The Lynx's Quest for Championship Glory: Addressing Roster Weaknesses
The Minnesota Lynx's journey to the 2025 postseason ended in disappointment, leaving a trail of uncertainty and the need for strategic changes. With only two players under contract for the 2026 season, the team faces a challenging task of building a competitive roster. While key players like Napheesa Collier, Kayla McBride, Alanna Smith, and Courtney Williams are expected to return, the Lynx must address specific weaknesses exposed during the playoffs.
One area of concern is the frontcourt, where the Lynx lacked size compared to their opponents. The team's big rotation, featuring Dorka Juhasz and Anastasiia Kosu, needs reinforcement. The draft could provide solutions by selecting players like Lauren Betts or Awa Fam, who can contribute both size and defensive prowess. Additionally, the Lynx must boost their offensive output from the wing positions.
The semifinals highlighted a significant issue: the Lynx's lack of depth and production at the three-guard position. While the team had a strong big rotation with Collier, Smith, Jessica Shepard, and Maria Kliundikova, the small forward spot proved to be a weakness.
Bridget Carleton, a 6'2" player, started at the three-guard position, offering size, defense, and floor spacing. However, her offensive performance dipped compared to the previous season, averaging fewer points and shooting below 40% from three. In the playoffs, her numbers further declined, averaging just 5 points on 31% shooting from the field and 36.8% from three.
The Lynx's depth at the three-guard position was limited. Karlie Samuelson, who could play shooting guard or small forward, and Diamond Miller, who saw some minutes at the three, were the primary options. When Samuelson suffered a season-ending injury, the team's perimeter depth became even thinner.
To address this, the Lynx made a strategic trade, acquiring DiJonai Carrington from another team. Carrington, while smaller at the three-guard position, can fill either the shooting guard or small forward role. Her ability to create offense is a valuable asset for the Lynx. However, Carrington's own injury woes meant she missed most of the playoffs, forcing the team to rely heavily on Carleton's limited offensive output.
The Lynx's three-guard lineup, consisting of Williams, Hiedeman, and McBride, offered speed and offense but lacked the ideal size to counter the Phoenix Mercury's starting lineup featuring Kahleah Copper and Satou Sabally. To return to championship contention, the Lynx must prioritize improving their wing depth or finding a more consistent scoring threat to fill the starting small forward position.
