2018 Minnesota Lynx season

2018 Minnesota Lynx season
Coach Cheryl Reeve
Arena Target Center
Attendance 10,036 per game
Results
Record 18–16 (.529)
Place 4th (Western)
Playoff finish 7th seed, lost in the First Round to Los Angeles 68–75
Team Leaders
Points Maya Moore – 18.0 ppg
Rebounds Sylvia Fowles – 11.9 rpg
Assists Danielle Robinson – 3.3 apg
Media
Television Fox Sports North, ESPN, NBATV
2019 season →

The 2018 WNBA season of the Minnesota Lynx was their 20th season in the Women's National Basketball Association (WNBA). The Lynx finished the 2017 season with a record of 27–7, finishing first in the Western Conference (and the league as a whole) and qualifying for the playoffs, before ultimately beating Los Angeles in the WNBA Finals to win their league-tying best fourth championship.

The Lynx returned to the home arena, Target Center, for the 2018 season, following a year playing at the Xcel Energy Center and Williams Arena due to renovations.

The season started out shakily for the Lynx, going 2–3 in May. The Lynx lost their season opener in a re-match of last years finals to Los Angeles. They also lost on the road to the eventual #2 and #3 playoff seeds, Atlanta and Washington. However, the Lynx turned it around in June, posting a 7–3 record. This included a 6 game winning streak, which included wins over 4 eventual playoff teams. Momentum slowed in July, with the Lynx going 6–4. Three of their four losses in July came versus teams that ended up missing the playoffs. The Lynx finished the season on a cold note, going 3–6 in August. A two game winning streak separated two three game losing streaks. However, the team won their last game of the season to secure the 7th seed in the playoffs.

The Lynx first-round playoff matchup saw them play in Los Angeles versus the Los Angeles Sparks. This match-up was a re-match of the past 3 WNBA Finals. The Lynx lost the game 68–75.

Transactions

WNBA Draft

WNBA Draft Trades

The Lynx traded the drafts rights to Park Si-Ju and Kahlia Lawrence to the Las Vegas Aces in exchange for the draft rights to Jill Barta and the rights to the Aces's 2nd Round Pick in the 2019 Draft.

Trades and Roster Changes

Additions

Player Date Former Team
Lynetta Kizer February 7th, 2018 Connecticut Sun [15]
Danielle Robinson March 6th, 2018 Phoenix Mercury
Tanisha Wright March 13th, 2018 New York Liberty
Endy Miyem June 6th, 2018 PF Schio (Italy)

Subtractions

Player Date New Team
Plenette Pierson August 21, 2017 Retired [16]
Renee Montgomery February 1, 2018 Atlanta Dream [17]
Jia Perkins February 1, 2018 Retired [18]
Natasha Howard February 7th, 2018 Seattle Storm [19]

Roster

Minnesota Lynx roster
PlayersCoaches
Pos.#Nat.NameHeightWeightDOBFromYrs
G 33 United States Augustus, Seimone 6' 0" (1.83m) 172 lb (78kg) 04-30-1984 LSU 12
F 32 United States Brunson, Rebekkah 6' 2" (1.88m) 181 lb (82kg) 12-11-1981 Georgetown 14
G 51 United States Colson, Sydney 5' 8" (1.73m) 140 lb (64kg) 08-06-1989 Texas A&M 4
F 14 United Kingdom Fagbenle, Temi 6' 4" (1.93m) 180 lb (82kg) 09-08-1992 Southern California 1
C 34 United States Fowles, Sylvia 6' 6" (1.98m) 220 lb (100kg) 10-06-1985 LSU 10
G 12 United States Jones, Alexis 5' 9" (1.75m) 166 lb (75kg) 05-08-1994 Baylor 1
F 2 United States Larkins, Erlana 6' 2" (1.88m) 200 lb (91kg) 04-02-1986 North Carolina 8
F 23 United States Moore, Maya 6' 0" (1.83m) 175 lb (79kg) 06-11-1989 Connecticut 7
G 3 United States Robinson, Danielle 5' 9" (1.75m) 128 lb (58kg) 05-10-1989 Oklahoma 6
G 13 United States Whalen, Lindsay 5' 9" (1.75m) 170 lb (77kg) 05-09-1982 Minnesota 14
G 30 United States Wright, Tanisha 5' 11" (1.8m) 166 lb (75kg) 11-29-1983 Penn State 12
F 9 Italy Zandalasini, Cecilia 6' 2" (1.88m) 175 lb (79kg) 03-16-1996 Italy 1



East: ATL • CHI • CON • IND • NY • WAS | West: DAL • LV • LA • MIN • PHO • SEA
Head coach
United States Cheryl Reeve (La Salle)
Assistant coaches
United States Shelley Patterson (Washington State)
United States James Wade (Kennesaw)
United States Walt Hopkins (University of Nevada, Reno)
Athletic trainer
United States Chuck Barta (Wisconsin-La Crosse)
Assistant trainer
United States Kate Taber (Iowa)
Legend
  • (C) Team captain
  • (DP) Unsigned draft pick
  • (FA) Free agent
  • (S) Suspended
  • Injured

WNBA roster page

Schedule

Preseason

2018 pre-season game log
Total: 1–1 (Home: 1–0; Road: 0–1)
May: 1–1 (Home: 1–0; Road: 0–1)
2018 season schedule

Regular Season

2018 game log
Total: 18–16 (Home: 9–8; Road: 9–8)
May: 2–3 (Home: 1–1; Road: 1–2)
June: 7–3 (Home: 4–1; Road: 3–2)
July: 6–4 (Home: 3–3; Road: 3–1)
August: 3–6 (Home: 1–3; Road: 2–3)
2018 season schedule

Playoffs

2018 playoff game log
Total: 0–0 (Home: 0–0; Road: 0–0)
WNBA First Round: 0–1 (Home: 0–0; Road: 0–1)
GameDateTeamScoreHigh pointsHigh reboundsHigh assistsLocation
Attendance		Series
1 August 21 @ Los Angeles L 68–75 Sylvia Fowles (18) Sylvia Fowles (12) Lindsay Whalen (5) Staples Center
8,598		 0–1
2018 playoff schedule

Standings

# Western Conference W L PCT GB Home Road Conf.
1 Seattle Storm (1)268.765–13–413–411–5
2 Phoenix Mercury (5)2014.58869–811–68–8
3 Los Angeles Sparks (6)1915.559711–68–99–7
4 Minnesota Lynx (7)1816.52989–89–89–7
5 Dallas Wings (8)1519.4411110–75–127–9
6 e –Las Vegas Aces1420.412128–96–114–12

Notes

(#) – Conference Standing, Playoff Seeds shown to the right of team name
x – Qualified for playoffs
e – Eliminated from playoffs
 
First round:
Single elimination
(Aug. 21)		Second round:
Single elimination
(Aug. 23)		Semifinals:
Best-of-five
(Aug. 26 – Sept. 4)		WNBA Finals:
Best-of-five
(Sept. 7 – Sept. 12)
 
              
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
1
Seattle Storm 		3
 
 
5
Phoenix Mercury 		2
 
 
 
 
 
4
Connecticut Sun		86
 
 
 
5
Phoenix Mercury 		96
 
5
Phoenix Mercury		101
 
 
 
8
Dallas Wings		 83
 
1
Seattle Storm 		3
 
 
 
3
Washington Mystics		 0
 
6
Los Angeles Sparks		75
 
 
 
7
Minnesota Lynx		 68
 
3
Washington Mystics		96
 
 
6
Los Angeles Sparks 		64
 
 
 
 
 
2
Atlanta Dream		 2
 
 
3
Washington Mystics		 3
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

Note: Teams re-seeded after second round and semi-finals.

Semifinals
Team12345
1
Seattle Storm		9191668494
5
Phoenix Mercury		8787868684
Team12345
2
Atlanta Dream		8478817681
3
Washington Mystics		8775769786
WNBA Finals
Team123
1
Seattle Storm		897598
3
Washington Mystics		767382

Statistics

Legend
  GP Games played   GS  Games started  MPG  Minutes per game  RPG  Rebounds per game
 APG  Assists per game  SPG  Steals per game  BPG  Blocks per game  PPG  Points per game
 FG%  Field-goal percentage  3P%  3-point field-goal percentage  FT%  Free-throw percentage  TO  Turnovers per game
 PF  Fouls per game Team leader League leader

Regular season

Awards and Milestones

Recipient Award/Milestone Date Awarded
Maya Moore WNBA Western Conference Player of the Week June 24, 2018[20]
July 2, 2018 [21]
Rebekkah Brunson WNBA's All-Time Leading Rebounder (3,318) July 5, 2018 [22]
Cheryl Reeve WNBA's Winningest Female Head Coach (206) July 5, 2018 [23]
Maya Moore WNBA Cares Community Assist Award - June July 12, 2018 [24]
Seimone Augustus WNBA All-Star Selection July 17, 2018 [25]
Maya Moore
Sylvia Fowles
Maya Moore Best WNBA Player - ESPY's July 19, 2018 [26]
Rebekkah Brunson WNBA All-Star Selection Replacement July 25, 2018 [27]
Maya Moore WNBA Western Conference Player of the Week August 13, 2018[28]
Sylvia Fowles WNBA Peak Performer – Rebounds August 19, 2018[29]

Top 20 Players

With the Lynx entering their 20th season in the league, the organization began ranking their Top 20 Players of All-Time.

References

  1. ↑ "Minnesota Lynx Re-Sign Five-Time WNBA Champion Rebekkah Brunson". lynx.wnba.com. lynx.wnba.com. Retrieved 2018-02-01.
  2. ↑ "Minnesota Lynx Acquire Multiple Draft Picks in Exchange for Forward Natasha Howard". lynx.wnba.com. lynx.wnba.com. Retrieved 2018-02-07.
  3. ↑ "Minnesota Lynx Re-Sign Forward Cecilia Zandalasini and Add Forwards Lynetta Kizer and Endy Miyem". lynx.wnba.com. lynx.wnba.com. Retrieved 2018-02-07.
  4. ↑ "Minnesota Lynx Sign Forward Breanna Richardson". lynx.wnba.com. lynx.wnba.com. Retrieved 2018-02-28.
  5. ↑ "Minnesota Lynx Acquire Guard Danielle Robinson and a 2019 Second Round Pick in Exchange for a 2018 First Round Pick". lynx.wnba.com. lynx.wnba.com. Retrieved 2018-03-06.
  6. ↑ "Minnesota Lynx Sign Guard Tanisha Wright". lynx.wnba.com. lynx.wnba.com. Retrieved 2018-03-13.
  7. ↑ "Minnesota Lynx Complete 2018 Training Camp Roster". lynx.wnba.com. lynx.wnba.com. Retrieved 2018-04-17.
  8. ↑ "Twitter". Lynx PR Twitter. twitter.com. Retrieved 2018-05-04.
  9. ↑ "Lynx Sign Forward Jillian Alleyne". lynx.wnba.com. lynx.wnba.com. Retrieved 2018-05-05.
  10. ↑ "Lynx Waive Forwards Jill Barta and Breanna Richardson and Center Vionise Pierre-Louis". lynx.wnba.com. lynx.wnba.com. Retrieved 2018-05-09.
  11. ↑ "Minnesota Lynx Waive Forward Jillian Alleyne and Guard Carlie Wagner". lynx.wnba.com. May 15, 2018. Retrieved May 21, 2018.
  12. ↑ "Minnesota Lynx Finalize 2018 Roster". lynx.wnba.com. May 17, 2018. Retrieved May 21, 2018.
  13. ↑ "Minnesota Lynx Re-Sign Forward Endy Miyem". June 6, 2018. Retrieved June 6, 2018.
  14. ↑ "Minnesota Lynx Sign Forward Erlana Larkins". July 12, 2018. Retrieved July 12, 2018.
  15. ↑ "Minnesota Lynx Re-Sign Forward Cecilia Zandalasini and Add Forwards Lynetta Kizer and Endy Miyem". lynx.wnba.com. lynx.wnba.com. Retrieved 2018-02-07.
  16. ↑ "Minnesota's Plenette Pierson to Retire After 2017 Season". wnba.com. wnba.com. Retrieved 2017-08-21.
  17. ↑ "Atlanta Dream Sign Two-Time WNBA Champion Renee Montgomery". dream.wnba.com. dream.wnba.com. Retrieved 2018-02-01.
  18. ↑ "Lynx lose guard Renee Montgomery to Atlanta, creating backcourt issues". startribune.com. startribune.com. Retrieved 2018-02-01.
  19. ↑ "Minnesota Lynx Acquire Multiple Draft Picks in Exchange for Forward Natasha Howard". lynx.wnba.com. lynx.wnba.com. Retrieved 2018-02-07.
  20. ↑ "Atlanta's McCoughtry, Minnesota's Moore Named WNBA Players Of The Week". wnba.com. WNBA. June 25, 2018. Retrieved June 25, 2018.
  21. ↑ "Elena Delle Donne, Maya Moore Named Players of the Week". wnba.com. WNBA. July 2, 2018. Retrieved July 2, 2018.
  22. ↑ "Rebekkah Brunson Becomes WNBA's All-Time Leading Rebounder". lynx.wnba.com. WNBA. July 5, 2018. Retrieved July 5, 2018.
  23. ↑ "Cheryl Reeve Becomes Winningest Female Head Coach In WNBA History". lynx.wnba.com. WNBA. July 5, 2018. Retrieved July 5, 2018.
  24. ↑ "Minnesota's Moore Receives June WNBA Cares Community Assist Award Presented By State Farm®". lynx.wnba.com. WNBA. July 12, 2018. Retrieved July 12, 2018.
  25. ↑ "2018 WNBA All-Stars Announced; Elena Delle Donne, Candace Parker To Serve As Player-Captains". wnba.com. WNBA. July 17, 2018. Retrieved July 18, 2018.
  26. ↑ "Maya Moore Wins Best WNBA Player At ESPYS". lynx.wnba.com. WNBA. July 19, 2018. Retrieved July 18, 2018.
  27. ↑ "Rebekkah Brunson to Replace Nneka Ogwumike in Verizon WNBA All-Star 2018". wnba.com. WNBA. July 25, 2018. Retrieved July 25, 2018.
  28. ↑ "Elena Delle Donne, Maya Moore Named WNBA Players Of The Week (Aug 6-12)". wnba.com. WNBA. August 13, 2018. Retrieved August 13, 2018.
  29. ↑ "Cambage, Fowles And Vandersloot Earn 2018 WNBA Peak Performer Awards". wnba.com. WNBA. August 20, 2018. Retrieved August 30, 2018.
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