A new week is underway, which means it’s time for another new Lynx Offseason Update!
As we flip to February, there is still no news on a new Collective Bargaining Agreement between the WNBA and the players’
association during a time we are starting to talk about free agency. ESPN’s Alexa Philippou reported over the weekend that there will be a player meeting — including Napheesa Collier — with the league on Monday, so perhaps we hear at least something over the next few days on steps towards an eventual deal.
As we await that news, 11 of the 12 Minnesota Lynx players planning to play this offseason or currently playing already are operating as usual this offseason across the globe.
The 12 Lynx players are Courtney Williams, Alanna Smith, Natisha Hiedeman, Kayla McBride, Bridget Carlton, Jessica Shepard, Maia Hirsch, Dorka Juhász, Maria Kliundikova, Anastasiia Olairi Kosu, Camryn Taylor and Jaylyn Sherrod. Napheesa Collier, who was supposed to take part in Unrivaled, will miss the season due to having surgery on both ankles and missing a total of 4-6 months in recovery.
Let’s take a look at where those Lynx players are playing — and who is the last one yet to start — how they’ve done as of late and how they are performing so far this offseason.
Courtney Williams — Vinyl (Unrivaled)
Williams has returned to Unrivaled for the second season after being one of the first 32 players to make up the inaugural season a year ago. After spending last season with the Lunar Owls, Williams is on a new squad this season while suiting up for Team Vinyl.
With Vinyl, Williams has done a nice job in distributing and contributing on the boards despite having a bit of an up-and-down start to the year offensively. Over the past week, Williams had her best offensive performance of the Unrivaled season while contributing in nearly every aspect of the game in all three contests.
Season Stats:
- Unrivaled: 8 games — 8.0 PPG, 5.9 RPG, 5.0 APG, 0.3 SPG, 0.1 BPG
Recent Games:
- Jan. 31 vs. Laces (70-63 win): nine points (4-13 FG, 1-3 3Pt), eight rebounds and six assists over 12 minutes
Alanna Smith — Mist (Unrivaled)
For the first time as a professional player, Smith is spending her offseason playing the United States rather than overseas like she has always done.
Smith has begun the season on The Mist, and she has helped her squad to a strong 3-1 start to the year while contributing offensively and on the boards while also being a lockdown presence in the paint defensively. Over the past week, Smith had her best outing of the Unrivaled season, tallying her first double-double of the year and setting a new season-high in both points and rebounds.
Season Stats:
- Unrivaled: 8 games — 6.1 PPG, 4.8 RPG, 0.9 BPG, 0.4 APG, 0.3 SPG
Recent Games:
- Jan. 31 vs. Hive (82-69 win): 13 points (6-9 FG), 11 rebound, one assist and one block over 10 minutes
Natisha Hiedeman — Hive (Unrivaled)
Hiedeman has also returned to Unrivaled for the second straight season after bouncing around to three different teams — Phantom, Laces and Rose — during the inaugural season. Hiedeman concluded the year with Rose and helped them to an Unrivaled Championship.
With Hive, one of the two newest teams to Unrivaled in 2026, Hiedeman remained how with a 20-point outing while playing in two games over the week.
Season Stats:
- Unrivaled: 8 games — 6.0 PPG, 2.0 RPG, 1.5 APG, 0.3 SPG
Recent Games:
- Jan. 26 vs. Lunar Owls (74-71 win): 20 points (7-13 FG, 4-7 3Pt), three rebounds and one assist over 11 minutes
- Jan. 31 vs. Mist (82-69 loss): three points (1-4 FG, 1-4 3Pt), two rebounds, one assist, one block and one steal over eight minutes
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.
McBride began her season overseas strong, providing a two-way showing for the Turkish powerhouse. After dealing with a soft tissue injury that sidelined her for a few weeks, McBride returned to the court to start February, putting together a well-balanced showing against Dorka Juhász and Galatasaray.
Season Stats:
- Turkey-KBSL: 10 games — 12.9 PPG, 5.1 APG, 4.7 RPG, 0.8 SPG
- EuroLeague: 7 games — 14.6 PPG, 3.7 APG, 3.0 RPG, 1.7 SPG
Recent Games:
- Feb. 1 vs. Galatasaray (75-70 win): 12 points (4-10 FG, 2-6 3Pt), eight assists and six rebounds in 33 minutes
Bridget Carleton — USK Praha (Czech Republic)
Carleton is 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.
Carleton has done a little bit of everything in Czech Republic-ZBL and EuroLeague action this offseason, leaving her mark on multiple areas of the game like we’ve become used to seeing with the Lynx. Over the past week, Carleton shot a perfect mark from deep against Jessica Shepard and Famila Schio, nearly reaching the 20-point mark in a win.
Season Stats:
- Czech Republic-ZBL: 9 games — 11.7 PPG, 5.0 RPG, 2.2 APG, 1.6 SPG, 0.6 BPG
- EuroLeague: 8 games — 12.9 PPG, 3.6 RPG, 1.6 APG, 1.3 SPG, 0.4 BPG
Recent Games:
- Jan. 28 vs. Famila Schio (78-66 win): 19 points (6-8 FG, 4-4 3Pt), three rebounds, two blocks and one assist over 33 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.
Shepard has put up some impressive numbers in Italy this offseason, once again being a double-double machine like we’ve been accustomed to seeing. Over the past week, Shepard reached the 20-point mark against Bridget Carleton and USK Praha while nearly grabbing 10 rebounds in both appearances.
Season Stats:
- Italy-Serie A1: 14 games — 17.1 PPG, 8.8 RPG, 2.1 APG, 1.1 SPG
- EuroLeague: 11 games — 17.4 PPG, 9.2 RPG, 2.5 APG, 1.4 SPG
Recent Games:
- Jan. 28 vs. USK Praha (78-66 loss): 20 points (8-15 FG), nine rebounds and one assist over 35 minutes
- Feb. 1 vs. Venezia (80-69 win): six points (2-7 FG), nine rebounds and one assist over 25 minutes
Maria Kliundikova — UMMC Ekateringburg (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.
Kliundikova has put together a balanced offseason so far, helping her squad offensively and on the boards while also impacting other areas of the game. Over the past week, she helped lead her squad to the Russian Women’s Cup championship, topping Nika Siktivkar in the final.
Season Stats:
- Russia-PBL: 14 games — 12.1 PPG, 7.6 RPG, 2.4 APG, 1.1 SPG, 0.9 BPG
Recent Games:
- Jan. 29 vs. MBA Moscow (101-73 win): no stats available
- Jan. 31 vs. Nika Siktivkar (89-55 win): no stats available
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.
Juhász has made an impact on both ends of the floor in both Turkey-KBSL and EuroLeague action, putting together balanced a showing in Turkey. Over the past week, Juhász had a bit of a down week in comparison to what she’s produced earlier this offseason, though she still contributed offensively, from deep and one the boards for her squad.
Season Stats:
- Turkey-KBSL: 12 games — 12.9 PPG, 5.8 RPG, 1.8 APG, 1.0 SPG, 0.8 BPG
- EuroLeague: 13 games — 12.8 PPG, 7.5 RPG, 1.5 APG, 1.2 SPG, 0.9 BPG
Recent Games:
- Jan. 29 vs. Bourges (82-72 win): 10 points (3-8 FG, 2-5 3Pt), six rebounds and one assist over 23 minutes
- Feb. 1 vs. Fenerbahçe (75-70 loss): eight points (3-9 FG, 2-4 3Pt), two rebounds, one assist, one block and one steal over 24 minutes
Anastasiia Olairi Kosu — UMMC Ekateringburg (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. Over the past week, she helped lead her squad to the Russian Women’s Cup championship, topping Nika Siktivkar in the final.
Season Stats:
- Russia-PBL: 12 games — 10.8 PPG, 6.4 RPG, 1.6 SPG, 0.8 APG, 0.3 BPG
Recent Games:
- Jan. 29 vs. MBA Moscow (101-73 win): no stats available
- Jan. 31 vs. Nika Siktivkar (89-55 win): no stats available
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. Over the past week, Hirsch reached double figures in scoring for the second straight time in France-BWL action, finishing three rebounds shy of a double-double.
Season Stats:
- Franco-BWL: 13 games — 8.2 PPG, 3.1 RPG, 0.5 APG, 0.2 SPG, 0.2 BPG
- EuroLeague: 9 games — 6.3 PPG, 3.3 RPG, 1.0 APG, 0.6 SPG, 0.4 BPG
Recent Games:
- Jan. 28 vs. Girona (89-58 loss): two points (1-4 FG) and four rebounds over 21 minutes
- Jan. 31 vs. Angers (74-46 win): 11 points (5-6 FG, 1-1 3Pt), seven rebounds and one block over 22 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. However, Taylor hasn’t appeared in any of the seven games since last playing on Nov. 29.
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, one more Lynx player will remain in the country and will take part in Athletes Unlimited.
Jaylyn Sherrod is playing in the country this offseason, taking part in Athletes Unlimited’s fifth season.
Sherrod will be one of 40 players participating in the fast-paced, full-court, 5-on-5 league that begins this week, on Feb. 4, in Nashville.
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.
