Welcome to a new week and a new Lynx Offseason Update!<\/p>\n
As we begin the final full week of the calendar year, let me be the first to wish you a Happy Holidays, Merry Christmas and Happy Hanukah.<\/p>\n
With the year coming to a close, the offseason is just getting started \u2014 or is about to start \u2014 for Minnesota Lynx players across the globe.<\/p>\n
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 Juh\u00e1sz, Maria Kliundikova, Anastasiia Olairi Kosu and Camryn Taylor<\/p>\n
Let\u2019s take a look at where those Lynx players are playing \u2014 or where they plan to play \u2014 how they have performed over the past week and this offseason overall.<\/p>\n
Kayla McBride \u2014 Fenerbah\u00e7e (Turkey)<\/p>\n
McBride is back at her second home in Turkey while returning to play for Turkish powerhouse Fenerbah\u00e7e. 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.<\/p>\n
Over the past week, McBride continued to find success from deep for her squad, but also put together a nice week defensively and made an impact in nearly every aspect of the game.<\/p>\n
Turkey-KBSL: 6 games \u2014 15.5 PPG, 3.5 RPG, 3.5 APG, 0.5 SPGEuroLeague: 6 games \u2014 15.8 PPG, 3.8 APG, 2.7 RPG, 1.8 SPGDec. 13 vs. Mersin (90-81 win): 11 points (4-8 FG, 3-6 3Pt), four assists, three rebounds and one steal over 27 minutesDec. 18 vs. Zaragoza (95-64 win): 14 points (4-10 FG, 2-7 3Pt), six assists, four rebounds and three steals over 28 minutesDec. 21 vs. Nesibe (99-69 win): 14 points (6-12 FG, 2-6 3Pt), five rebounds and five assists over 29 minutes<\/p>\n
Bridget Carleton \u2014 USK Praha (Czech Republic)<\/p>\n
Carleton is off in a new country this offseason, adding her seventh country she\u2019s played in during her career along with Australia, Spain, Franco, Hungary, Israel and Turkey.<\/p>\n
Over the past week, Carleton had a bit of a quiet week in Czech Republic-ZBL and EuroLeague action, finishing with a few single-digit outings though she made up for it by impacting other aspects of the game as we\u2019ve been used to seeing while she\u2019s been in a Lynx uniform.<\/p>\n
Czech Republic-ZBL: 5 games \u2014 10.2 PPG, 4.8 RPG, 1.6 APG, 1.6 SPGEuroLeague: 5 games \u2014 10.0 PPG, 3.2 RPG, 2.0 APG, 1.0 SPGDec. 13 vs. KP Bmo (100-69 win): seven points (3-10 FG, 1-7 3Pt), two rebounds, one block and one steal over 19 minutesDec. 17 vs. Famila Schio (99-78 loss): six points (2-7 FG, 2-6 3Pt), three rebounds, three assists and one steal over 30 minutes<\/p>\n
Jessica Shepard \u2014 Famila Schio (Italy)<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
Over the past week, Shepard put up some more impressive numbers in Italy, doing so in somewhat limited time on the floor compared to normal due to the blowout nature of a few of the games.<\/p>\n
Italy-Serie A1: 9 games \u2014 17.3 PPG, 9.3 RPG, 1.8 APG, 1.1 SPGEuroLeague: 8 games \u2014 15.1 PPG, 9.0 RPG, 2.6 APG, 1.3 SPGDec. 14 vs. Battipaglia (100-52 win): 15 points (6-9 FG), 12 rebounds, three assists, two steals and one block over 21 minutesDec. 17 vs. USK Praha (99-78 win): 23 points (8-8 FG), eight rebounds and six assists over 35 minutesDec. 20 vs. Roseto (91-62 win): 26 points (11-15 FG), 17 rebounds and three assists over 25 minutes<\/p>\n
Maria Kliundikova \u2014 UMMC Yekateringburg (Russia)<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
Over the past week, Kliundikova reached double figures in both games, putting up her third double-double of the offseason along the way.<\/p>\n
Russia-PBL: 11 games \u2014 12.3 PPG, 7.4 RPG, 1.9 APG, 1.5 SPG, 0.9 BPGDec. 17 vs. Neftyanik (97-43 win): 10 points (5-8 FG), four rebounds, three assists, one block and one steal over 18 minutesDec. 20 vs. Samara (118-59 win): 11 points (5-10 FG), 11 rebounds, one assist and one steal over 17 minutes<\/p>\n
Dorka Juh\u00e1sz \u2014 Galatasaray (Turkey)<\/p>\n
Juh\u00e1sz is spending her WNBA offseason in a new country, playing in Turkey this season rather than Italy like we\u2019ve seen in the past. Juh\u00e1sz, who sat out the 2025 WNBA campaign while remaining overseas, is still under contract with Minnesota through 2026.<\/p>\n
Over the past week, Juh\u00e1sz made an impact on both ends of the floor in both Turkey-KBSL and EuroLeague action, putting together two balanced showings despite failing to reach double figures in one of those contests.<\/p>\n
Turkey-KBSL: 7 games \u2014 12.7 PPG, 5.7 RPG, 1.4 APG, 1.3 SPG, 1.0 BPGEuroLeague: 10 games \u2014 12.5 PPG, 7.7 RPG, 1.8 APG, 1.1 SPG, 1.0 BPGDec. 17 vs. Bourges (80-62 win): 13 points (4-12 FG, 0-4 3Pt), seven rebounds, two assists and two steals over 35 minutesDec. 20 vs. Botas (90-58 win): six points (3-10 FG, 0-2 3Pt), five rebounds, three blocks, two assists and one steal over 18 minutes<\/p>\n
Anastasiia Olairi Kosu \u2014 UMMC Yekateringburg (Russia)<\/p>\n
Kosu is back home in Russia this offseason, playing with fellow Lynx teammate Maria Kliundikova with UMMC Yekateringburg.<\/p>\n
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 didn\u2019t appear in any games.<\/p>\n
Russia-PBL: 7 games \u2014 12.3 PPG, 5.4 RPG, 2.0 SPG, 0.4 BPGNov. 22 vs. Enisey (80-66 win): 21 points (9-10 FG, 0-1 3Pt), five rebounds, six steals and two blocks over 27 minutesNov. 26 vs. MBA (75-57 win): three points (1-3 FG), four rebounds and one assist over 12 minutes<\/p>\n
Maia Hirsch \u2014 Charleville-Mezieres (France)<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
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, she didn\u2019t appear in any games.<\/p>\n
Franco-BWL: 8 games \u2014 9.5 PPG, 2.8 RPG, 0.6 APG, 0.3 BPGEuroLeague: 6 games \u2014 7.0 PPG, 3.8 RPG, 1.0 APG, 0.8 SPGNov. 26 vs. Famila Schio (74-57 loss): two points (1-4 FG, 0-1 3Pt), two rebounds and two assists over 25 minutesNov. 29 vs. Chartres (83-67 win): six points (3-5 FG), two rebounds, one assist and one steal over 13 minutes<\/p>\n
Camryn Taylor \u2014 Landerneau (France)<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
Taylor had a slow start to the offseason schedule, but has picked things up as of late with two straight double-digit outings. Over the past week, she didn\u2019t appear in any games.<\/p>\n
France-BWL: 6 games \u2014 5.2 PPG, 2.0 RPG, 0.2 APG, 0.2 SPG, 0.2 BPGNov. 29 vs. Angers (75-67 win): 12 points (5-6 FG, 2-2 3Pt), two rebounds and one block over 19 minutes<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
Napheesa Collier, Courtney Williams, Natisha Hiedeman and Alanna Smith are taking part in Unrivaled\u2019s second season. Former Lynx General Manager Clare Duwelius is also still serving as Unrivaled\u2019s General Manager and Executive Vice President.<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n