2022 Minnesota Lynx season
24th season for the Minnesota Lynx of the WNBA
The 2022 WNBA season is the current and 24th season for the Minnesota Lynx of the Women's National Basketball Association . The season began on May 6, 2022, versus the Seattle Storm .[ 1]
On November 28, 2021, Napheesa Collier announced her pregnancy with an announcement in People Magazine . Collier stated, "“I am very excited to start a family with my fiancé Alex. Having a child is truly a beautiful journey and I am grateful to have the support of our families, friends and the Lynx as I begin this special chapter of motherhood.”[ 2] On December 8, 2021, Cheryl Reeve was named the new United States women's national basketball team head coach for the 2021-2024 cycle.[ 3]
On February 1, 2022, the Lynx opened free agency and re-signed Sylvia Fowles to a one-year deal. Fowles also announced at this time that this season would be her last and she would be retiring following the 2022 season.[ 4]
The Lynx struggled to start the season, losing their first four games and only winning two games in the first month of the season. They finished May 2–7 overall. Their struggles continued into June as they won only one of the first seven games in the month and went on a five game losing streak. However, their fortunes improved at the end of the month as they won three of their last four games to finish the month 4–7. The momentum carried over into July and the Lynx won four of their first six games, but then only won two of their last five games to finish the season 6–5. A better August might have seen the Lynx qualify for the playoffs, but they finished the month 2–3, which left them one game out of the eighth and final playoff spot. This was the first time since 2010 , the Lynx missed the playoffs and had a sub-.500 record. This ended the WNBA’s longest active playoff streak at 12 straight years.
Moriah Jefferson recorded the first-ever triple-double in Lynx history on June 28, 2022. She had 13 points, 10 rebounds, and 10 assists in a 92–64 victory over her former team, the Dallas Wings . The 10 assists were also a career-high for Jefferson.[ 5]
Napheesa Collier returned to the court on August 7, 2022, just 10 and half weeks after giving birth to her daughter. She finished with 6 points, 2 rebounds, 1 assist, 1 steal, and 1 block in the game.[ 6]
Transactions
WNBA draft
Trades and Roster Changes
Date
Transaction
January 3, 2022
Extended Qualifying Offers to Anna Cruz and Bridget Carleton [ 7]
January 4, 2022
Signed Bridget Carleton to a Qualifying Offer[ 8]
January 12, 2022
Promoted Katie Smith to Associate head coach[ 9]
February 1, 2022
Re-signed Sylvia Fowles to a One-Year Deal[ 10]
February 2, 2022
Signed Angel McCoughtry to a One-Year Deal[ 11] [ 12]
February 8, 2022
Signed Layshia Clarendon to a One-Year Deal[ 13]
Signed Rachel Banham to a training-camp contract[ 14]
February 18, 2022
Signed Yvonne Turner and Natasha Mack to training-camp contracts[ 15]
April 10, 2022
Traded the #8 and #13 picks in the 2022 WNBA draft to the Las Vegas Aces in exchange for a First and a Second Round Pick in the 2023 WNBA Draft[ 16]
April 13, 2022
Signed Kayla Jones and Hannah Sjerven to rookie-scale contracts
Signed Chloe Bibby , CeCe Hooks , and Moon Ursin to training-camp contracts[ 17]
April 15, 2022
Waived Natasha Mack [ 18]
April 28, 2022
Waived CeCe Hooks [ 19]
May 2, 2022
Signed Napheesa Collier to a Multi-Year Extension[ 20]
Waived Chloe Bibby and Moon Ursin[ 21]
May 3, 2022
Signed Odyssey Sims to a training-camp contract
Waived Layshia Clarendon , Crystal Dangerfield , Yvonne Turner , Rennia Davis , Hannah Sjerven , and Kayla Jones[ 22]
May 5, 2022
Temporarily Suspend Kayla McBride due to Overseas Commitments
May 6, 2022
Signed Yvonne Turner and Nina Milić [ 23]
May 10, 2022
Signed Rennia Davis to a Hardship Contract
May 12, 2022
Waived Angel McCoughtry and Odyssey Sims [ 24]
Released Rennia Davis , Nikolina Milić , and Yvonne Turner from their Hardship Contracts[ 25]
May 13, 2022
Signed Moriah Jefferson and Evina Westbrook
Signed Yvonne Turner , Nikolina Milić , and Hannah Sjerven to Hardship Contracts[ 26]
May 16, 2022
Signed Jessica Shepard to a Multi-Year Contract Extension[ 27]
Activated Kayla McBride from her Temporary Suspension
Released Yvonne Turner from her Hardship Contract[ 28]
May 22, 2022
Released Hannah Sjerven from her Hardship Contract[ 29]
May 31, 2022
Signed Elissa Cunane to a Hardship Contract[ 30]
June 1, 2022
Signed Kamiah Smalls to a Hardship Contract[ 31]
June 9, 2022
Released Kamiah Smalls from her Hardship Contract
June 21, 2022
Released Elissa Cunane from her Hardship Contract[ 32]
June 23, 2022
Released Nikolina Milić from her Hardship Contract[ 33]
June 24, 2022
Waived Evina Westbrook [ 34]
June 26, 2022
Signed Nikolina Milić to a 7-day contract[ 35]
July 3, 2022
Signed Nikolina Milić to a 2nd 7-day contract[ 36]
July 11, 2022
Signed Nikolina Milić to a 3rd 7-day contract[ 37]
July 19, 2022
Signed Nikolina Milić to a Hardship Contract[ 38]
July 21, 2022
Signed Lindsay Allen to a 7-Day Hardship Contract[ 39]
July 28, 2022
Signed Lindsay Allen to a 2nd 7-Day Hardship Contract[ 40]
August 7, 2022
Signed Lindsay Allen to a 3rd 7-Day Hardship Contract[ 41]
Signed Nikolina Milić to a Hardship Contract
August 9, 2022
Released Nikolina Milić and Lindsay Allen from their Hardship Contracts
August 10, 2022
Signed Lindsay Allen to a Hardship Contract[ 42]
Roster
2022 Minnesota Lynx roster
Players
Coaches
Pos.
#
Nat.
Name
Height
Weight
DOB
From
Yrs
F
11
Achonwa, Natalie
6' 3" (1.91m)
198 lb (90kg)
1992-11-22
Notre Dame
7
G
2
Allen, Lindsay
5' 8" (1.73m)
144 lb (65kg)
03-20-1995
Notre Dame
4
G
15
Banham, Rachel
5' 9" (1.75m)
175 lb (79kg)
1993-07-15
Minnesota
6
G/F
6
Carleton, Bridget
6' 1" (1.85m)
190 lb (86kg)
1997-05-22
Iowa State
3
F
24
Collier, Napheesa
6' 2" (1.88m)
182 lb (83kg)
1996-09-23
Connecticut
3
F
12
Dantas, Damiris (inactive)
6' 3" (1.91m)
212 lb (96kg)
1992-11-17
Brazil
7
C
34
Fowles, Sylvia
6' 6" (1.98m)
219 lb (99kg)
1985-10-06
LSU
14
G
4
Jefferson, Moriah
5' 6" (1.68m)
123 lb (56kg)
1994-03-08
Connecticut
5
G
21
McBride, Kayla
5' 10" (1.78m)
184 lb (83kg)
1992-06-25
Notre Dame
8
F
31
Milić, Nikolina
6' 3" (1.91m)
172 lb (78kg)
04-12-1994
Serbia
R
G/F
3
Powers, Aerial
5' 9" (1.75m)
166 lb (75kg)
1994-07-17
Michigan State
6
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 )
Athletic trainer
Chuck Barta (Wisconsin-La Crosse )
Assistant trainer
Brandi BlueArm (Mankato )
Legend
(C) Team captain
(FA) Free agent
(IN) Inactive
(S) Suspended
Injured
Depth
Schedule
Preseason
2022 pre-season game log Total: 1–1 (Home:1–0; Road: 0–1)
April: 0–1 (Home: 0–0; Road: 0–1)
May
: 1–0 (Home: 1–0; Road: 0–0)
2022 pre-season schedule
Regular Season
2022 game log Total: 14–22 (Home: 7–11; Road: 7–11)
May: 2–7 (Home: 1–3; Road: 1–4)
June
: 4–7 (Home: 2–3; Road: 2–4)
Game
Date
Team
Score
High points
High rebounds
High assists
Location Attendance
Record
10
June 1
@ Atlanta
L 76–84
Kayla McBride (20)
Sylvia Fowles (20)
Rachel Banham (6)
Gateway Center Arena 1,268
2–8
11
June 5
@ New York
W 84–77
Aerial Powers (27)
Sylvia Fowles (8)
Rachel Banham (4)
Barclays Center 4,119
3–8
12
June 7
@ New York
L 69–88
Kayla McBride (13)
Jessica Shepard (7)
Smalls Westbrook (4)
Barclays Center 3,196
3–9
13
June 10
Washington
L 59–76
Aerial Powers (12)
Jessica Shepard (15)
Moriah Jefferson (6)
Target Center 6,315
3–10
14
June 12
Indiana
L 80–84
Nikolina Milić (18)
Sylvia Fowles (11)
Aerial Powers (7)
Target Center 6,806
3–11
15
June 14
Seattle
L 79–81
Kayla McBride (20)
Nikolina Milić (7)
Aerial Powers (7)
Target Center 6,031
3–12
16
June 19
@ Las Vegas
L 95–96
Moriah Jefferson (23)
Jessica Shepard (19)
Moriah Jefferson (7)
Michelob Ultra Arena 4,603
3–13
17
June 21
@ Phoenix
W 84–71
Kayla McBride (18)
Jessica Shepard (13)
Moriah Jefferson (9)
Footprint Center 6,394
4–13
18
June 23
Phoenix
W 100–88
Moriah Jefferson (21)
Sylvia Fowles (10)
Aerial Powers (6)
Target Center 8,004
5–13
19
June 26
@ Chicago
L 85–88
McBride Shepard (15)
Jessica Shepard (8)
Aerial Powers (7)
Wintrust Arena 7,022
5–14
20
June 28
Dallas
W 92–64
Aerial Powers (20)
Natalie Achonwa (13)
Moriah Jefferson (10)
Target Center 5,603
6–14
July
: 6–5 (Home: 3–4; Road: 3–1)
Game
Date
Team
Score
High points
High rebounds
High assists
Location Attendance
Record
21
July 1
Las Vegas
L 85–91
Rachel Banham (24)
Sylvia Fowles (5)
Achonwa Banham (4)
Target Center 6,104
6–15
22
July 3
Las Vegas
W 102–71
Aerial Powers (32)
Sylvia Fowles (11)
Moriah Jefferson (6)
Target Center 7,603
7–15
23
July 6
Chicago
W 81–78
Aerial Powers (22)
Aerial Powers (11)
Moriah Jefferson (6)
Target Center 11,103
8–15
24
July 12
Phoenix
W 118–107 (2OT)
Aerial Powers (35)
Sylvia Fowles (14)
Kayla McBride (5)
Target Center 6,503
9–15
25
July 14
Dallas
L 87–92
Rachel Banham (24)
Sylvia Fowles (17)
Sylvia Fowles (3)
Target Center 4,834
9–16
26
July 15
@ Indiana
W 87–77
Kayla McBride (28)
Sylvia Fowles (12)
Jefferson Shepard (5)
Indiana Farmers Coliseum 1,530
10–16
27
July 17
@ Washington
L 57–70
Kayla McBride (16)
Fowles Shepard (12)
Jessica Shepard (7)
Entertainment and Sports Arena 4,200
10–17
28
July 22
Connecticut
L 84–94
Aerial Powers (14)
Natalie Achonwa (6)
Lindsay Allen (7)
Target Center 8,321
10–18
29
July 24
Connecticut
L 79–86
Aerial Powers (17)
Jessica Shepard (8)
Aerial Powers (4)
Target Center 7,231
10–19
30
July 28
@ Atlanta
W 92–85
Aerial Powers (25)
Sylvia Fowles (14)
Moriah Jefferson (7)
Gateway Center Arena 2,396
11–19
31
July 31
@ Los Angeles
W 84–77
Moriah Jefferson (22)
Jessica Shepard (10)
Jefferson Powers (4)
Crypto.com Arena 6,857
12–19
August
: 2–3 (Home: 1–1; Road: 1–2)
2022 season schedule
Standings
Statistics
Regular Season
‡ Waived/Released during the season
† Traded during the season
≠ Acquired during the season
Awards and honors
References
^ "Minnesota Lynx to Open 2022 Regular Season on May 6 at Seattle" . lynx.wnba.com . WNBA. Retrieved January 1, 2022 .
^ "Minnesota Lynx and Forward Napheesa Collier Joint Statement" . lynx.wnba.com . Lynx PR. Retrieved January 1, 2022 .
^ "Minnesota Lynx Head Coach Cheryl Reeve Named 2021-24 USA Basketball Women's National Team Head Coach" . lynx.wnba.com . Lynx PR. Retrieved January 1, 2022 .
^ "Minnesota Lynx Re-Sign Two-Time WNBA Champion and Finals MVP Sylvia Fowles" . lynx.wnba.com . Lynx PR. Retrieved February 1, 2022 .
^ "Jefferson has Lynx's first triple-double in win over Wings" . lynx.wnba.com . WNBA. Retrieved June 28, 2022 .
^ Maloney, Jack. "Napheesa Collier returns from maternity leave to make season debut in Lynx's important win over Dream" . CBS Sports . Retrieved August 12, 2022 .
^ "Rachel Galligan Tweet" . twitter.com . Twitter. Retrieved January 3, 2022 .
^ "Minnesota Lynx Sign Bridget Carleton" . lynx.wnba.com . WNBA. Retrieved January 4, 2022 .
^ "Katie Smith Promoted to Lynx Associate head coach" . lynx.wnba.com . Lynx PR. Retrieved January 12, 2022 .
^ "Minnesota Lynx Tweet" . twitter.com . Twitter. Retrieved February 1, 2022 .
^ "Lynx Sign Five-Time All-Star Angel McCoughtry" . lynx.wnba.com . Lynx PR. Retrieved February 2, 2022 .
^ "Richard Cohen Tweet" . twitter.com . Twitter. Retrieved February 2, 2022 .
^ "Lynx Re-Sign Guards Layshia Clarendon and Rachel Banham" . lynx.wnba.com . WNBA. Retrieved February 10, 2022 .
^ "Richard Cohen Tweet" . twitter.com . Twitter. Retrieved February 10, 2022 .
^ "Minnesota Lynx Sign Yvonne Turner and Natasha Mack" . lynx.wnba.com . WNBA. Retrieved February 19, 2022 .
^ "Minnesota Lynx Acquire 2023 First and Second-Round Picks" . lynx.wnba.com . WNBA. Retrieved April 10, 2022 .
^ "Minnesota Lynx Complete 2022 Training Camp Roster" . lynx.wnba.com . WNBA. Retrieved April 15, 2022 .
^ "Minnesota Lynx Waive Natasha Mack" . lynx.wnba.com . WNBA. Retrieved April 15, 2022 .
^ "Minnesota Lynx Waive Cece Hooks" . lynx.wnba.com . WNBA. Retrieved April 28, 2022 .
^ "Lynx Sign Napheesa Collier to Multi-Year Contract Extension" . lynx.wnba.com . WNBA. Retrieved May 2, 2022 .
^ "Lynx Waive Chloe Bibby and Moon Ursin" . lynx.wnba.com . WNBA. Retrieved May 2, 2022 .
^ "Lynx Sign Guard Odyssey Sims" . lynx.wnba.com . WNBA. Retrieved May 3, 2022 .
^ "Lynx Sign Yvonne Turner and Nikolina Milić" . lynx.wnba.com . WNBA. Retrieved May 6, 2022 .
^ "Lynx Agree To Contract Buyout With Angel McCoughtry" . lynx.wnba.com . WNBA. Retrieved May 12, 2022 .
^ "Lynx Roster Transaction Updates" .
^ "Lynx Sign Moriah Jefferson and Evina Westbrook" . lynx.wnba.com . WNBA. Retrieved May 13, 2022 .
^ "Lynx Sign Jessica Shepard to Multi-Year Contract Extension" . lynx.wnba.com . WNBA. Retrieved May 16, 2022 .
^ "Lynx Activate Kayla McBride" . lynx.wnba.com . WNBA. Retrieved May 16, 2022 .
^ "Natalie Achonwa Cleared To Return" . lynx.wnba.com . WNBA. Retrieved May 24, 2022 .
^ "Minnesota Lynx Injury Updates" . lynx.wnba.com . WNBA. Retrieved June 1, 2022 .
^ "Lynx Sign Kamiah Smalls" . lynx.wnba.com . WNBA. Retrieved June 1, 2022 .
^ "Natalie Achonwa Cleared To Return" . lynx.wnba.com . WNBA. Retrieved June 22, 2022 .
^ "Sylvia Fowles Cleared To Return" . lynx.wnba.com . WNBA. Retrieved June 23, 2022 .
^ "Lynx Waive Guard Evina Westbrook" . lynx.wnba.com . WNBA. Retrieved June 24, 2022 .
^ "Lynx Sign Forward Nikolina Milić" . lynx.wnba.com . WNBA. Retrieved June 26, 2022 .
^ "Lynx Re-Sign Forward Nikolina Milić" . lynx.wnba.com . WNBA. Retrieved July 3, 2022 .
^ "Lynx Re-Sign Forward Nikolina Milic" . lynx.wnba.com . WNBA. Retrieved July 12, 2022 .
^ "Lynx Re-Sign Forward Nikolina Milic" . lynx.wnba.com . WNBA. Retrieved July 24, 2022 .
^ "Lynx Sign Guard Lindsay Allen" . lynx.wnba.com . WNBA. Retrieved July 24, 2022 .
^ "Lynx Re-Sign Guard Lindsay Allen" . lynx.wnba.com . WNBA. Retrieved July 31, 2022 .
^ "Lynx Re-Sign Guard Lindsay Allen" . lynx.wnba.com . WNBA. Retrieved August 8, 2022 .
^ "Lynx Guard Aerial Powers Cleared To Play" . lynx.wnba.com . WNBA. Retrieved August 11, 2022 .
^ "AT&T WNBA All-Star Starters Announced With Seattle Storm's Sue Bird Extending Record-Number of All-Star Selections to 13" . wnba.com . WNBA. Retrieved June 22, 2022 .
^ @WNBA (August 15, 2022). "THE BEST OF THE BEST 👏 Congratulations to @breannastewart, @SylviaFowles, and @T_Cloud4 for being named the 2022 WNBA Peak Performers 🙌 #MoreThan" (Tweet ) – via Twitter .
^ "Minnesota Lynx' Sylvia Fowles Wins 2022 Kim Perrot Sportsmanship Award" . wnba.com . WNBA. August 19, 2022. Retrieved August 19, 2022 .
^ @WNBA (August 30, 2022). "Your 2022 #WNBA All-Defensive First Team ⬇️ @_ajawilson22 @T_Cloud4 @SylviaFowles @breannastewart @arielatkinssvn #MoreThan" (Tweet ) – via Twitter .
^ "Kia WNBA MVP A'ja Wilson Leads 2022 All-WNBA First Team" (Press release). WNBA. September 15, 2022. Retrieved September 17, 2022 .
^ @minnesotalynx (July 8, 2022). "FIRST CAREER PLAYER OF THE WEEK AWARD 👏" (Tweet ) – via Twitter .
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