Welcome to a new week and a new Lynx Offseason Update!
As we hopefully inch closer to starting to think about an upcoming WNBA season, 12 Minnesota Lynx players are continuing on in their offseason play across the globe.
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, 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, no games took place in Unrivaled due to the 1-on-1 tournament, where Williams fell to Veronica Burton in the first round.
Season Stats:
Unrivaled: 10 games — 7.2 PPG, 4.9 RPG, 4.0 APG, 0.3 SPG, 0.1 BPG
Recent Games:
Feb. 2 vs. Hive (74-71 win): eight points (4-10 FG, 0-1 3Pt), two rebounds and one steal over nine minutes
Feb. 7 vs. Rose (74-66 loss): no points (0-3 FG) in four 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, no games took place in Unrivaled due to the 1-on-1 tournament, which Smith did not take part in.
Season Stats:
Unrivaled: 10 games — 7.1 PPG, 5.0 RPG, 0.7 BPG, 0.5 APG, 0.4 SPG
Recent Games:
Feb. 2 vs. Laces (67-62 loss): 11 points (5-7 FG, 1-1 3Pt), eight rebounds, one assist and one steal over 12 minutes
Feb. 7 vs. Phantom (83-71 loss): 11 points (4-7 FG, 1-3 3Pt), four rebounds, one assist, one steal and one block in nine 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 contributed coming off the bench. Over the past week, no games took place in Unrivaled due to the 1-on-1 tournament, where Hiedeman fell to Kelsey Plum in the second round.
Season Stats:
Unrivaled: 10 games — 5.6 PPG, 1.8 RPG, 1.3 APG, 0.2 SPG
Recent Games:
Feb. 2 vs. Vinyl (74-71 loss): no points (0-4 FG), one rebound and one assist over eight minutes
Feb. 6 vs. Breeze (70-68 win): eight points (3-6 FG, 2-3 3Pt) and one rebound over six 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 began her season overseas strong, providing a two-way showing for the Turkish powerhouse. Over the past week, McBride had an all-around showing in one outing, tying a season-high in assists while taking care of business on the boards.
Season Stats:
Turkey-KBSL: 12 games — 12.3 PPG, 5.0 APG, 4.4 RPG, 0.8 SPG
EuroLeague: 8 games — 13.3 PPG, 3.5 APG, 3.1 RPG, 1.5 SPG
Recent Games:
Feb. 13 vs. Kayseri (118-76 win): 10 points (4-10 FG, 2-6 3Pt), eight assists, six rebounds and one steal over 21 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 had a bit of a quiet outing in Czech Republic-ZBL action.
Season Stats:
Czech Republic-ZBL: 11 games — 11.7 PPG, 4.9 RPG, 2.1 APG, 1.6 SPG, 0.5 BPG
EuroLeague: 9 games — 13.4 PPG, 3.7 RPG, 1.8 APG, 1.2 SPG, 0.3 BPG
Recent Games:
Feb. 15 vs. Zabiny Bmo (84-70 win): seven points (2-7 FG, 1-4 3Pt), four rebounds, two steals and one assist over 28 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, Shepard either crossed or flirted with the 20-point mark, adding a double-double in one of the two outings.
Season Stats:
Italy-Serie A1: 16 games — 17.6 PPG, 8.5 RPG, 2.1 APG, 1.0 SPG
EuroLeague: 12 games — 17.0 PPG, 9.0 RPG, 2.5 APG, 1.4 SPG
Recent Games:
Feb. 8 vs. Sassari (89-73 win): 23 points (10-14 FG), 10 rebounds, two assists and one steal over 23 minutes
Feb. 10 vs. Battipaglia (88-73 win): 19 points (8-9 FG), three rebounds and one assist over 36 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, Kliundikova had two strong outings, crossing the 15-point mark in both outings and recording her fifth double-double in 17 games.
Season Stats:
Russia-PBL: 17 games — 12.2 PPG, 7.6 RPG, 2.2 APG, 1.1 SPG, 0.9 BPG
Recent Games:
Feb. 10 vs. Nadezhda (80-70 win): 17 points (8-11 FG, 0-2 3Pt), 12 rebounds, two steals and one assist over 26 minutes
Feb. 14 vs. Dynamo (98-62 win): 15 points (6-11 FG, 1-1 3Pt), seven rebounds, three blocks and one assist over 20 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, Juhász didn’t take part in any games with no scheduled contests for Galatasaray.
Season Stats:
Turkey-KBSL: 12 games — 12.9 PPG, 5.8 RPG, 1.8 APG, 1.0 SPG, 0.8 BPG
EuroLeague: 14 games — 13.0 PPG, 7.9 RPG, 1.6 APG, 1.1 SPG, 0.9 BPG
Recent Games:
Feb. 4 vs. Girona (67-57 win): 16 points (5-9 FG, 1-1 3Pt), 12 rebounds, two assists and one block over 29 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, Kosu reached double figures in both contests and played well on both ends of the floor.
Season Stats:
Russia-PBL: 15 games — 10.9 PPG, 5.8 RPG, 1.4 SPG, 0.9 APG, 0.4 BPG
Recent Games:
Feb. 10 vs. Nadezhda (80-70 win): 14 points (4-7 FG, 0-1 3Pt), three rebounds, one assist, one block and one steal over 25 minutes
Feb. 14 vs. Dynamo (98-62 win): 12 points (5-6 FG), six rebounds, four assists, one block and one steal over 18 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 contributed offensively and on the glass in one contest, finishing three points short of the double-digit scoring mark.
Season Stats:
Franco-BWL: 15 games — 8.3 PPG, 3.1 RPG, 0.7 APG, 0.2 BPG, 0.2 SPG
EuroLeague: 10 games — 5.9 PPG, 3.1 RPG, 1.1 APG, 0.5 SPG, 0.4 BPG
Recent Games:
Feb. 14 vs. Lyon (92-59 win): seven points (3-6 FG, 1-2 3Pt), four rebounds, one assist and one steal over 21 minutes
Jaylyn Sherrod — Eclipse (Athletes Unlimited)
Sherrod is spending her offseason staying in the country this offseason, taking part in Athletes Unlimited’s fifth season, which began Feb. 4 in Nashville.
Sherrod is one of 40 players participating in the fast-paced, full-court, 5-on-5 league this season. Over the past week with Eclipse, she contributed nicely in the first two games but the third game she really turned things up a notch with a double-digit outing that ended three rebounds shy of a double-double.
Season Stats:
Athletes Unlimited: 6 games — 6.8 PPG, 2.5 APG, 2.3 RPG, 1.3 SPG
Recent Games:
Feb. 11 vs. Gold Rush (): six points (3-6 FG, 0-2 3Pt), one assist and one steal over 14 minutes
Feb. 13 vs. Glow (): three points (1-5 FG, 0-1 3Pt), four assists and one rebound over 16 minutes
Feb. 14 vs. Rhythm (): Five points (1-3 FG), two assists, two steals and one rebound over 16 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. Over the past week, Taylor appeared in her first contest since Nov. 29, though she played just one minute in a loss.
Season Stats:
France-BWL: 7 games — 4.4 PPG, 1.7 RPG, 0.1 APG, 0.1 SPG, 0.1 BPG
Recent Games:
Feb. 14 vs. Bourges (78-66 loss): no points in one minute
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.