A new week means it’s time for a new Lynx Offseason Update!
Though we have yet to see a CBA deal reached between the WNBA and the players’ union, we’re just going to pretend like it has already happened and hopefully that means it will. That’s how it works, right?
Well, the Minnesota Lynx and players throughout the league are preparing for that to be the case, and they are doing that by 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 — Breeze (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 began the 2026 season with Vinyl before she was traded to Breeze.
This season, 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 had a strong week in her first two games with Breeze, tallying a season-high 15 points in one game and nearing the double-digit mark in the other.
Season Stats:
Unrivaled: 12 games — 8.0 PPG, 4.6 RPG, 4.3 APG, 0.5 SPG, 0.1 BPG
Recent Games:
Feb. 17 vs. Lunar Owls (75-70 loss): 15 points (6-8 FG, 1-2 3Pt), seven assists, five rebounds and one steal over 19 minutes
Feb. 21 vs. Vinyl (77-56 win): nine points (4-7 FG, 1-2 3Pt), four assists, two steals and one rebound over 11 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, Smith had a bit of a quiet week in somewhat of limited playing time off the bench, though the Mist took care of business with ease in both contests.
Season Stats:
Unrivaled: 12 games — 8.1 PPG, 4.8 RPG, 0.8 APG, 0.6 BPG, 0.4 SPG
Recent Games:
Feb. 9 vs. Rose (90-64 win): four points (2-2 FG), four rebounds and three assists over six minutes
Feb. 21 vs. Lunar Owls (92-73 win): four points (2-4 FG, 0-1 3Pt), two rebounds, one assist and one steal over six 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, Hiedeman had a strong week, posting her second-highest scoring total of the Unrivaled season.
Season Stats:
Unrivaled: 12 games — 6.1 PPG, 1.9 RPG, 1.3 APG, 0.3 SPG, 0.1 BPG
Recent Games:
Feb. 17 vs. Laces (76-71 loss): 12 points (5-11 FG, 2-5 3Pt), two rebounds and two assists over 11 minutes
Feb. 20 vs. Rose (80-78 win): five points (2-6 FG, 1-4 3Pt), three rebounds, one assist and one steal 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 put together two strong showcases on both ends of the floor, connecting on at least four threes in both outings.
Season Stats:
Turkey-KBSL: 13 games — 13.2 PPG, 4.8 APG, 4.5 RPG, 0.9 SPG
EuroLeague: 9 games — 13.8 PPG, 3.6 APG, 3.1 RPG, 1.7 SPG
Recent Games:
Feb. 18 vs. Girona (87-69 win): 18 points (6-11 FG, 4-8 3Pt), four assists, three rebounds and three steals over 31 minutes
Feb. 21 vs. CBK Mersin (94-70 win): 24 points (9-13 FG, 5-8 3Pt), six rebounds, three assists and two steals over 29 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 reached double figures in both outings, putting on a show in the second game both from deep and with her first double-double of the offseason.
Season Stats:
Czech Republic-ZBL: 12 games — 12.2 PPG, 5.5 RPG, 2.2 APG, 1.5 SPG, 0.5 BPG
EuroLeague: 10 games — 13.3 PPG, 3.76RPG, 1.7 APG, 1.2 SPG, 0.3 BPG
Recent Games:
Feb. 18 vs. Zaragoza (82-71 loss): 12 points (4-8 FG, 1-4 3Pt), three rebounds, one assist and one steal over 34 minutes
Feb. 21 vs. SBS Ostrava (87-66 win): 17 points (6-13 FG, 5-10 3Pt), 12 rebounds and three assists over 21 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 was strong offensively and on the boards once again, posting a 22-14 double-double in the second game.
Season Stats:
Italy-Serie A1: 17 games — 17.8 PPG, 8.8 RPG, 1.9 APG, 1.0 SPG
EuroLeague: 13 games — 16.9 PPG, 8.8 RPG, 2.4 APG, 1.4 SPG
Recent Games:
Feb. 18 vs. Venezia (68-66 win): 16 points (8-14 FG), seven rebounds, one assist and one steal over 33 minutes
Feb. 21 vs. Scrivia (65-57 win): 22 points (9-18 FG, 0-2 3Pt), 14 rebounds and one steal over 28 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 Ekateringburg 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 had a bit of quieter outing in limited time on the floor, but still helped her squad to victory.
Season Stats:
Russia-PBL: 18 games — 11.8 PPG, 7.2 RPG, 2.1 APG, 1.1 SPG, 0.9 BPG
Recent Games:
Feb. 19 vs. Spartak (88-60 win): six points (2-4 FG, 0-1 3Pt), two steals, one assist and one block over 15 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 had another dominant outing, posting her fourth EuroLeague game with 20 or more points and posting her second 20-10 game in EuroLeague action.
Season Stats:
Turkey-KBSL: 12 games — 12.9 PPG, 5.8 RPG, 1.8 APG, 1.0 SPG, 0.8 BPG
EuroLeague: 15 games — 13.5 PPG, 8.0 RPG, 1.5 APG, 1.0 SPG, 0.9 BPG
Recent Games:
Feb. 19 vs. Landes (81-72 win): 21 points (8-12 FG, 2-3 3Pt) and 10 rebounds over 30 minutes
Anastasiia Olairi Kosu — UMMC Ekateringburg (Russia)
Kosu is back home in Russia this offseason, playing with fellow Lynx teammate Maria Kliundikova with UMMC Ekateringburg.
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 did not play in UMMC Ekateringburg’s lone contest.
Season Stats:
Russia-PBL: 15 games — 10.9 PPG, 5.8 RPG, 1.4 SPG, 0.9 APG, 0.4 BPG
Recent Games:
Feb. 19 vs. Spartak (88-60 win): DNP
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 had a quiet outing while taking the floor for just 13 minutes.
Season Stats:
Franco-BWL: 16 games — 8.0 PPG, 3.0 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. 22 vs. Chartres (85-82 win): four points (2-6 FG) and one rebound over 13 minutes
Jaylyn Sherrod — Glow (Athletes Unlimited)
Sherrod is spending her offseason staying in the country this offseason, taking part in Athletes Unlimited’s fifth season, which began earlier this month 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 Glow, she had her best week of the offseason, tallying a season-high 15 points in one game and reaching double figures in two of the three outings in Week 3.
Season Stats:
Athletes Unlimited: 9 games — 8.4 PPG, 2.9 APG, 2.6 RPG, 1.3 SPG
Recent Games:
Feb. 18 vs. Rhythm (80-78 win): 15 points (6-10 FG, 1-2 3Pt), four rebounds, three steals and two assists over 25 minutes
Feb. 20 vs. Eclipse (89-83 loss): nine points (2-3 FG, 0-1 3Pt) and two assists over 14 minutes
Feb. 21 vs. Gold Rush (84-71 loss): 11 points (3-7 FG, 0-1 3Pt), seven assists, five rebounds and one steal over 26 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 had her best outing since returning just over a week or so ago after missing time, reaching double figures in scoring over 16 minutes.
Season Stats:
France-BWL: 8 games — 5.1 PPG, 2.0 RPG, 0.3 SPG, 0.1 APG, 0.1 BPG
Recent Games:
Feb. 20 vs. Angers (61-51 win): 10 points (5-8 FG, 0-1 3Pt), four rebounds and one steal over 16 minutes
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.