Minnesota Lynx facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Minnesota Lynx
Conference	Western
Leagues	WNBA
Founded	1999; 26 years ago (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
Ownership	Glen Taylor 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. They play in the Women's National Basketball Association (WNBA). The team is based in Minneapolis, Minnesota. They are part of the Western Conference. The Lynx have won the WNBA championship four times. These wins were in 2011, 2013, 2015, and 2017.

The team started playing in 1999. Glen Taylor owns the team. He also owns the Minnesota Timberwolves, an NBA team. Many famous players have played for the Lynx. Some of them are Katie Smith, Seimone Augustus, Lindsay Whalen, Maya Moore, Rebekkah Brunson, and Sylvia Fowles.

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

Team History: How the Lynx Started

Joining the WNBA: 1998–2004

On April 22, 1998, the WNBA announced new teams. Minnesota was one of them. The team was officially named the Minnesota Lynx on December 5, 1998. Their first game was in 1999. Over 12,000 fans watched them beat the Detroit Shock. They finished their first two seasons with 15 wins and 17 losses.

In 2001, the team did not do as well. They had 12 wins and 20 losses. Their first head coach, Brian Agler, left in 2002. The team finished that year with only 10 wins. This was their worst record at the time.

In 2003, Suzie McConnell-Serio became the new head coach. She led the team to 18 wins and 16 losses. This was their best record so far. They also made it to the WNBA Playoffs for the first time. They did just as well in 2004.

Seimone Augustus Joins the Team: 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. The team missed the playoffs. But this bad season helped them. They won the draft lottery. This meant they could pick first in the 2006 WNBA draft. They chose Seimone Augustus from Louisiana State University.

In 2006, the Lynx were the youngest team in the WNBA. On May 31, they scored 114 points against the Los Angeles Sparks. This was a WNBA record for points in one game. But the team struggled. Coach McConnell-Serio resigned. The team finished with a record 24 losses.

After the season, Augustus was named the WNBA Rookie of the Year. She scored 21.9 points per game. This is still a WNBA rookie record.

Don Zierden became the new head coach in December 2006. In the 2007 WNBA draft, the Lynx traded for Lindsey Harding. The team started the 2007 season with 7 losses. They finished with a 10–24 record.

Tough Seasons: 2008–2009

The 2008 season started well. The Lynx won 7 of their first 8 games. But they cooled off later. They played well but lost important games. They finished with 16 wins and 18 losses. They did not make the playoffs.

In 2009, Coach Zierden resigned. Jennifer Gillom became the head coach. The team started strong again. They won 7 of their first 10 games. But they had a six-game losing streak. They finished 14–20. This was their fifth season in a row missing the playoffs.

Building a Champion Team: 2010–2011

Rebekkah Brunson won five WNBA championships.

After several tough seasons, the team made big changes. They hired Cheryl Reeve as their new head coach. The Lynx also added new players. They picked Rebekkah Brunson in a special draft. They traded for Lindsay Whalen, a Minnesota native. They also drafted Monica Wright. Many people thought the Lynx would be much better in 2010.

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

In 2011, the Lynx drafted Maya Moore. Many believed they could win the championship. The team played great. Seimone Augustus, Rebekkah Brunson, Moore, and Whalen were all All-Stars. The Lynx had a 10–4 record at the All-Star break. They then won nine games in a row. This was a team record. They finished with 27 wins and 7 losses. This was the best record in the WNBA.

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

More Championships: 2012–2017

Maya Moore was the 2013 Finals MVP.

In 2012, the Lynx started with 10 wins in a row. This was a league record. They made the playoffs quickly. But they lost to the Indiana Fever in the 2012 WNBA Finals.

The Lynx used this loss to motivate them for the 2013 season. They had the best record in the West again. They swept through the playoffs. They won their second championship in three years. They beat the Atlanta Dream again. Maya Moore won the 2013 WNBA Finals MVP award. The Lynx became the second WNBA team to sweep the postseason.

In 2014, the Lynx had another good season. They had the second-best record in the league. But they lost to the Phoenix Mercury in the playoffs. They missed the finals for the first time since 2010.

In 2015, Sylvia Fowles joined the team. She was a two-time Defensive Player of the Year. The Lynx went on to win their third championship. This was their third title in five years. Fowles was a key player. She earned Finals MVP honors.

Sylvia Fowles was the 2017 WNBA MVP and Finals MVP twice.

In 2016, the Lynx had a record 28 wins and 6 losses. They were the top team in the playoffs. They played at the Xcel Energy Center in Saint Paul due to renovations at their home arena. They swept the Phoenix Mercury. This sent them to their fifth finals in six years. They played the Los Angeles Sparks. The Sparks won the series in five games. The Lynx did not win the title that year.

On August 18, 2017, the Lynx set two WNBA records. They beat the Indiana Fever by 59 points. This was the largest win margin ever. They also scored 37 points in a row. The Lynx finished as the top team again. They swept the Washington Mystics in the semifinals. They reached the WNBA Finals for the sixth time in seven years. They beat the Sparks in five games. This was their fourth championship in seven seasons. They tied the Houston Comets for the most WNBA titles.

A New Era: 2018–Present

The 2019 Lynx playing against the Dallas Wings.

In 2018, the Lynx team started to change. Key players were getting older. They finished as the number 7 seed. This was the first time in 8 years they were not a top 2 seed. Lindsay Whalen announced her retirement. The Lynx lost to the Los Angeles Sparks in the first round of the playoffs. This was Whalen's last game.

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

Sylvia Fowles was the last of the Lynx's "dynasty" players to retire. She retired after the 2022 season.

The Collier Era: 2023–Present

Napheesa Collier became the new leader of the Lynx in 2023. She was named the team's only captain. Coach Cheryl Reeve said they are building the team around Collier.

On June 11, 2024, the Lynx made WNBA history. All five of their starting players scored at least 14 points. They also had 4 or more rebounds and at least one 3-pointer.

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

On August 24, 2024, the Lynx beat the Indiana Fever 90-80. This win secured a playoff spot. The game also set a new record for Lynx regular season attendance. Over 19,000 fans were there. After the game, the Lynx retired Maya Moore's jersey.

Team Uniforms

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

The WNBA partnered with Nike, Inc. in 2018 for new uniforms. The Lynx also have Verizon's logo on their uniforms.

In 2016, the white uniforms were changed to silver for a short time. This was for the league's 20th season. All games that year had teams wearing colored uniforms.

In 2021, Nike redesigned WNBA uniforms. The Lynx got three new versions. They were called 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 stars. It was inspired by a music club called First Avenue.

In 2023, the team updated their Rebel uniform. It is black with green trim. It says "Change starts with us" on the side. This phrase refers to the team's stand for social justice in 2016. The four stripes on the side show the team's four championships.

Lynx Foundation: Giving Back

The Minnesota Lynx Foundation helps raise money for good causes. They have an event called "Catwalk for a Cure." It happens during the WNBA's Breast Health Awareness Week. This event raises money for breast cancer charities. In 2011, they raised $5,000.

In 2012, the event was held at the Mall of America. Lynx players showed off outfits. They also performed a dance. The Lynx Foundation gave a $5,000 grant to a health program.

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

Team Records: Season by Season

Lynx 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

FIBA Hall of Fame Players

Retired Jersey Numbers

The Lynx have honored five players by retiring their jersey numbers. This means no other player on the team will wear these numbers.

Team Leaders

Head Coaches

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 announcers. You can also listen to Lynx games on KFAN radio. Wendell Epps broadcasts the radio games.

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

See also

In Spanish: Minnesota Lynx para niños