2019 Minnesota Lynx season explained

The 2019 WNBA season of the Minnesota Lynx was their 21st season in the Women's National Basketball Association (WNBA). The Lynx finished the 2018 season with a record of 18–16, finishing fourth in the Western Conference and seventh overall in the league, while qualifying for the playoffs, before ultimately being beat by Los Angeles in the first Round of the 2018 WNBA Playoffs.

On February 5, 2019, Maya Moore announced that she would not be playing in the 2019 season citing a need to spend more time with family and to focus on her ministry dreams.[1] On March 14, the Lynx announced that they promoted Walt Hopkins to a full-time assistant coach, while also adding Plenette Pierson to an assistant coaching role.[2]

Despite Moore's retirement, the Lynx started off the season strong, going on a three-game winning streak. However, they could not keep the momentum going, winning only three of their next nine games, including a four-game losing streak, to finish June with a 6–6 record. July proved to be more of the same, with the team winning their first three games in the month, but losing their last three and finishing 4–4 for the month. August was another up-and-down month. The Lynx finished 6–5 on the month, which included losing three games and then winning three games to finish the month. The team did manage to extend their three-game winning streak into a five-game winning streak, but lost their season finale.

Their final record of 18–16 earned them the seventh seed in the playoffs. They faced off against the sixth-seeded Seattle Storm. The Storm earned the right to host the game by winning the regular season series 3–1. Napheesa Collier scored a double double in her playoff debut, but it was ultimately not enough as the Lynx lost by ten points.

Collier's solid postseason continued when she won Rookie of the Year. Collier is the fourth Lynx player to win the award, and the first since Maya Moore.

Transactions

WNBA draft

See also: 2019 WNBA draft.

RoundPickPlayerNationalitySchool/team/country
16Napheesa CollierConnecticut Huskies
216Jessica ShepardNotre Dame
218Natisha HiedemanMarquette
220Cierra DillardBuffalo
330Kenisha BellMinnesota

Trades and roster changes

DateTrade
February 1, 2019Signed F Karima Christmas-Kelly[3]
February 2, 2019Re-Signed G Seimone Augustus[4]
February 8, 2019Signed F/C Damiris Dantas[5]
February 22, 2019Signed F Jillian Alleyne[6]
February 28, 2019Re-Signed F Erlana Larkins and Signed F Kelsey Griffin[7] [8]
April 10, 2019Traded G Natisha Hiedeman to Connecticut in exchange for G Lexie Brown.[9]
April 11, 2019Traded G Tanisha Wright to New York in exchange for a second round pick in the 2020 WNBA draft.[10]
April 17, 2019Signed F Shao Ting[11]
April 22, 2019Traded G Alexis Jones to Los Angeles in exchange for G Odyssey Sims.[12]
May 11, 2019Waived G Cierra Dillard[13]
May 16, 2019Waived G Taylor Emery[14]
May 21, 2019Traded their third round pick in the 2020 WNBA draft to Chicago in exchange for C Alaina Coates[15]
Traded their second round pick in the 2020 WNBA draft to Phoenix in exchange for G Stephanie Talbot[16]
May 22, 2019Waived F Erlana Larkins[17]
July 2, 2019Signed F Asia Taylor and G Kenisha Bell[18]
July 13, 2019Waived F Shao Ting and activated F Temi Fagbenle[19]
July 14, 2019Waived C Alaina Coates[20]
July 19, 2019Waived G Kenisha Bell[21]
July 25, 2019Waived F Asia Taylor
July 30, 2019Signed F Jillian Alleyne to a 7-Day Contract[22]
August 6, 2019Signed F Jillian Alleyne to a 2nd 7-Day Contract[23]
August 13, 2019Signed F Jillian Alleyne to a 3rd 7-Day Contract[24]
August 22, 2019Signed F Bridget Carleton to a 7-Day Contract[25]

Additions

PlayerDateFormer team
Karima Christmas-KellyFebruary 1, 2019Dallas Wings
Damiris DantasFebruary 8, 2019Atlanta Dream
Lexie BrownApril 11, 2019Connecticut Sun
Odyssey SimsApril 22, 2019Los Angeles Sparks

Subtractions

PlayerDateNew team/reason
Lindsay WhalenAugust 13, 2018Retirement
James Wade (assistant coach)November 18, 2018Chicago Sky Head Coach
Maya MooreFebruary 5, 2019Taking Year Off

Schedule

Preseason

|- style="background:#cfc;"| 1| May 10| Washington| W 86–79| Sims (20)| Fowles (11)| Sims (7)| Target Center
3,201| 1–0|- style="background:#cfc;"| 2| May 19| @ Las Vegas| W 79–75| Sims (25)| Fowles (7)| Brown (7)| Cox Pavilion| 1–1

Regular season

|- style="background:#cfc;"| 1| May 25| Chicago| W 89–71| Collier (27)| Shepard (13)| Shepard (6)| Target Center
8,524| 1–0|- style="background:#cfc;"| 2| May 29| Seattle| W 72–61| Sims (15)| Fowles (13)| Sims (5)| Target Center
8,092| 2–0|- style="background:#cfc;"| 3| June 1| @ Dallas| W 70–67| Dantas (20)| Fowles (12)| Sims (5)| College Park Center
6,535| 3–0|- style="background:#fcc;"| 4| June 4| @ Seattle| L 77–84| Collier (17)| Fowles (5)| Sims (6)| Angel of the Winds Arena
5,711| 3–1|-style="background:#cfc;"| 5| June 6| Phoenix| W 58–56| Sims (15)| 3 tied (6)| Tied (3)| Target Center
8,001| 4–1|- style="background:#fcc;"| 6| June 8| Los Angeles| L 85–89| Brown (21)| Fowles (13)| Sims (7)| Target Center
8,834| 4–2|- style="background:#fcc;"| 7| June 12| @ New York| L 69–75| Fowles (16)| Fowles (11)| Robinson (7)| Westchester County Center
1,181| 4–3|-style="background:#fcc;"| 8| June 14| Connecticut| L 81–85| Sims (25)| Fowles (9)| Dantas (5)| Target Center
8,803| 4–4|- style="background:#fcc;"| 9| June 16| Las Vegas| L 75–80| Dantas (22)| Fowles (9)| Dantas (6)| Target Center
8,392| 4–5|- style="background:#cfc;"| 10| June 22| New York| W 92–83| Sims (20)| Fowles (10)| Dantas (5)| Target Center
8,600| 5–5|- style="background:#cfc;| 11| June 25| @ Indiana| W 78–74| Sims (25)| Fowles (11)| Sims (7)| Bankers Life Fieldhouse
4,692| 6–5|- style="background:#fcc;"| 12| June 30| @ Dallas| L 86–89| Sims (23)| Fowles (9)| Sims (8)| College Park Center
4,521| 6–6|- style="background:#cfc;| 13| July 2| Atlanta| W 85–68| Talbot (24)| Collier (11)| Sims (8)| Target Center
8,208| 7–6|- style="background:#cfc;"| 14| July 6| @ Connecticut| W 74–71| Sims (21)| Fowles (11)| Sims (8)| Mohegan Sun Arena
8,076| 8–6|-style="background:#cfc;| 15| July 10| @ Chicago| W 73–72| Sims (16)| Fowles (12)| Sims (4)| Wintrust Arena
8,508| 9–6|-style="background:#fcc;| 16| July 12| @ Atlanta| L 53–60| Robinson (14)| Fowles (12)| Sims (7)| State Farm Arena
4,001| 9–7|- style="background:#cfc;| 17| July 14| Phoenix| W 75–62| Sims (15)| Fowles (13)| Robinson (5)| Target Center
8,801| 10–7|-style="background:#fcc;| 18| July 17| Seattle| L 79–90| Brown (20)| Fowles (7)| Robinson (10)| Target Center
8,403| 10–8|- style="background:#fcc;"| 19| July 21| @ Las Vegas| L 74–79| Sims (19)| Collier (6)| Tied (4)| Mandalay Bay Events Center
4,352| 10–9|- style="background:#fcc;| 20| July 24| Washington| L 71–79| Brown (19)| Fowles (12)| Sims (4)| Target Center
17,934| 10–10|- style="background:#fcc;"| 21| August 3| @ Indiana| L 75–86| Fowles (17)| Collier (7)| Sims (5)| Bankers Life Fieldhouse
7,884| 10–11|- style="background:#cfc;"| 22| August 6| @ Atlanta| W 85–69| Collier (22)| Tied (11)| Collier (5)| State Farm Arena
3,395| 11–11|- style="background:#cfc;"| 23| August 9| Connecticut| W 89–57| Fowles (17)| Fowles (12)| Sims (9)| Target Center
8,892| 12–11|- style="background:#fcc;"| 24| August 11| @ Washington| L 78–101| Sims (20)| Collier (6)| Sims (8)| St. Elizabeth's East Arena
4,200| 12–12|- style="background:#cfc;"| 25| August 13| @ New York| W 89–73| Sims (17)| Fowles (8)| Sims (6)| Westchester County Center
1,570| 13–12|- style="background:#fcc;"| 26| August 16| Washington| L 79–86| Fowles (16)| Collier (9)| Tied (5)| Target Center
8,803| 13–13|- style="background:#fcc;"| 27| August 18| @ Seattle| L 74–82| Sims (30)| Collier (5)| Robinson (9)| Alaska Airlines Arena
9,000| 13–14|- style="background:#fcc;"| 28| August 20| @ Los Angeles| L 71–81| Brown (20)| Tied (7)| Collier (4)| Staples Center
9,244| 13–15|- style="background:#cfc;"| 29| August 22| Dallas| W 86–70| Collier (19)| Tied (7)| Dantas (8)| Target Center
8,124| 14–15|- style="background:#cfc;"| 30| August 25| Las Vegas| W 98–77| Tied (23)| Tied (6)| Robinson (8)| Target Center
8,834| 15–15|- style="background:#cfc;"| 31| August 27| Chicago| W 93–85| Fowles (25)| Fowles (12)| Sims (8)| Target Center
8,092| 16–15|- style="background:#cfc;"| 32| September 1| Indiana| W 81–73| Sims (17)| Collier (10)| 3 tied (4)| Target Center
8,833| 17–15|- style="background:#cfc;"| 33| September 6| @ Phoenix| W 83–69| Sims (22)| Fowles (11)| Sims (9)| Talking Stick Resort Arena
12,140| 18–15|- style="background:#fcc;"| 34| September 8| @ Los Angeles| L 68–77| Collier (16)| Collier (11)| Dantas (9)| Staples Center
13,500| 18–16

Playoffs

|- style="background:#fcc;"| 1| September 11| @ Seattle Storm| L 74–84| Dantas (20)| Fowles (11)| Sims (5)| Angel of the Winds Arena
5,011| 0–1

Playoffs

See main article: 2019 WNBA Playoffs.

Statistics

Regular season

PlayerGPGSMPGFG%3P%FT%RPGAPGSPGBPGPPG
Odyssey Sims343431.941.526.979.53.45.41.40.114.5
Sylvia Fowles343429.558.8070.78.91.50.91.413.6
Napheesa Collier343433.349.036.179.26.62.61.90.913.1
Danielle Robinson342627.043.722.087.93.53.71.20.210.1
Damiris Dantas262625.743.239.373.14.53.20.70.69.2
Lexie Brown33018.340.238.578.91.41.40.90.07.6
Temi Fagbenle18015.137.032.672.22.90.80.30.35.4
Stephanie Talbot33917.037.032.687.12.41.20.90.35.2
Jessica Shepard6018.731.316.775.05.73.50.30.24.8
Seimone Augustus12713.031.316.775.00.61.30.40.13.8
Karima Christmas-Kelly6012.027.827.360.00.81.00.80.22.7
Bridget Carleton402.850.050.000.30000.8

Awards and milestones

RecipientAward/milestoneDate awardedReference
Odyssey SimsWNBA All-Star SelectionJuly 15, 2019[26]
Sylvia Fowles
Napheesa CollierWNBA All-Star Replacement SelectionJuly 22, 2019[27]
Danielle RobinsonWNBA Community Assist Award - JuneJuly 23, 2019[28]
Napheesa CollierWNBA Rookie of the Month - JulyAugust 1, 2019[29]
WNBA Western Conference Player of the WeekAugust 26, 2019[30]
Rookie of the YearSeptember 16, 2019[31]
WNBA All-Rookie TeamSeptember 16, 2019[32]
Cheryl ReeveWNBA Basketball Executive of the Year AwardSeptember 18, 2019[33]

Notes and References

  1. Web site: The Shift. February 4, 2019. playertribune.com. playertribune.com.
  2. Web site: Lynx Announce Basketball Operations Updates. March 14, 2019. lynx.wnba.com. lynx.wnba.com.
  3. Web site: Minnesota Lynx Sign Forward Karima Christmas-Kelly. February 1, 2019. lynx.wnba.com. lynx.wnba.com.
  4. Web site: Minnesota Lynx Re-Sign Four-Time WNBA Champion Seimone Augustus. February 2, 2019. lynx.wnba.com. lynx.wnba.com.
  5. Web site: Minnesota Lynx Sign Forward Damiris Dantas. February 8, 2019. lynx.wnba.com. lynx.wnba.com.
  6. Web site: Lynx Sign Forward Jillian Alleyne. February 8, 2019. lynx.wnba.com. lynx.wnba.com.
  7. Web site: Minnesota Lynx Re-Sign Forward Erlana Larkins. February 28, 2019. lynx.wnba.com. lynx.wnba.com.
  8. Web site: Griffin, out of WNBA for 5 years, to Lynx camp. ESPN. The Associated Press. February 28, 2019. March 1, 2019.
  9. News: WNBA Draft: Lynx bring in Shepard, Dillard, Bell, trade for Brown. April 11, 2019. April 11, 2019. FOX Sports.
  10. Web site: Minnesota Lynx Acquire 2020 Second Round Draft Pick in Exchange for Guard Tanisha Wright. April 15, 2019. WNBA. lynx.wnba.com. April 11, 2019.
  11. Web site: Lynx sign Chinese Olympic player Shao Ting to contract. April 17, 2019. Star Tribune. startribune.com. April 17, 2019.
  12. Web site: Minnesota Lynx Acquire Guard Odyssey Sims. WNBA. April 22, 2019. April 23, 2019.
  13. Web site: Lynx Waive Guard Cierra Dillard. WNBA. May 11, 2019. May 13, 2019.
  14. Web site: Lynx Waive Guard Taylor Emery. WNBA. May 16, 2019. May 16, 2019.
  15. Web site: Sky Acquire 2020 Third-Round Pick From Minnesota Lynx. WNBA. May 21, 2019. May 21, 2019.
  16. Web site: Mercury Acquire 2020 Second-Round Pick From Minnesota. WNBA. May 21, 2019. May 21, 2019.
  17. Web site: Lynx Waive Forward Erlana Larkins. WNBA. May 22, 2019. May 22, 2019.
  18. Web site: Minnesota Lynx Sign Guard Kenisha Bell and Forward Asia Taylor. WNBA. July 2, 2019. July 2, 2019.
  19. Web site: Temi Fagbenle returns to the Minnesota Lynx from EuroBasket. High Post Hoops. July 13, 2019. July 13, 2019.
  20. Web site: Lynx Waive Center Alaina Coates. WNBA. July 14, 2019. July 14, 2019.
  21. Web site: Damiris Dantas Injury Update. WNBA. July 19, 2019. July 19, 2019.
  22. Web site: Lynx Sign Forward Jillian Alleyne. WNBA. July 30, 2019. July 30, 2019.
  23. Web site: Lynx Sign Forward Jillian Alleyne. WNBA. August 6, 2019. August 6, 2019.
  24. Web site: Lynx Sign Forward Jillian Alleyne. WNBA. August 13, 2019. August 13, 2019.
  25. Web site: Lynx Sign Forward Bridget Carleton. WNBA. August 22, 2019. August 22, 2019.
  26. Web site: Seven-Time Selection Charles, Dupree, Highlight Reserves For All-Star. WNBA. July 15, 2019. July 16, 2019.
  27. Web site: Lynx’s Napheesa Collier To Replace A’ja Wilson In AT&T WNBA All-Star 2019. WNBA. July 22, 2019. July 22, 2019.
  28. Web site: Minnesota’s Danielle Robinson Receives Community Assist Award. WNBA. July 23, 2019. July 23, 2019.
  29. WNBA. 1157019443056324608. August 1, 2019. Baller alert @PHEEsespieces earns #WNBA Rookie of the Month! .
  30. Web site: Vandersloot, Collier Earn Player Of The Week Honors. WNBA. August 26, 2019. August 26, 2019.
  31. Web site: Minnesota’s Napheesa Collier Named 2019 WNBA Rookie of the Year. WNBA. September 16, 2019. September 16, 2019.
  32. Web site: Rookie of the Year Collier Headlines 2019 All-Rookie Team. WNBA. September 16, 2019. September 16, 2019.
  33. Web site: Minnesota’s Cheryl Reeve Named 2019 WNBA Basketball Executive of the Year. WNBA. September 18, 2019. September 18, 2019.