“And so a superteam we are not. But we’re a darn good basketball team,” Cheryl Reeve once said. And their chemistry proved it all. Despite missing their shot at their fifth title, Napheesa Collier and Co. will be remembered for fighting hard. But do you know? As easy as it is to love and appreciate, it’s quite difficult to bring back the same 12 players next season and Collier admits it is a tough pill to swallow.

The MVP runner-up said, “I mean we got back yesterday we had all of our medical and still we’re like let’s go to one last dinner together because we’ll never be the same group again so this team is just really close and I’m so proud of everything we did this year. So yeah, it’s a really tough ending.”

Her words make it clear that the team will face some transformations moving forward. Myisha Hines-Allen and Natisha Hiedeman will be two entering free agency. However, having all five starters- Courtney Williams, Bridget Carleton, Alanna Smith, Kayla McBride, and Collier under contract next season is great on its part. Something Collier believes will help the team build chemistry for the season ahead. 

“I think having the majority of us back in all five starters is a huge step… We’re the majority we’ve been here the longest. So bringing that in with any new people we have,  just really bringing them under our fold,” the DPOY said in the postgame conference. “We have such a solid foundation so making sure that stays. We see what happens when you have a, you know, a team that’s as close as that. So making sure that we cultivate that for next year.”  

But truly, this past season was a major turnaround for the Lynx, especially considering their rocky 2022 following the retirement of Sylvia Fowles. They went from a 14-22 record to a No. 2 seed in 2024.

Collier was phenomenal, putting up 20.4 points and 9.7 rebounds per game. But along with her, free-agent signings like Alanna Smith and Courtney Williams provided much-needed energy. “I think it’s noted when teams watch us, they always talk about the Lynx chemistry,” the HC told ESPN.

“We didn’t get it right every year. We certainly have had our challenges, but we knocked it out of the park this year,” she added. Meanwhile, Cheryl Reeve doesn’t anticipate a complete overhaul; she acknowledges that some players will change.

Minnesota Lynx’s possible additions: Who will step up?

The Lynx coach revealed, “Beacaue we have the group that we have, we will scrutinize. We don’t think we need major changes, but as you said there will be changes because it’s never the 12 same players.”  This opens up room for free agents or rookies to join the franchise.

She also explained how every season is different and you can’t expect the same outcomes with the same starting 5. “People change, people maybe want something different than last year,” she asserted. Can the bench step up next year?

The coach gave a shoutout to Diamond Miller, Alissa Pili, and Olivia Époupa, saying “Their situation was hard when they are not seeing the floor at all.” She appreciates their maturity, because in this age of social media it can be hard, and still, they kept themselves engaged in the game. “We hope to immaculate that mature behavior.” 

These three players represent the potential for next season. Miller, who only averaged 10.1 minutes per game, is known for her ability to draw fouls. Similarly, Pili has an amazing knack for shooting. Then there’s Olivia Époupa, who might not have lit up the scoreboard but managed the fouls count, and other game plays off-bench. 

And one name being floating is Courtney Vandersloot. Sure, her 2024 season wasn’t as stellar as some of her past performances, but becoming a free agent this year, she could be a perfect addition and the ‘star power’ Sheryl Swoopes believes is necessary for Minnesota. 

Not to mention, the Lynx could also bag a fiery rookie in the upcoming draft. The next season will be intense with best of 7 series. So, will Minnesota’s luck bring in an unexpected star? Let’s see how it all unfolds!