The 2025 Minnesota Lynx season was the 27th season for the Minnesota Lynx of the Women's National Basketball Association, and the sixteenth season under head coach Cheryl Reeve.
The season tipped-off on Friday, May 16, 2025, in Dallas against the Wings. Entering as the defending Commissioner's Cup champions, Minnesota advanced to the 2025 WNBA Commissioner's Cup championship game for the second straight year after leading the Western Conference with a 5–1 record. However, they lost that game to the Indiana Fever.
The Lynx went under a few changes in the offseason following the 2024 season. General Manager Clare Duwelius left to become the Executive Vice President and General Manager, for the new women's 3x3 basketball league Unrivaled. Forward Cecilia Zandalasini was selected in the Golden State Valkyries expansion draft. After coming over to Minnesota in a trade at the end of the season, Myisha Hines-Allen signed with the Dallas Wings in February 2025. Assistant Coach Katie Smith left to take an assistant position at her alma mater Ohio State, which allowed the Lynx to hire Eric Thibault and Lindsay Whalen to their staff.
Draft
Round Pick Player Position Nationality College/Club Outcome Ref. 2 15 Anastasiia Kosu F UMMC Ekaterinburg Signed rookie contract on April 19Made opening day roster 2 24 Dalayah Daniels WashingtonSigned rookie contract on April 19Waived on May 7 3 37 Aubrey Griffin G/F UConn Rights retained
Transactions
Front office and coaching DateDetails Ref. November 11, 2024 Associate head coach, Katie Smith, and General Manager, Clare Duwelius, left Lynx organization November 30, 2024 Hired Lindsay Whalen as an assistant coach and Eric Thibault as associate head coach June 23, 2025 Glen and Becky Taylor announced their departure from the ownership group of the Minnesota Lynx and the Minnesota Timberwolves Marc Lore and Alex Rodriguez became the new majority owners of the Lynx and Timberwolves
Trades April To Minnesota LynxOutright 2026 first-round draft pickExtinguished previous right to exchange 2026 first round draft picks with Chicago To Chicago Sky2025 No. 11 draft pick April 14 To Minnesota LynxKarlie Samuelson To Washington Mystics2026 first round pick (Minnesota’s own) August To Minnesota LynxDiJonai Carrington To Dallas WingsDiamond MillerKarlie Samuelson2027 second round pick (Minnesota’s own)
Free agency Re-signed / extensions Player Date Notes Ref. Natisha Hiedeman February 1 One-year deal Dorka Juhász May 15 Exercised team option Diamond Miller Jessica Shepard June 23 Set as active
Additions Player Date Notes Former Team Ref. Marième Badiane February 1 Training camp contract Fenerbahçe S.K. Grace Berger February 8 Awarded off waivers Indiana Fever Kiara Leslie February 10 Training camp contract Gigantes de Carolina Camryn Taylor February 25 Esperides Kallitheas August 8 7-day contract Free agent August 15 August 22 September 1 Rest of season contract Christyn Williams February 26 Training camp contract Athletes Unlimited Ajae Petty April 16 Ohio State Buckeyes Reigan Richardson Duke Blue Devils Anastasiia Kosu April 19 Rookie contract(2025 draft pick – No. 15) UMMC Ekaterinburg Dalayah Daniels Rookie contract(2025 draft pick – No. 24) Washington Huskies Jessica Shepard Training camp contract Athinaikos AS Vurona Diamond Johnson April 24 Norfolk State Spartans Maria Kliundikova June 6 Rest of season contract Free agentYvonne Anderson July 28 7-day contract August 4 Jaylyn Sherrod August 9 Rest of season contract
Subtractions / unsigned Player Date Reason New Team Ref. Maïa Hirsch April 10, 2023 Unsigned draft pick(2023 draft pick – No. 12) N/A – retained rights Cecilia Zandalasini December 6, 2024 Expansion draft Golden State Valkyries Olivia Époupa February 1, 2025 Free agency – unrestricted — Myisha Hines-Allen February 2, 2025 Dallas Wings Aubrey Griffin April 14, 2025 Unsigned draft pick(2025 draft pick – No. 37) N/A – retained rights Kiara Leslie May 5, 2025 Waived — Christyn Williams — Dalayah Daniels May 7, 2025— Diamond Johnson — Ajae Petty — Camryn Taylor — August 29, 2025 Released — Dorka Juhász May 10, 2025 Suspended contract – full season N/A – retained rights Reigan Richardson May 11, 2025 Waived —Grace BergerMay 14, 2025 Dallas Wings Marième Badiane June 4, 2025 —Jessica Shepard June 10, 2025 Suspended contract – temporary N/A – retained rights Alissa Pili July 12, 2025 Waived Los Angeles Sparks Yvonne Anderson August 9, 2025 Released —
Roster
Depth Pos.StarterBench PG Courtney Williams Natisha HiedemanJaylyn Sherrod SG Kayla McBride DiJonai Carrington SF Bridget Carleton Anastasiia Kosu PF Napheesa Collier Jessica ShepardCamryn Taylor C Alanna Smith Maria Kliundikova
Schedule Preseason
|- style="background:#fcc;" | 1 | May 6 | @ Chicago | L 69–74 | Alanna Smith (10) | Alanna Smith (9) | Hiedeman, Williams (5) | Wintrust Arena4,688 | 0–1 |- bgcolor=#bbffbb | 2 | May 10 | Chicago | W 92–87 | Napheesa Collier (26) | Jessica Shepard (8) | Jessica Shepard (9) | Target Center7,615 | 1–1
Regular season
|- bgcolor=#bbffbb | 1 | May 16 | @ Dallas | W 99–84 | Napheesa Collier (34) | Jessica Shepard (8) | Courtney Williams (9) | College Park Center6,251 | 1–0 |- bgcolor=#bbffbb | 2 | May 18 | @ Los Angeles | W 89–75 | Napheesa Collier (23) | Jessica Shepard (10) | Courtney Williams (9) | Crypto.com Arena11,170 | 2–0 |- |- bgcolor=#bbffbb | 3 | May 21 | Dallas | W 85–81 | Napheesa Collier (28) | Jessica Shepard (10) | Natisha Hiedeman (8) | Target Center12,772 | 3–0 |- |- bgcolor=#bbffbb | 4 | May 23 | Connecticut | W 76–70 | Napheesa Collier (33) | Napheesa Collier (11) | Jessica Shepard (4) | Target Center 8,224 | 4–0 |- bgcolor=bbffbb | 5 | May 27 | Seattle | W 82–77 | Courtney Williams (23) | Napheesa Collier (10) | Napheesa Collier (5) | Target Center8,808 | 5–0 |- bgcolor=#bbffbb | 6 | May 30 | @ Phoenix | W 74–71 | Kayla McBride (20) | Jessica Shepard (10) | Courtney Williams (7) | PHX Arena9,043 | 6–0
|- bgcolor=#bbffbb |bgcolor=#FED8B1| 7 | June 1 | @ Golden State | W 86–75 | Napheesa Collier (24) | Napheesa Collier (11) | Courtney Williams (5) | Chase Center18,064 | 7–0 |- bgcolor=#bbffbb |bgcolor=#FED8B1| 8 | June 3 | Phoenix | W 88–65 | Napheesa Collier (18) | Napheesa Collier (11) | Kayla McBride (7) | Target Center8,772 | 8–0 |- bgcolor=#bbffbb |bgcolor=#FED8B1| 9 | June 8 | @ Dallas | W 81–65 | Napheesa Collier (28) | Napheesa Collier (10) | Courtney Williams (8) | College Park Center6,162 | 9–0 |- bgcolor=#fcc |bgcolor=#FED8B1| 10 | June 11 | @ Seattle | L 84–94 | Napheesa Collier (25) | Napheesa Collier (9) | McBride, Williams (6) | Climate Pledge Arena9,722 | 9–1 |- bgcolor=#bbffbb |bgcolor=#FED8B1| 11 | June 14 | Los Angeles | W 101–77 | Napheesa Collier (32) | Napheesa Collier (8) | Napheesa Collier (6) | Target Center10,810 | 10–1 |- bgcolor=#bbffbb |bgcolor=#FED8B1| 12 | June 17 | Las Vegas | W 76–62 | Courtney Williams (20) | Alanna Smith (13) | Courtney Williams (5) | Target Center8,802 | 11–1 |- bgcolor=#bbffbb | 13 | June 21 | Los Angeles | W 82–66 | Kayla McBride (29) | Kliudikova, Smith (8) | Hiedeman, Williams (6) | Target Center8,777 | 12–1 |- bgcolor=#fcc | 14 | June 24 | @ Washington | L 64–68 | Alanna Smith (26) | Jessica Shepard (15) | Shepard, Williams (4) | CareFirst Arena4,200 | 12–2 |- bgcolor=#bbffbb | 15 | June 27 | @ Atlanta | W 96–92 (OT) | Napheesa Collier (26) | Alanna Smith (8) | Courtney Williams (8) | Gateway Center Arena3,265 | 13–2 |- bgcolor=#bbffbb | 16 | June 29 | Connecticut | W 102–63 | Napheesa Collier (23) | Collier, Williams (9) | Hiedeman, Williams (7) | Target Center8,821 | 14–2
|- bgcolor=#fcc |bgcolor=#FED8B1| Commissioner'sCup Final | July 1 | Indiana | L 59–74 | Alanna Smith (15) | Napheesa Collier (9) | Courtney Williams (4) | Target Center12,778 | — |- bgcolor=#bbffbb | 17 | July 3 | Washington | W 92–75 | Napheesa Collier (28) | Courtney Williams (6) | Courtney Williams (8) | Target Center8,824 | 15–2 |- bgcolor=#bbffbb | 18 | July 5 | Golden State | W 82–71 | Napheesa Collier (22) | Jessica Shepard (10) | Alanna Smith (6) | Target Center8,771 | 16–2 |- bgcolor=#bbffbb | 19 | July 6 | Chicago | W 80–75 | Courtney Williams (25) | Courtney Williams (8) | Courtney Williams (6) | Target Center8,810 | 17–2 |- bgcolor=#fcc | 20 | July 9 | @ Phoenix | L 71–79 | Courtney Williams (21) | Alanna Smith (9) | Courtney Williams (5) | PHX Arena10,083 | 17–3 |- bgcolor=#bbffbb | 21 | July 10 | @ Los Angeles | W 91–82 | Natisha Hiedeman (18) | Napheesa Collier (8) | Courtney Williams (7) | Crypto.com Arena18,199 | 18–3 |- bgcolor=#fcc | 22 | July 12 | @ Chicago | L 81–87 | Napheesa Collier (26) | Collier, Williams (8) | Courtney Williams (8) | Wintrust Arena9,025 | 18–4 |- bgcolor=#bbffbb | 23 | July 14 | @ Chicago | W 91–78 | Napheesa Collier (29) | Courtney Williams (8) | Courtney Williams (7) | Wintrust Arena8,105 | 19–4 |- bgcolor=#bbffbb | 24 | July 16 | Phoenix | W 79–66 | Kayla McBride (18) | Jessica Shepard (8) | Carleton, McBride, Williams (5) | Target Center16,421 | 20–4 |- align="center" |colspan="9" bgcolor="#bbcaff"|All-Star Game |- bgcolor=#bbffbb | 25 | July 22 | Chicago | W 91–68 | Collier, McBride (19) | Napheesa Collier (8) | Courtney Williams (7) | Target Center8,821 | 21–4 |- bgcolor=#bbffbb | 26 | July 25 | Las Vegas | W 109–78 | Napheesa Collier (25) | Jessica Shepard (13) | Courtney Williams (5) | Target Center8,810 | 22–4 |- bgcolor=#fcc | 27 | July 27 | Atlanta | L 86–90 | Napheesa Collier (32) | Napheesa Collier (8) | Courtney Williams (9) | Target Center8,788 | 22–5 |- bgcolor=#bbffbb | 28 | July 30 | New York | W 100–93 | Napheesa Collier (30) | Collier, Williams (9) | Courtney Williams (13) | Target Center10,824 | 23–5
|- bgcolor=#bbffbb | 29 | August 2 | @ Las Vegas | W 111–58 | Kayla McBride (24) | Jessica Shepard (14) | Courtney Williams (9) | Michelob Ultra Arena10,488 | 24–5 |- bgcolor=#bbffbb | 30 | August 5 | @ Seattle | W 91–87 | Courtney Williams (20) | Jessica Shepard (13) | Kayla McBride (6) | Climate Pledge Arena10,468 | 25–5 |- bgcolor=#bbffbb | 31 | August 8 | Washington | W 80–76 | Alanna Smith (25) | Carleton, Shepard (6) | Courtney Williams (5) | Target Center8,821 | 26–5 |- bgcolor=#bbffbb | 32 | August 10 | @ New York | W 83–71 | Kayla McBride (18) | Alanna Smith (9) | Smith, Williams (7) | Barclays Center17,343 | 27–5 |- bgcolor=#bbffbb | 33 | August 16 | New York | W 86–80 | Courtney Williams (26) | Jessica Shepard (10) | Courtney Williams (5) | Target Center10,810 | 28–5 |- bgcolor=#fcc | 34 | August 19 | @ New York | L 75–85 | Courtney Williams (17) | Jessica Shepard (10) | Kayla McBride (3) | Barclays Center16,864 | 28–6 |- bgcolor=#fcc | 35 | August 21 | @ Atlanta | L 73–75 | Bridget Carleton (16) | Jessica Shepard (16) | Courtney Williams (9) | Gateway Center Arena3,265 | 28–7 |- bgcolor=#bbffbb | 36 | August 22 | @ Indiana | W 95–90 | Kayla McBride (29) | Jessica Shepard (11) | Jessica Shepard (10) | Gainbridge Fieldhouse15,121 | 29–7 |- bgcolor=#bbffbb | 37 | August 24 | Indiana | W 97–84 | Napheesa Collier (32) | Napheesa Collier (9) | Courtney Williams (10) | Target Center15,124 | 30–7 |- bgcolor=#fcc | 38 | August 28 | Seattle | L 79–93 | Kayla McBride (20) | Napheesa Collier (9) | Courtney Williams (10) | Target Center9,810 | 30–8 |- bgcolor=#bbffbb | 39 | August 30 | @ Connecticut | W 94–70 | Carrington, Smith (18) | Napheesa Collier (9) | Kayla McBride (6) | Mohegan Sun Arena8,910 | 31–8
|- bgcolor=#bbffbb | 40 | September 1 | Dallas | W 96–71 | Napheesa Collier (25) | Jessica Shepard (8) | Natisha Hiedeman (10) | Target Center10,824 | 32–8 |- bgcolor=#fcc | 41 | September 4 | @ Las Vegas | L 87–97 | Natisha Hiedeman (22) | Collier, Hiedeman (6) | Kayla McBride (6) | T-Mobile Arena14,656 | 32–9 |- bgcolor=#bbffbb | 42 | September 6 | @ Golden State | W 78–72 | Natisha Hiedeman (24) | Jessica Shepard (13) | Courtney Williams (5) | Chase Center18,064 | 33–9 |- bgcolor=#fcc | 43