Call it an early Christmas gift … The Lynx Offseason Update is BACK!
Throughout the WNBA offseason — one that is currently at a halt until the new Collective Bargaining Agreement is agreed upon — we will
take you across the globe to see how Minnesota Lynx players are performing with their respective squads.
Among players who finished on the Lynx roster in 2025 and those who are under team control, Minnesota has a total of 12 players playing or planning to play this offseason. Those 12 players are Napheesa Collier, Courtney Williams, Alanna Smith, Natisha Hiedeman, Kayla McBride, Bridget Carlton, Jessica Shepard, Maia Hirsch, Dorka Juhász, Maria Kliundikova, Anastasiia Olairi Kosu and Camryn Taylor
Let’s take a look at where those Lynx players are playing — or where they plan to play — and how they have performed thus far.
Kayla McBride —
Fenerbahçe (Turkey)
McBride is back at her second home in Turkey while returning to play for Turkish powerhouse Fenerbahçe. Though some expected her to return to play in Unrivaled this offseason, McBride chose to start the offseason overseas with a team that is special to her.
So far this offseason, McBride is doing what she does — helping lead her team while finding success offensively and from deep.
Season Stats:
- Turkey-KBSL: 4 games — 17.0 PPG, 3.3 RPG, 3.0 APG, 0.5 SPG
- EuroLeague: 4 games — 15.8 PPG, 3.3 APG, 2.0 RPG, 1.5 SPG
Recent Games:
- Nov. 26 vs. Olympiacos (99-47 win): 18 points (5-11 FG, 4-8 3Pt), five rebounds, four assists and two steals over 29 minutes
- Nov. 29 vs. Besiktas (107-78 win): 16 points (6-10 FG, 3-7 3Pt), four rebounds and four assists over 16 minutes
Bridget Carleton — USK Praha (Czech Republic)
Carleton is off in a new country this offseason, adding her seventh country she’s played in during her career along with Australia, Spain, Franco, Hungary, Israel and Turkey.
So far this offseason, Carleton is off to a nice start in both Czech Republic-ZBL and EuroLeague action, including continuing to find success from three in balanced outings.
Season Stats:
- Czech Republic-ZBL: 4 games — 11.0 PPG, 5.5 RPG, 2.0 APG, 1.8 SPG
- EuroLeague: 3 games — 11.0 PPG, 3.0 RPG, 2.0 APG, 1.0 SPG
Recent Games:
- Dec. 3 vs. Trutnov (109-52 win): 19 points (7-10 FG, 5-7 3Pt), seven rebounds, two assists and two steals in 21 minutes
- Dec. 6 vs. Hradec Kralove (112-49 win): 12 points (4-7 FG, 4-7 3Pt), five rebounds and one assist in 19 minutes
Jessica Shepard — Famila Schio (Italy)
Shepard is in a new country this offseason after spending last offseason in Greece, taking the court with Italian power Famila Schio. She has played in Greece, Israel and Italy so far in her career.
The walking double-double has returned to her ways overseas this offseason, putting together a nice season so far both offensively and on the boards.
Season Stats:
- Italy-Serie A1: 7 games — 16.4 PPG, 7.9 RPG, 1.4 APG, 1.1 SPG
- EuroLeague: 6 games — 13.7 PPG, 9.2 RPG, 2.3 APG, 1.2 SPG
Recent Games:
- Dec. 3 vs. Scrivia (79-66 win): 19 points (8-10 FG), eight rebounds and two assists over 27 minutes
- Dec. 7 vs. San Giovanni (66-44 win): 16 points (6-13 FG), 10 rebounds, one assist and one steal over 27 minutes
Maria Kliundikova — UMMC Yekateringburg (Russia)
Kliundiokva, who was a midseason arrival for Minnesota and ended up with a nice role off the bench for the Lynx, is back in her home country of Russia this offseason playing for UMMC Yekateringburg alongside soon-to-be second-year Lynx forward Anastasiia Olairi Kosu.
So far this offseason, Kliundikova is off to a well-rounded start with her club, doing a little bit of everything in just under 10 games.
Season Stats:
- Russia-PBL: 8 games — 12.8 PPG, 6.9 RPG, 2.0 APG, 1.6 SPG, 1.1 BPG
Recent Games:
- Nov. 30 vs. Nadezhda (76-64 win): six points (4-7 FG, 0-1 3Pt) and seven rebounds over 18 minutes
- Dec. 8 vs. Ivanovo (96-51 win): 22 points (7-13 FG, 1-2 3Pt), eight rebounds, five assists, one block and one steal over 23 minutes
Dorka Juhász — Galatasaray (Turkey)
Juhász is spending her WNBA offseason in a new country, playing in Turkey this season rather than Italy like we’ve seen in the past. Juhász, who sat out the 2025 WNBA campaign while remaining overseas, is still under contract with Minnesota through 2026.
So far this offseason, Juhász has performed well in Turkey-KBSL and EuroLeague action, putting together numerous well-balanced performances.
Season Stats:
- Turkey-KBSL: 6 games — 13.8 PPG, 5.8 RPG, 1.3 APG, 1.3 SPG, 0.7 BPG
- EuroLeague: 8 games — 12.6 PPG, 8.1 RPG, 2.0 APG, 1.0 SPG, 1.0 BPG
Recent Games:
- Nov. 23 vs. Fenerbahçe (75-71 loss): 17 points (6-11 FG, 4-8 3Pt), seven rebounds, three assists and one steal over 34 minutes
- Nov. 26 vs. Sopron (104-54 win): 22 points (9-13 FG, 2-3 3Pt), five rebounds, two assists and one block over 20 minutes
Anastasiia Olairi Kosu —
UMMC Yekateringburg (Russia)
Kosu is back home in Russia this offseason, playing with fellow Lynx teammate Maria Kliundikova with UMMC Yekateringburg.
Kosu, who Minnesota is hoping continues to develop leading into her second WNBA campaign, has gotten off to a nice start in Russia this offseason.
Season Stats:
- Russia-PBL: 7 games — 12.3 PPG, 5.4 RPG, 2.0 SPG, 0.4 BPG
Recent Games:
- Nov. 22 vs. Enisey (80-66 win): 21 points (9-10 FG, 0-1 3Pt), five rebounds, six steals and two blocks over 27 minutes
- Nov. 26 vs. MBA (75-57 win): three points (1-3 FG), four rebounds and one assist over 12 minutes
Maia Hirsch —
Charleville-Mezieres (France)
We have yet to see Hirsch in the WNBA after being drafted by the Lynx in the first round of the 2023 WNBA Draft, but she continues to play in France this offseason as she continues to develop.
After an up-and-down offseason last year, Hirsch is off to a nice start to this offseason with some additional time on the floor as well.
Season Stats:
- Franco-BWL: 8 games — 19.5 PPG, 2.8 RPG, 0.6 APG, 0.3 BPG
- EuroLeague: 6 games — 7.0 PPG, 3.8 RPG, 1.0 APG, 0.8 SPG
Recent Games:
- Nov. 26 vs. Famila Schio (74-57 loss): two points (1-4 FG, 0-1 3Pt), two rebounds and two assists over 25 minutes
- Nov. 29 vs. Chartres (83-67 win): six points (3-5 FG), two rebounds, one assist and one steal over 13 minutes
Camryn Taylor — Landerneau (France)
Taylor, who joined the Lynx late in the 2025 WNBA season and was part of the playoff run, has moved from Greece last offseason to France and Landerneau Bretagne Basket this year.
Taylor had a slow start to the offseason schedule, but has picked things up as of late with two straight double-digit outings.
Season Stats:
- France-BWL: 6 games — 5.2 PPG, 2.0 RPG, 0.2 APG, 0.2 SPG, 0.2 BPG
Recent Games:
- Nov. 29 vs. Angers (75-67 win): 12 points (5-6 FG, 2-2 3Pt), two rebounds and one block over 19 minutes
Not Yet Underway
While the players listed above have already begun their seasons across the globe, four more Lynx players will remain in the country and will take part in the second season of Unrivaled.
Napheesa Collier, Courtney Williams, Natisha Hiedeman and Alanna Smith are taking part in Unrivaled’s second season. Former Lynx General Manager Clare Duwelius is also still serving as Unrivaled’s General Manager and Executive Vice President.
That 3-on-3 league, which is expanding from six teams to eight in 2026, will kick off its inaugural season in Florida on Jan. 5.
That will do it for this week. As always, thank you for reading! We will catch up with you next week with another Lynx Offseason Update.
