The start of a new week means another new Lynx Offseason Update!
This past week, Minnesota Lynx players put on a strong showing across the globe, with Unrivaled action continuing in Miami and league-play picking back up overseas. Currently, 11 of the 12 Lynx players planning to play this offseason are hitting the hardwood, three in the country (soon to be four) and the rest playing outside of the country.
The 12 Lynx players are Courtney Williams, Alanna Smith, Natisha Hiedeman, Kayla McBride, Bridget Carlton, Jessica Shepard, Maia Hirsch, Dorka Juhász, Maria Kliundikova, Anastasiia Olairi Kosu, Camryn Taylor and Jaylyn Sherrod. Napheesa Collier, who was supposed to take part in Unrivaled, will miss the season due to having surgery on both ankles and missing a total of 4-6 months in recovery.
Let’s take a look at where those Lynx players are playing — and who is the last one yet to start — how they’ve done as of late and how they are performing so far this offseason.
Courtney Williams — Vinyl (Unrivaled)
Williams has returned to Unrivaled for the second season after being one of the first 32 players to make up the inaugural season a year ago. After spending last season with the Lunar Owls, Williams is on a new squad this season while suiting up for Team Vinyl.
With Vinyl, Williams has done a nice job in distributing and contributing on the boards despite having a bit of an up-and-down start to the year offensively. Over the past week, Williams appeared in one game and, despite struggling a bit with her shot, she contributed nicely in other areas of the game.
Season Stats:
Unrivaled: 4 games — 7.5 PPG, 6.0 RPG, 5.5 APG, 0.3 BPG, 0.3 SPG
Recent Games:
Jan. 17 vs. Breeze (81-66 win): six points (3-11 FG, 0-1 3Pt), six rebounds, six assists and one steal over 16.3 minutes
Alanna Smith — Mist (Unrivaled)
For the first time as a professional player, Smith is spending her offseason playing the United States rather than overseas like she has always done.
Smith has begun the season on The Mist, and she has helped her squad to a strong 3-1 start to the year while contributing offensively and on the boards while also being a lockdown presence in the paint defensively. Over the past week, she saw a bit of a dip in playing time and production, but still contributed to help her squad.
Season Stats:
Unrivaled: 4 games — 6.5 PPG, 4.0 RPG, 1.5 BPG, 0.3 APG
Recent Games:
Jan. 12 vs. Phantom (65-61 loss): no points (0-1 FG 0-1 3Pt) and two rebounds over 5.2 minutes
Jan. 17 vs. Lunar Owls (79-65 win): eight points (3-9 FG, 0-5 3Pt) and three rebounds over 5.9 minutes
Natisha Hiedeman — Hive (Unrivaled)
Hiedeman has also returned to Unrivaled for the second straight season after bouncing around to three different teams — Phantom, Laces and Rose — during the inaugural season. Hiedeman concluded the year with Rose and helped them to an Unrivaled Championship.
With Hive, one of the two newest teams to Unrivaled in 2026, Hiedeman has cooled off after a strong opening night performance, struggling a bit with her offensive production and finding her shot.
Season Stats:
Unrivaled: 5 games — 2.8 PPG, 2.0 RPG, 1.6 APG, 0.2 SPG
Recent Games:
Jan. 16 vs. Rose (78-75 win): two points (1-6 FG, 0-3 3Pt), four assists and two rebounds over 9.7 minutes
Jan. 18 vs. Phantom (71-59 loss): no points (0-2 FG, 0-1 3Pt) and one rebound over 4.5 minutes
Kayla McBride — Fenerbahçe (Turkey)
McBride is back at her second home in Turkey while returning to play for Turkish powerhouse Fenerbahçe. 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.
McBride has continued to provide a nice two-way lift to her team this offseason, appearing in two games over the past week and ending the week with her best performance of the season with a near triple-double.
Season Stats:
Turkey-KBSL: 9 games — 13.0 PPG, 4.6 RPG, 4.8 APG, 0.9 SPG
EuroLeague: 7 games — 14.6 PPG, 3.7 APG, 30 RPG, 1.7 SPG
Recent Games:
Jan. 14 vs. Landes (80-61 loss): seven points (3-10 FG, 1-4 3Pt), five rebounds, three assists and one steal over 28 minutes
Jan. 17 vs. Canakkale (129-43 win): 14 points (5-8 FG, 4-6 3Pt), 11 rebounds, eight assists and two steals over 16 minutes
Bridget Carleton — USK Praha (Czech Republic)
Carleton is in a new country this offseason, adding her seventh country she’s played in during her career along with Australia, Spain, Franco, Hungary, Israel and Turkey.
Carleton has done a little bit of everything in Czech Republic-ZBL and EuroLeague action this offseason, leaving her mark on multiple areas of the game like we’ve become used to seeing with the Lynx. Over the past week, Carleton put on a show while lighting things up from deep in one game and putting together a well-rounded showing in the other.
Season Stats:
Czech Republic-ZBL: 8 games — 11.3 PPG, 5.1 RPG, 2.0 APG, 1.6 SPG, 0.5 BPG
EuroLeague: 6 games — 13.2 PPG, 3.7 RPG, 1.7 APG, 1.0 SPG, 0.2 BPG
Recent Games:
Jan. 14 vs. Charleville-Mezieres (98-55 win): 29 points (10-15 FG, 9-12 3Pt), six rebounds and one steal over 26 minutes
Jan. 17 vs. Slovanka (126-34 win): 11 points (4-8 FG, 1-3 3Pt), three rebounds, three assists, three steals and one block over 14 minutes
Jessica Shepard — Famila Schio (Italy)
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.
Shepard has put up some impressive numbers in Italy this offseason, once again being a double-double machine like we’ve been accustomed to seeing. Over the past week, she once again owned the boards and contributed offensively, flirting with double-doubles in both contests.
Season Stats:
Italy-Serie A1: 12 games — 17.8 PPG, 8.7 RPG, 2.0 APG, 1.1 SPG
EuroLeague: 9 games — 15.6 PPG, 9.0 RPG, 2.4 APG, 1.4 SPG
Recent Games:
Jan. 14 gs. Bourges (92-81 loss): 19 points (7-10 FG, 0-1 3Pt), nine rebounds, three steals and one assist over 31 minutes
Jan. 17 vs. Brescia (110-50 win): 17 points (7-8 FG), seven rebounds, three assists and one block over 18 minutes
Maria Kliundikova — UMMC Ekateringburg (Russia)
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.
Kliundikova has put together a balanced offseason so far, helping her squad offensively and on the boards while also impacting other areas of the game. Over the past week, she had an all-around showing despite coming up shy of the double-digit scoring mark.
Season Stats:
Russia-PBL: 12 games — 11.9 PPG, 7.3 RPG, 2.2 APG, 1.3 SPG, 1.0 BPG
Recent Games:
Jan. 15 vs. Nika (80-69 win): eight points (4-11 FG, 0-1 3Pt), seven rebounds, five assists and two blocks over 22 minutes
Dorka Juhász — Galatasaray (Turkey)
Juhász is spending her WNBA offseason in a new country, playing in Turkey this season rather than Italy like we’ve seen in the past. Juhász, who sat out the 2025 WNBA campaign while remaining overseas, is still under contract with Minnesota through 2026.
Juhász has made an impact on both ends of the floor in both Turkey-KBSL and EuroLeague action, putting together balanced a showing in Turkey. Over the past week, she notched her fifth 20-point game of the offseason in a near double-double but coming up shy of the double-digit scoring mark in the second game of the week.
Season Stats:
Turkey-KBSL: 10 games — 13.1 PPG, 5.7 RPG, 1.8 APG, 1.1 SPG, 0.8 BPG
EuroLeague: 11 games — 13.5 PPG, 7.8 RPG, 1.7 APG, 1.1 SPG, 1.1 BPG
Recent Games:
Jan. 14 vs. Girona (82-68 win): 23 points (10-15 FG, 1-2 3Pt), nine rebounds, two blocks, one assist and one steal over 25 minutes
Jan. 17 vs. Nesibe (79-64 win): six points (3-4 FG), four rebounds, three assists and one block over 22 minutes
Anastasiia Olairi Kosu — UMMC Ekateringburg (Russia)
Kosu is back home in Russia this offseason, playing with fellow Lynx teammate Maria Kliundikova with UMMC Yekateringburg.
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 put together a well-balanced showing in 14 minutes.
Season Stats:
Russia-PBL: 10 games — 11.8 PPG, 5.3 RPG, 1.5 SPG, 0.7 APG, 0.3 BPG
Recent Games:
Jan. 15 vs. Nika (80-69 win): four points (2-7 FG), four rebounds and four assists over 14 minutes
Maia Hirsch — Charleville-Mezieres (France)
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.
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, Hirsch made somewhat of a mark in 25 minutes while falling to Bridget Carleton and USK Praha.
Season Stats:
Franco-BWL: 11 games — 7.7 PPG, 2.6 RPG, 0.6 APG, 0.2 SPG, 0.2 BPG
EuroLeague: 7 games — 6.7 PPG, 3.3 RPG, 1.0 APG, 0.7 SPG, 0.4 BPG
Recent Games:
Jan. 14 vs. UKH Praha (98-55 loss): five points (2-7 FG, 1-4 3Pt) and one assist over 25 minutes
Camryn Taylor — Landerneau (France)
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.
Taylor had a slow start to the offseason schedule, but has picked things up as of late with two straight double-digit outings. However, Taylor hasn’t appeared in any of the seven games since last playing on Nov. 29.
Season Stats:
France-BWL: 6 games — 5.2 PPG, 2.0 RPG, 0.2 APG, 0.2 SPG, 0.2 BPG
Recent Games:
Nov. 29 vs. Angers (75-67 win): 12 points (5-6 FG, 2-2 3Pt), two rebounds and one block over 19 minutes
Not Yet Underway
While the players listed above have already begun their seasons across the globe, one more Lynx player will remain in the country and will take part in Athletes Unlimited.
Jaylyn Sherrod is playing in the country this offseason, taking part in Athletes Unlimited’s fifth season.
Sherrod will be one of 40 players participating in the fast-paced, full-court, 5-on-5 league that begins in early February in Nashville.
That will do it for this week. As always, thank you for reading! We will catch up with you next week with another Lynx Offseason Update.