As the WNBA starts back up next month, the league has seen a lot of shakeup. <\/p>\n
Thanks to the WNBPA and the league\u2019s next collective bargaining agreement, players can now receive higher salaries. The offseason has seen a historic free agency period. Superstars like A\u2019ja Wilson<\/a> and Aliyah Boston<\/a> re-signed with their teams. Others like Satou Sabally<\/a> and Brittney Griner<\/a> signed with the Liberty and Sun, respectively.<\/p>\n A’ja Wilson, the WNBA’s first ever four-time MVP, is signing a three-year, $5 million supermax contract to return to the Las Vegas Aces, sources tell me and @Andraya_Carter<\/a>. The deal, which is the largest in WNBA history to date and fully guaranteed, was negotiated by Jade-Li\u2026 pic.twitter.com\/xSJhkHOvId<\/a><\/p>\n \u2014 Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) April 15, 2026<\/a><\/p>\n While many teams made big free-agency splashes to add to their roster, the Minnesota Lynx stayed patient and instead lost many of their marquee players from last season.\u00a0<\/p>\n Key Players Return<\/p>\n Easily the most important player to re-sign, Collier agreed on a one-year, $1.4 million deal<\/a>. This keeps her in Minnesota for at least one more year. Collier is the team\u2019s best all-around player and will look to return to form following an ankle injury in last year\u2019s playoffs.\u00a0<\/p>\n The Lynx also managed to re-sign Courtney Williams<\/a> to a two-year, $2.5 million<\/a> deal. After stepping into the starting role last season, Williams totaled a career-high 271 assists. This season, she projects to be one of the team\u2019s highest scorers next season alongside superstar forward Napheesa Collier<\/a>.<\/p>\n Kayla McBride<\/a> signed a similar contract to Williams. Despite being 33-years-old, she provides high-quality defense and ranks among the league\u2019s best three-point shooters. In her five seasons with the Lynx, McBride has never shot under 34.2% from beyond the arc.\u00a0<\/p>\n Notable Losses<\/p>\n Despite re-signing Williams, Collier, and McBride, the Lynx let many of their other important players from last season walk. Some of these names include Alanna Smith<\/a>, Natisha Hiedeman<\/a>, and DiJonai Carrington<\/a>.\u00a0<\/p>\n Last season, Smith earned Co-Defensive Player of the Year alongside the Aces\u2019 Wilson. Smith also proved to be a valuable scorer in Collier\u2019s absence last season. However, the Lynx let her and fellow forward Jessica Shepard<\/a> walk to the Dallas Wings.\u00a0<\/p>\n Hiedeman played a valuable role off the bench last season, averaging 9.1 points per game and 2.8 assists per game. She was best known for her off-court friendship with Williams, a duo dubbed the \u201cStud Budz.\u201d She left for Seattle and will play for the Storm next season on a two-year, $1.5 million<\/a> contract.\u00a0<\/p>\n Carrington was a trade deadline acquisition last season, and in her 11 games with the Lynx, she averaged 8.6 points per game. The 28-year-old was unlikely to re-sign, and she has taken her talents to Chicago to play alongside new draftee Gabriela Jaquez<\/a>.<\/p>\n The Lynx also lost forward Bridget Carlton to the WNBA Expansion Draft, as the Portland Fire made her the No. 1 pick and the new face of their team. Carlton\u2019s best season came in 2024, averaging 9.6 points and 3.8 rebounds per game. Her stats will likely improve as Portland\u2019s top option next season.<\/p>\n New Faces in Minnesota<\/p>\n The Lynx did, however, sign both Natasha Howard<\/a> and Nia Coffey<\/a> as unrestricted free agents. <\/p>\n Howard previously played for the Lynx in 2016 and 2017, but reached the peak of her powers with the Liberty and Wings over the last few years. She is returning as a much-improved player, and will likely start alongside Collier when she returns. Coffey\u2019s stats may not jump off the sheet, but she will likely be a valuable role player for the Lynx next season.<\/p>\n Furthermore, the Lynx did have the No. 2 pick in the 2026 WNBA Draft from a trade with the Chicago Sky in last year\u2019s draft. They selected TCU\u2019s Olivia Miles<\/a>, a crafty guard<\/a> with defensive upside. Miles will likely step in and make an immediate impact as a true point guard, something the Lynx have lacked for a long time.\u00a0<\/p>\n Final Verdict<\/p>\n Despite having the best record in the WNBA last season, there was a large roster shakeup for Minnesota this offseason.<\/p>\n And overall, the Lynx got worse.<\/p>\n Although they added a top rookie and signed free agents like Howard and Coffey, the Lynx lost key players. Many helped form the team\u2019s culture. Their identity as a team will surely change heading into this season.<\/p>\n As long as they have Collier, Williams and McBride, they will compete for a playoff spot. But the loss of Smith, Carlton, Carrington, Hiedeman, and others significantly hurt their chances of adding their fifth WNBA championship.\u00a0<\/p>\n