Minnesota Lynx facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Minnesota Lynx
Conference	Western
Leagues	WNBA
Founded	1999
History	Minnesota Lynx 1999–present
Arena	Target Center
Location	Minneapolis, Minnesota
Team colors	Midnight navy blue, lake blue, aurora green, moonlight grey
Main sponsor	Mayo Clinic
President	Cheryl Reeve
General manager	Vacant
Head coach	Cheryl Reeve
Assistant(s)	Rebekkah Brunson Elaine Powell Eric Thibault Lindsay Whalen
Ownership	Alex Rodriguez Marc Lore
Championships	4 (2011, 2013, 2015, 2017)
Conference titles	7 (2011, 2012, 2013, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2024)
Commissioner's Cup titles	1 (2024)
Retired numbers	5 (13), (23), (32), (33), (34)
Heroine Explorer Rebel

The Minnesota Lynx are a professional basketball team from Minneapolis, USA. They play in the Women's National Basketball Association (WNBA), which is a top league for women's basketball. The Lynx are part of the Western Conference. They have won the WNBA championship four times: in 2011, 2013, 2015, and 2017.

The team started in 1999. For many years, Glen Taylor owned the Lynx. He also owned the Minnesota Timberwolves, an NBA team. Now, Alex Rodriguez and Marc Lore are the owners of the Lynx. Famous players like Katie Smith, Seimone Augustus, Lindsay Whalen, Maya Moore, Rebekkah Brunson, and Sylvia Fowles have played for the Lynx.

The Lynx have made it to the WNBA playoffs in 15 of their 26 seasons.

Team History

Starting in the WNBA (1998–2004)

The WNBA announced on April 22, 1998, that Minnesota would get a new team for the 1999 season. The team was officially named the Minnesota Lynx on December 5, 1998. Their first game was in 1999 against the Detroit Shock at Target Center. The Lynx won 68–51. They finished their first two seasons with a record of 15 wins and 17 losses.

In 2001, the team had a tougher year, finishing with 12 wins and 20 losses. The Lynx' first head coach, Brian Agler, left the team in 2002. Heidi VanDerveer took over as interim coach. The team ended 2002 with 10 wins and 22 losses, which was their worst record at the time.

In 2003, Suzie McConnell-Serio became the new head coach. She led the team to their best record yet, 18 wins and 16 losses. They also made it to the WNBA Playoffs for the first time. They achieved the same success in the 2004 season.

Seimone Augustus Joins (2005–2007)

Seimone Augustus was a key player for the Lynx.

The 2005 season was a time of change. Star player Katie Smith was traded in July, and the team missed the playoffs. However, this meant they got the first pick in the 2006 WNBA draft. They chose Seimone Augustus, a talented guard from Louisiana State University.

The Lynx were the youngest team in the WNBA in 2006. On May 31, they set a WNBA record by scoring 114 points against the Los Angeles Sparks, winning by a huge margin. Despite this, coach McConnell-Serio resigned in July. The team finished with a franchise-record 24 losses.

After the season, Augustus was named the WNBA Rookie of the Year. Her 21.9 points per game is still a WNBA rookie record. In December 2006, Don Zierden became the team's fifth head coach.

In the 2007 WNBA draft, the Lynx traded Tangela Smith for Lindsey Harding, who was the first overall pick. The Lynx started the 2007 season with 7 losses in a row and finished with a 10–24 record.

Strong Starts, No Playoffs (2008–2009)

The 2008 season began much better, with the Lynx winning 7 of their first 8 games. They played well but lost important games late in the season. They finished with 16 wins and 18 losses, missing the playoffs again. Still, it was an improvement from previous years.

In 2009, coach Zierden resigned just before the season started. Jennifer Gillom took over as head coach. The Lynx again started strong, winning 7 of their first 10 games. However, they had a six-game losing streak and finished with 14 wins and 20 losses. This meant they missed the playoffs for the fifth season in a row.

New Team, First Championship (2010–2011)

Rebekkah Brunson won four WNBA championships with the Lynx.

After five tough seasons, the team made big changes. They hired Cheryl Reeve as their new head coach. The Lynx also added Rebekkah Brunson and traded for Minnesota native Lindsay Whalen. They also drafted Monica Wright. Many people thought these changes would make the Lynx much better in 2010.

Whalen, McWilliams-Franklin, Minnesota Gov. Mark Dayton, and Augustus in 2011

The selection of Maya Moore in the 2011 WNBA draft made many believe the Lynx could win a championship. In 2011, the team finally played up to expectations. With amazing play from Seimone Augustus, Rebekkah Brunson, Moore, and Whalen, the Lynx had a 27–7 record. This was the best record in the WNBA and in team history.

The Lynx earned the top spot in the 2011 WNBA Playoffs. They beat the San Antonio Silver Stars and then swept the Phoenix Mercury to win their first conference championship. In the Finals, the Lynx swept the Atlanta Dream in three games. This gave them their first WNBA title. It was also the first professional championship for Minnesota since 1991. Seimone Augustus was named the Finals MVP.

More Championships (2012–2017)

Maya Moore, 2013 Finals MVP

In 2012, the team started the season with 10 wins and no losses, a record for the franchise and the league. They made the playoffs early in the season. However, they lost to the Indiana Fever in the 2012 WNBA Finals.

The Lynx used this loss to motivate themselves for the 2013 season. They again had the best record in the Western Conference. They swept through the playoffs to win their second championship in three years, again beating the Atlanta Dream. Maya Moore won the 2013 WNBA Finals MVP award.

In 2014, the Lynx had another strong regular season, finishing second in the league. But in the playoffs, the Phoenix Mercury beat them. This was the first time since 2010 that the Lynx did not reach the WNBA Finals.

In 2015, Sylvia Fowles joined the team from the Chicago Sky. The Lynx went on to win their third championship, all within five years. Fowles was a key addition and earned the Finals MVP award.

Sylvia Fowles was named WNBA MVP in 2017 and Finals MVP twice.

After winning in 2015, the Lynx had a record-breaking 28–6 season in 2016. They moved to the Xcel Energy Center in Saint Paul for the 2017 season due to renovations at Target Center. The Lynx reached their fifth Finals in six years, playing against the Los Angeles Sparks. The Sparks won the series in five games, stopping the Lynx from winning back-to-back titles.

On August 18, 2017, the Lynx set two WNBA records in their 111–52 win over the Indiana Fever. They had the largest win margin (59 points) and the longest scoring run without an answer (37 points). The Lynx finished the season as the top team with a 27–7 record. They swept the Washington Mystics in the semifinals. In the Finals, the Lynx beat the Los Angeles Sparks in five games. This gave them their fourth championship in seven seasons, tying the Houston Comets for the most WNBA titles.

End of a Dynasty (2018–2022)

The 2019 Lynx playing against the Dallas Wings.

In 2018, with some players leaving and the team getting older, the Lynx were not as strong. Even though Moore, Fowles, Augustus, and Brunson were All-Stars, the Lynx finished as the 7th seed with 18 wins and 16 losses. This was the first time in eight years they weren't a top-two team. Lindsay Whalen announced her retirement before the playoffs. The Lynx lost their first playoff game to the Los Angeles Sparks, ending their streak of three straight Finals appearances. This was also Whalen's last game.

In 2019 and 2020, the Lynx had players who won the WNBA Rookie of the Year Award. These players were Napheesa Collier in 2019 and Crystal Dangerfield in 2020.

Sylvia Fowles was the last of the Lynx's five main star players (Augustus, Whalen, Moore, Brunson, and Fowles) to retire. She retired after the 2022 season.

The Collier Era (2023–Present)

Napheesa Collier became the new leader of the Lynx in her fifth season, 2023. She was named the team's only captain, which was a first for coach Cheryl Reeve. Reeve said that Collier is a great example of what the team wants: "A selfless person, emotionally mature, and handles ups and downs in a way that’s just really impressive." The team is focused on building around her.

On June 11, 2024, the Lynx made WNBA history in a game against the Las Vegas Aces. All five of their starting players scored at least 14 points, had at least 4 rebounds, and made at least one 3-pointer.

The Lynx won the 2024 WNBA Commissioner's Cup championship on June 25, 2024. They beat the New York Liberty 94-89 in New York. Napheesa Collier was named the MVP for the championship game.

The team secured a playoff spot on August 24, 2024, with a 90-80 win against the Indiana Fever. This game also set a new record for the highest regular season attendance for the Lynx, with 19,023 fans. After the game, the Lynx retired Maya Moore's jersey in a special ceremony.

Team Uniforms

The Lynx have different uniforms for home and away games. Their home uniforms are white with blue and silver colors. The team's sponsor, the Mayo Clinic, has its logo on the jerseys. The away uniforms are blue with silver and white colors.

The WNBA partnered with Nike, Inc. in 2018 for new uniforms. The Lynx also have the Verizon logo on their uniforms. In 2016, the white uniforms were temporarily replaced by silver ones. This was part of a league-wide event where all games featured teams wearing colored uniforms.

In 2021, Nike helped redesign the team uniforms. The Lynx got three new versions: Heroines, Explorers, and Rebels.

• The Heroine uniform was white with blue and green stripes.
• The Explorer uniform was blue with green and black trim.
• The Rebel uniform was black with black stars and white and silver trim. This jersey was inspired by a famous music club called First Avenue.

In 2023, the team updated their Rebel uniform. It is black with green trim and white and green letters. This design includes the phrase "Change starts with us" on the side of the jerseys and shorts. This phrase refers to a time in 2016 when the team wore warm-ups with this message to support social justice. The four stripes on the side of the uniforms represent the team's four championships.

Lynx Foundation

The Minnesota Lynx Foundation helps raise money for charities. They hold an event called "Catwalk for a Cure" every year at the Mall of America. This event raises money for breast cancer charities during the WNBA's Breast Health Awareness Week.

In 2011, the event raised $5,000 for Susan G. Komen for the Cure. In 2012, the Lynx held the event in a larger area at the Mall of America. They also donated $5,000 to the SAGE program, which is run by the Minnesota Department of Health.

In 2013, the Lynx had a "Pink Out" game at Target Center to support breast health awareness. They also held their 5th annual "Catwalk for a Cure" event. The Lynx donated $10,000 to the Edith Sanford Breast Cancer Foundation.

Season Records

Team Players

Current Roster

Minnesota Lynx roster
Players	Coaches
Pos. No. Nat. Name Height Weight DOB From Yrs F 11 Achonwa, Natalie  6' 3" (1.91m) 195 lb (88kg) 11-22-1992 Notre Dame 6 G 15 Banham, Rachel 5' 9" (1.75m) 172 lb (78kg) 07-15-1993 Minnesota 5 G/F 6 Carleton, Bridget 6' 1" (1.85m) 188 lb (85kg) 05-22-1997 Iowa State 2 G 7 Clarendon, Layshia 5' 9" (1.75m) 153 lb (69kg) 05-02-1991 California* 8 F 24 Collier, Napheesa 6' 2" (1.88m) 181 lb (82kg) 09-23-1996 Connecticut 2 G 2 Dangerfield, Crystal 5' 5" (1.65m) 130 lb (59kg) 05-11-1998 Connecticut 1 F 92 Dantas, Damiris 6' 3" (1.91m) 209 lb (95kg) 11-17-1992 Brazil 6 G/F 0 Davis, Rennia  6' 1" (1.85m) 170 lb (77kg) 02-24-1999 Tennessee R C 34 Fowles, Sylvia 6' 6" (1.98m) 218 lb (99kg) 10-06-1985 LSU 13 F 1 Mack, Natasha 6' 4" (1.93m) 182 lb (83kg) 11-03-1997 Oklahoma State R G 21 McBride, Kayla 5' 10" (1.78m) 174 lb (79kg) 06-25-1992 Notre Dame 7 G/F 23 Powers, Aerial  5' 9" (1.75m) 169 lb (77kg) 07-17-1994 Michigan State 5 F 10 Shepard, Jessica 6' 3" (1.91m) 175 lb (79kg) 09-11-1996 Notre Dame 1	Head coach Cheryl Reeve (La Salle) Assistant coaches Plenette Pierson (Texas Tech*) Katie Smith (Ohio State*) Rebekkah Brunson (Georgetown*) Athletic trainer Chuck Barta (Wisconsin-La Crosse*) Assistant trainer Brandi BlueArm (Mankato*) Legend (C) Team captain (DP) Unsigned draft pick (FA) Free agent (S) Suspended Injured   WNBA roster page
East ATL CHI CON IND NY WAS West DAL LV LA MIN PHO SEA

Other Player Rights

Nationality	Name	Years pro	Last played	Drafted
France	Maia Hirsch	0	N/A	2023

FIBA Hall of Fame Players

Retired Jersey Numbers

The Lynx have retired five jersey numbers to honor their greatest players. This means no other player on the team will ever wear these numbers again.

Team Leaders

Owners

Current Owners

• Marc Lore (2025–present)
• Alex Rodriguez (2025–present)

Former Owners

• Glen Taylor, who also owned the Minnesota Timberwolves (1999–2025)

Head Coaches

President of Basketball Operations

• Cheryl Reeve (2022–present)

General Managers

• Brian Agler (1999–2002)
• Roger Griffith (2003–2017)
• Cheryl Reeve (2018–2022)
• Clare Duwelius (2022–2024)
• Vacant (2024-present)

Assistant Coaches

• Heidi VanDerveer (1999–2001)
• Kelly Kramer (1999–2002)
• Nancy Darsch (2003–2005)
• Carolyn Jenkins (2003–2005, 2007)
• Jim Lewis (2006)
• Susan Yow (2006)
• Teresa Edwards (2007)
• Ed Prohofsky (2007–2008)
• Jennifer Gillom (2008)
• Julie Plank (2008)
• Jim Davis (2009)
• Jim Petersen (2009–2016)
• Shelley Patterson (2010–2019)
• James Wade (2017–2018)
• Walt Hopkins (2017–2019)
• Plenette Pierson (2019–2022)
• Katie Smith (2020–2024)
• Rebekkah Brunson (2020–present)
• Elaine Powell (2023–present)
• Lindsay Whalen (2025–present)
• Eric Thibault (2025–present)

Media Coverage

You can watch Lynx games on Bally Sports North or Bally Sports North Plus. Marney Gellner and Lea B. Olsen are the TV broadcasters. You can also listen to Lynx games on KFAN radio, with Wendell Epps broadcasting.

Some Lynx games are shown on national TV channels like ESPN, ESPN2, Ion Television, CBS, CBS Sports Network, and ABC.

See also

In Spanish: Minnesota Lynx para niños