2018 Minnesota Lynx season explained

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

RoundPickPlayerNationalitySchool/Team/Country
217Park Ji-suCheongju KB Stars (South Korea)
224Kahlia LawrenceMercer
336Carlie WagnerMinnesota

See also: 2018 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

DateTrade
February 1, 2018Re-Signed F Rebekkah Brunson[1]
February 7, 2018Traded 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, 2018Re-Signed F Cecilia Zandalasini and Signed F Lynetta Kizer and F Endy Miyem[3]
February 28, 2018Signed F Breanna Richardson[4]
March 6, 2018Acquired 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, 2018Signed G Tanisha Wright[6]
April 17, 2018Signed 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, 2018Waived F G'mrice Davis [8]
May 5, 2018Signed F Jillian Alleyne[9]
May 9, 2018Waived F Jill Barta, F Breanna Richardson, and C Vionise Pierre-Louis [10]
May 15, 2018Waived F Jillian Alleyne and G Carlie Wagner [11]
May 17, 2018Waived F Endy Miyem [12]
June 6, 2018Re-signed F Endy Miyem [13]
June 30, 2018Waived F Lynetta Kizer
July 5, 2018Signed F Lynetta Kizer to a 7-Day Contract
July 12, 2018Signed F Erlana Larkins to a 7-Day Contract [14]
July 19, 2018Signed F Erlana Larkins to a 2nd 7-Day Contract
July 30, 2018Signed F Erlana Larkins to Rest-Of-Season Contract
August 13, 2018Waived F Endy Miyem
August 14, 2018Signed G Sydney Colson to Rest-Of-Season Contract

Additions

PlayerDateFormer Team
Lynetta KizerFebruary 7, 2018Connecticut Sun[15]
Danielle RobinsonMarch 6, 2018Phoenix Mercury
Tanisha WrightMarch 13, 2018New York Liberty
Endy MiyemJune 6, 2018PF Schio (Italy)

Subtractions

PlayerDateNew Team
Plenette PiersonAugust 21, 2017Retired [16]
Renee MontgomeryFebruary 1, 2018Atlanta Dream[17]
Jia PerkinsFebruary 1, 2018Retired [18]
Natasha HowardFebruary 7, 2018Seattle Storm[19]

Schedule

Preseason

|- style="background:#fcc;" | 1 | May 6 | vs. Washington | L 85–90 | Danielle Robinson (18) | Lynetta Kizer (6) | Tanisha Wright (4) | Wells Fargo Arena
4,203 | 0 - 1|- style="background:#cfc;" | 2 | May 12 | Chicago | W 87–58 | Sylvia Fowles (17) | Sylvia Fowles (9) | Maya Moore
Danielle Robinson (5) | Target Center
5,024 | 1 - 1

Regular season

|- style="background:#fcc;" | 1 | May 20 | Los Angeles | | Lindsay Whalen (17) | Sylvia Fowles (12) | Lindsay Whalen (9) | Target Center
13,032 | 0 - 1|- style="background:#cfc;" | 2 | May 23 | Dallas | | Sylvia Fowles (23) | Sylvia Fowles (20) | Lindsay Whalen (8) | Target Center
7,834 | 1 - 1|- style="background:#cfc;" | 3 | May 25 | @ New York | | Seimone Augustus (21) | Sylvia Fowles (11) | Danielle Robinson (5) | Westchester County Center
2,315 | 2 - 1|- style="background:#fcc;" | 4 | May 27 | @ Washington | | Maya Moore (18) | Sylvia Fowles (8) | Tied (4) | Capital One Arena
5,723 | 2 - 2|- style="background:#fcc;" | 5 | May 29 | @ Atlanta | | Maya Moore (18) | Sylvia Fowles (13) | Danielle Robinson (6) | McCamish Pavilion
3,785 | 2 - 3|- style="background:#fcc;" | 6 | June 1 | Phoenix | | Maya Moore (25) | Sylvia Fowles (11) | Tanisha Wright (4) | Target Center
8,830 | 2 - 4|- style="background:#fcc;" | 7 | June 3 | @ Los Angeles | | Maya Moore (18) | Sylvia Fowles (8) | Sylvia Fowles (5) | Staples Center
13,500 | 2 - 5|- style="background:#cfc;" | 8 | June 7 | @ Washington | | Sylvia Fowles (21) | Sylvia Fowles (12) | Danielle Robinson (5) | Capital One Arena
8,587 | 3 - 5|- style="background:#fcc;" | 9 | June 9 | @ Connecticut | | Sylvia Fowles (20) | Sylvia Fowles (14) | Alexis Jones (4) | Mohegan Sun Arena
6,771 | 3 - 6|- style="background:#cfc;" | 10 | June 16 | New York | | Sylvia Fowles (25) | Sylvia Fowles (9) | Danielle Robinson (8) | Target Center
9,114 | 4 - 6|- style="background:#cfc;" | 11 | June 19 | Dallas | | Maya Moore (21) | Sylvia Fowles (17) | Maya Moore (7) | Target Center
8,023 | 5 - 6|-style="background:#cfc;" | 12 | June 22 | @ Phoenix | | Maya Moore (23) | Rebekkah Brunson (11) | Maya Moore (5) | Talking Stick Resort Arena
11,349 | 6 - 6|-style="background:#cfc;" | 13 | June 24 | @ Las Vegas | | Maya Moore (23) | Sylvia Fowles (10) | Lindsay Whalen (9) | Mandalay Bay Arena
4,814 | 7 - 6|- style="background:#cfc;" | 14 | June 26 | Seattle | | Maya Moore (32) | Sylvia Fowles (17) | Rebekkah Brunson (6) | Target Center
8,634 | 8 - 6|- style="background:#cfc;" | 15 | June 29 | Atlanta | | Maya Moore (24) | Sylvia Fowles (15) | Lindsay Whalen (7) | Target Center
9,209 | 9 - 6|- style="background:#cfc;" | 16 | July 1 | @ Dallas | | Maya Moore (26) | Sylvia Fowles (9) | Lindsay Whalen (6) | College Park Center
4,448 | 10 - 6|- style="background:#fcc;" | 17 | July 3 | Indiana | | Rebekkah Brunson (13) | Rebekkah Brunson (12) | Rebekkah Brunson (6) | Target Center
8,632 | 10 - 7|-style="background:#cfc;" | 18 | July 5 | Los Angeles | | Sylvia Fowles (27) | Rebekkah Brunson (12) | Sylvia Fowles (7) | Target Center
9,303 | 11 - 7|- style="background:#fcc;" | 19 | July 7 | @ Chicago | | Maya Moore (16) | Sylvia Fowles (13) | Danielle Robinson (5) | Wintrust Arena
6,139 | 11 - 8|- style="background:#cfc;" | 20 | July 11 | @ Indiana | | Sylvia Fowles (20) | Sylvia Fowles (10) | Sylvia Fowles (7) | Bankers Life Fieldhouse
10,006 | 12 - 8|- style="background:#fcc;" | 21 | July 13 | Las Vegas | | Lindsay Whalen (22) | Sylvia Fowles (17) | Tied (5) | Target Center
9,813 | 12 - 9|- style="background:#fcc;" | 22 | July 15 | Connecticut | | Sylvia Fowles (12) | Sylvia Fowles (8) | Temi Fagbenle (4) | Target Center
9,234 | 12 - 10|- style="background:#cfc;" | 23 | July 18 | Indiana | | Sylvia Fowles (30) | Sylvia Fowles (16) | Erlana Larkins (8) | Target Center
17,933 | 13 - 10|- style="background:#cfc;" | 24 | July 21 | @ Phoenix | | Maya Moore (38) | Rebekkah Brunson (11) | Danielle Robinson (3) | Talking Stick Resort Arena
11,473 | 14 - 10|- style="background:#cfc;" | 25 | July 24 | New York | | Sylvia Fowles (27) | Sylvia Fowles (11) | Seimone Augustus (5) | Target Center
9,830 | 15 - 10|- style="background:#fcc;" | 26 | August 2 | @ Los Angeles | | Sylvia Fowles (14) | Sylvia Fowles (8) | Danielle Robinson (6) | Staples Center
9,542 | 15 - 11|- style="background:#fcc;" | 27 | August 3 | @ Seattle | | Sylvia Fowles (20) | Sylvia Fowles (16) | Rebekkah Brunson (5) | KeyArena
12,064 | 15 - 12|- style="background:#fcc;" | 28 | August 5 | Atlanta | | Sylvia Fowles (17) | Sylvia Fowles (10) | Maya Moore (4) | Target Center
9.333 | 15 - 13|- style="background:#cfc;" | 29 | August 7 | @ Chicago | | Maya Moore (31) | Sylvia Fowles (11) | Danielle Robinson (11) | Wintrust Arena
6,388 | 16 - 13|- style="background:#cfc;" | 30 | August 9 | @ Las Vegas | | Maya Moore (34) | Sylvia Fowles (19) | Tanisha Wright (6) | Mandalay Bay Arena
4,497 | 17 - 13|- style="background:#fcc;" | 31 | August 12 | Seattle | | Sylvia Fowles (28) | Sylvia Fowles (13) | Seimone Augustus (6) | Target Center
9,123 | 17 - 14|- style="background:#fcc;" | 32 | August 14 | Chicago | | Maya Moore (21) | Sylvia Fowles (13) | Tanisha Wright (6) | Target Center
9,730 | 17 - 15|- style="background:#fcc;" | 33 | August 17 | @ Connecticut | | Sylvia Fowles (25) | Sylvia Fowles (8) | Maya Moore (8) | Mohegan Sun Arena
7,089 | 17 - 16|- style="background:#cfc;" | 34 | August 19 | Washington | | Sylvia Fowles (26) | Sylvia Fowles (14) | Lindsay Whalen (6) | Target Center
13,013 | 18 - 16

Playoffs

|- style="background:#fcc;" | 1 | August 21 | @ Los Angeles | | Sylvia Fowles (18) | Sylvia Fowles (12) | Lindsay Whalen (5) | Staples Center
8,598 | 0 - 1

Playoffs

See main article: 2018 WNBA Playoffs.

Statistics

Regular season

PlayerGPGSMPGFG%3P%FT%PPGRPGAPGSPGBPG
Maya Moore343431.8.423.365.83318.05.42.61.70.4
Sylvia Fowles343432.0.619.000.75717.711.92.21.41.2
Seimone Augustus333326.2.467.318.70610.81.82.60.40.2
Rebekkah Brunson252527.6.405.375.6737.26.82.40.80.5
Danielle Robinson28218.6.445.158.8546.51.83.30.90.0
Lindsay Whalen322919.3.363.357.8815.72.63.10.70.1
Cecilia Zandalasini29616.5.409.383.8405.71.91.10.30.0
Tanisha Wright33417.8.383.396.7414.31.62.00.50.1
Sydney Colson208.5.429.000.5003.51.02.00.00.5
Alexis Jones2608.8.352.320.7503.30.90.70.10.1
Temi Fagbenle3029.4.506.000.6963.12.00.60.30.3
Erlana Larkins13012.9.444.0001.002.12.71.30.70.2

Awards and Milestones

RecipientAward/MilestoneDate Awarded
Maya MooreWNBA Western Conference Player of the WeekJune 24, 2018[20]
July 2, 2018 [21]
Rebekkah BrunsonWNBA's All-Time Leading Rebounder (3,318)July 5, 2018 [22]
Cheryl ReeveWNBA's Winningest Female Head Coach (206)July 5, 2018 [23]
Maya MooreWNBA Cares Community Assist Award - JuneJuly 12, 2018 [24]
Seimone AugustusWNBA All-Star SelectionJuly 17, 2018 [25]
Maya Moore
Sylvia Fowles
Maya MooreBest WNBA Player - ESPY'sJuly 19, 2018 [26]
Rebekkah BrunsonWNBA All-Star Selection ReplacementJuly 25, 2018 [27]
Maya MooreWNBA Western Conference Player of the WeekAugust 13, 2018[28]
Sylvia FowlesWNBA Peak Performer – ReboundsAugust 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]

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Minnesota Lynx Re-Sign Five-Time WNBA Champion Rebekkah Brunson. 2018-02-01. lynx.wnba.com.
  2. Web site: Minnesota Lynx Acquire Multiple Draft Picks in Exchange for Forward Natasha Howard. 2018-02-07. lynx.wnba.com.
  3. Web site: Minnesota Lynx Re-Sign Forward Cecilia Zandalasini and Add Forwards Lynetta Kizer and Endy Miyem. 2018-02-07. lynx.wnba.com.
  4. Web site: Minnesota Lynx Sign Forward Breanna Richardson. 2018-02-28. lynx.wnba.com.
  5. Web site: Minnesota Lynx Acquire Guard Danielle Robinson and a 2019 Second Round Pick in Exchange for a 2018 First Round Pick. 2018-03-06. lynx.wnba.com.
  6. Web site: Minnesota Lynx Sign Guard Tanisha Wright. 2018-03-13. lynx.wnba.com.
  7. Web site: Minnesota Lynx Complete 2018 Training Camp Roster. 2018-04-17. lynx.wnba.com.
  8. Web site: Twitter. 2018-05-04. twitter.com. Lynx PR Twitter.
  9. Web site: Lynx Sign Forward Jillian Alleyne. 2018-05-05. lynx.wnba.com.
  10. Web site: Lynx Waive Forwards Jill Barta and Breanna Richardson and Center Vionise Pierre-Louis. 2018-05-09. lynx.wnba.com.
  11. Web site: Minnesota Lynx Waive Forward Jillian Alleyne and Guard Carlie Wagner. May 15, 2018. lynx.wnba.com. May 21, 2018.
  12. Web site: Minnesota Lynx Finalize 2018 Roster. May 17, 2018. lynx.wnba.com. May 21, 2018.
  13. Web site: Minnesota Lynx Re-Sign Forward Endy Miyem. June 6, 2018. June 6, 2018.
  14. Web site: Minnesota Lynx Sign Forward Erlana Larkins. July 12, 2018. July 12, 2018.
  15. Web site: Minnesota Lynx Re-Sign Forward Cecilia Zandalasini and Add Forwards Lynetta Kizer and Endy Miyem. 2018-02-07. lynx.wnba.com.
  16. Web site: Minnesota's Plenette Pierson to Retire After 2017 Season. 2017-08-21. wnba.com.
  17. Web site: Atlanta Dream Sign Two-Time WNBA Champion Renee Montgomery. 2018-02-01. dream.wnba.com.
  18. Web site: Lynx lose guard Renee Montgomery to Atlanta, creating backcourt issues. 2018-02-01. startribune.com.
  19. Web site: Minnesota Lynx Acquire Multiple Draft Picks in Exchange for Forward Natasha Howard. 2018-02-07. lynx.wnba.com.
  20. Web site: Atlanta's McCoughtry, Minnesota's Moore Named WNBA Players Of The Week. WNBA. wnba.com. June 25, 2018. June 25, 2018.
  21. Web site: Elena Delle Donne, Maya Moore Named Players of the Week. WNBA. wnba.com. July 2, 2018. July 2, 2018.
  22. Web site: Rebekkah Brunson Becomes WNBA's All-Time Leading Rebounder. WNBA. lynx.wnba.com. July 5, 2018. July 5, 2018.
  23. Web site: Cheryl Reeve Becomes Winningest Female Head Coach In WNBA History. WNBA. lynx.wnba.com. July 5, 2018. July 5, 2018.
  24. Web site: Minnesota's Moore Receives June WNBA Cares Community Assist Award Presented By State Farm®. lynx.wnba.com. WNBA. July 12, 2018. July 12, 2018.
  25. Web site: 2018 WNBA All-Stars Announced; Elena Delle Donne, Candace Parker To Serve As Player-Captains. wnba.com. WNBA. July 17, 2018. July 18, 2018.
  26. Web site: Maya Moore Wins Best WNBA Player At ESPYS. WNBA. lynx.wnba.com. July 19, 2018. July 18, 2018.
  27. Web site: Rebekkah Brunson to Replace Nneka Ogwumike in Verizon WNBA All-Star 2018. WNBA. wnba.com. July 25, 2018. July 25, 2018.
  28. Web site: Elena Delle Donne, Maya Moore Named WNBA Players Of The Week (Aug 6-12). WNBA. wnba.com. August 13, 2018. August 13, 2018.
  29. Web site: Cambage, Fowles And Vandersloot Earn 2018 WNBA Peak Performer Awards. WNBA. wnba.com. August 20, 2018. August 30, 2018.
  30. Web site: Celebrating 20 Seasons Lynx Top 20 Players . lynx.wnba.com . WNBA . 7 April 2023.

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