2018 .^ "Lynx lose guard Renee Montgomery to Atlanta, creating backcourt issues" . startribune.com . Retrieved February 1, 2018 .^ "Minnesota Lynx Acquire Multiple Draft Picks in Exchange for Forward Natasha Howard" . lynx.wnba.com . Retrieved February 7, 2018 .^ "Atlanta's McCoughtry, Minnesota's Moore Named WNBA Players Of The Week" . wnba.com . WNBA. June 25, 2018. Retrieved June 25, 2018 .^ "Elena Delle Donne, Maya Moore Named Players of the Week" . wnba.com . WNBA. July 2, 2018. Retrieved July 2, 2018 .^ "Rebekkah Brunson Becomes WNBA's All-Time Leading Rebounder" . lynx.wnba.com . WNBA. July 5, 2018. Retrieved July 5, 2018 .^ "Cheryl Reeve Becomes Winningest Female Head Coach In WNBA History" . lynx.wnba.com . WNBA. July 5, 2018. Retrieved July 5, 2018 .^ "Minnesota's Moore Receives June WNBA Cares Community Assist Award Presented By State Farm®" . lynx.wnba.com . WNBA. July 12, 2018. Retrieved July 12, 2018 .^ "2018 WNBA All-Stars Announced; Elena Delle Donne, Candace Parker To Serve As Player-Captains" . wnba.com . WNBA. July 17, 2018. Retrieved July 18, 2018 .^ "Maya Moore Wins Best WNBA Player At ESPYS" . lynx.wnba.com . WNBA. July 19, 2018. Retrieved July 18, 2018 .^ "Rebekkah Brunson to Replace Nneka Ogwumike in Verizon WNBA All-Star 2018" . wnba.com . WNBA. July 25, 2018. Retrieved July 25, 2018 .^ "Elena Delle Donne, Maya Moore Named WNBA Players Of The Week (Aug 6-12)" . wnba.com . WNBA. August 13, 2018. Retrieved August 13, 2018 .^ "Cambage, Fowles And Vandersloot Earn 2018 WNBA Peak Performer Awards" . wnba.com . WNBA. August 20, 2018. Retrieved August 30, 2018 .^ "Celebrating 20 Seasons | Lynx Top 20 Players" . lynx.wnba.com . WNBA. Retrieved April 7, 2023 .
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
