Each week, we will provide an update on the Minnesota Lynx players overseas and how they are performing as part of our Lynx Offseason Update series.
The final month of the calendar year is here, and the offseason is well underway in the WNBA as we shift focus from a history 2024 season to the 2025 campaign ahead.
As we prepare for the WNBA Expansion Draft on Dec. 6 and prepare for the 2025 WNBA Draft in April, players will be competing across the globe this offseason like we have seen in past years.
For the Minnesota Lynx, they currently have a total of 13 players under team control spread out across the world playing either overseas or remaining here in the United States for offseason competition. Those 13 players are Napheesa Collier, Kayla McBride, Courtney Williams, Alissa Pili, Bridget Carleton, Alanna Smith, Natisha Hiedeman, Dorka Juhász, Diamond Miller, Cecilia Zandalasini, Myisha Hines-Allen, Maïa Hirsch and Jessica Shepard.
With that offseason action underway for some or about to begin for others, it’s time for the return of our Lynx Offseason Update, which will provide weekly updates on Lynx players who are on the court this offseason.
Let’s dive right in and look at where those 13 players are playing — or where they plan to play — and how they have performed thus far.
Bridget Carleton — UNI Györ (Hungary)
Carleton is back with UNI Györ for a second straight offseason after a strong season in Hungary last year, and she’s gotten off to another great start in both Hungary-A Division action and Euroleague contests.
Season Stats:
- Hungary-A Division: 2 games — 15.0 PPG, 9.5 RPG, 2.5 APG, 2.0 SPG, 0.5 BPG, 29.5 MPG
- Euroleague: 2 games — 15.0 PPG, 7.0 RPG, 2.5 APG, 2.0 SPG, 1.0 BPG, 36.0 MPG
Recent Games:
- Nov. 24 vs. Vasas Akademia (76-52 win): 20 points (4-7 FG, 4-14 3Pt), eight rebounds, five assists, three steals and one block over 31 minutes
- Nov. 27 vs. Valencia (86-74 loss): 18 points (5-8 FG, 1-6 3Pt, 5-5 FT), 10 rebounds, two steals, and one block over 35 minutes
Alanna Smith — Shandong (China)
Smith has been all over the globe over the course of her WNBA career, currently playing for Shandong in China. During her career, Smith has played in Australia, Poland, and Turkey before landing with her current Chinese squad.
So far this offseason, Smith has gotten off to a strong start in China-WCBA play while already averaging a double-double for Shandong.
Season Stats:
- China-WCBA: 6 games — 12.2 PPG, 10.5 RPG, 3.5 APG, 2.2 SPG
Recent Games:
- Nov. 25 vs. Xinjiang (75-61 win): 26 points (10-13 FG, 2-4 3Pt), 20 rebounds, four assists and one steal
- Nov. 28 vs. Jiangsu (63-47 loss): nine points (3-5 FG, 1-3 3Pt, 0-2 FT), nine rebounds, two assists and one steal
- Nov. 30 vs. Zhejiang (82-78 win): five points (1-2 FG, 0-6 3Pt, 3-4 FT), seven rebounds, six assists, and one steal
Dorka Juhász — Famila Schio (Italy)
Juhász is back in Italy again this year, coming off a strong campaign with Famila Schio last offseason and looking to build upon that this season as she prepares for her third WNBA campaign in 2025.
Juhász has seen a bit of a limited role this far in Italy, though the Italy-Serie A1 and Euroleague seasons are still young and could result in her seeing more playing time and production as the offseason continues.
Season Stats:
- Italy-Serie A1: 3 games — 4.3 PPG, 5.3 RPG, 0.7 SPG, 0.3 APG, 11.3 MPG
- Euroleague: 2 games — 5.0 PPG, 3.5 RPG, 2.0 APG, 0.5 SPG, 18.5 MPG
Recent Games:
- Nov. 24 vs. Scrivia (84-57 win): two points (1-3 FG, 0-1 3Pt), six rebounds and one assist over 12 minutes
Diamond Miller — Gorzow Wielkopolski (Poland)
Miller had her season cut short last offseason while dealing with a knee injury, only appearing in three games in Hungary before returning to Minnesota to rehab her injury.
This offseason, Miller is in Poland competing in her first (hopefully full) offseason, and she has gotten off to a strong start in both Poland-OBLK and EuroCup action.
Season Stats:
- Poland-OBLK: 3 games — 11.3 PPG, 8.3 RPG, 2.0 APG, 1.0 SPG, 0.7 BPG, 25.7 MPG
- EuroCup: 2 games — 15.0 PPG, 6.0 RPG, 2.0 SPG, 1.0 APG, 1.0 BPG, 29.5 MPG
Recent Games:
- Nov. 24 vs. Bydgoszcz (81-60 win): 24 points (6-11 FG, 4-8 3Pt), eight rebounds, three assists, and one block over 29 minutes
- Nov. 27 vs. Lyon (100-79 loss): 14 points (2-4 FG, 1-6 3Pt, 7-8 FT), three rebounds, one assist, and one steal over 27 minutes
- Dec. 1 vs. Lublin (91-58 loss): eight points (3-6 FG, 0-4 3Pt, 0-4 FT), three rebounds and three steals over 24 minutes
Cecilia Zandalasini — Galatasaray SK (Turkey)
Zandalasini has taken her talents to Turkey this offseason, having also spent time in Italy in past years while taking part in the Italian National Team.
So far with Galatasaray SK, Zandalasini has continued her play that we saw during the WNBA season, providing her Turkish squad with a spark in both Turkey-KBSL action and EuroCup contests.
Season Stats:
- Turkey-KBSL: 4 games — 6.8 PPG, 3.8 RPG, 1.8 APG, 1.0 SPG, 0.3 BPG, 29.3 MPG
- EuroCup: 2 games — 11.0 PPG, 5.5 RPG, 3.0 APG, 0.5 SPG, 23.0 MPG
Recent Games:
- Nov. 25 vs. Besiktas (74-71 win): two points (1-5 FG, 0-1 3Pt), four rebounds, one assist and one steal over 29 minutes
- Nov. 27 vs. Brno (110-62 win): 11 points (4-8 FG, 1-1 3Pt, 0-2 FT), nine rebounds, three assists and one steal over 24 minutes
- Dec. 1 vs. Kocaeli (90-73 win): eight points (4-6 FG, 0-1 3Pt), three rebounds and three assists over 20 minutes
Natisha Hiedeman — Inner Mongolia (China)
As a soon-to-be WNBA free agent, Hiedeman is spending her offseason ahead of WNBA free agency overseas with Inner Mongolia in China. During her career, Hiedeman has also spent time in Israel, Russia, and Sweden before arriving in China.
With her Chinese squad, Hiedeman has impressed in China-WCBA action, seeing a hot start from three while lifting her team offensively.
Season Stats:
- China-WCBA: 5 games — 18.6 PPG, 4.2 RPG, 3.2 APG, 1.0 SPG
Recent Games:
- Nov. 24 vs. Hebei (82-64 win): 21 points (2-5 FG, 3-7 3Pt, 8-8 FT), four rebounds, three assists and one steal
- Nov. 27 vs. Shanghai (86-82 loss): 22 points (5-9 FG, 3-4 3Pt, 3-5 FT), three assists, two rebounds and two steals
Myisha Hines-Allen — Heilongjiang (China)
Also a soon-to-be free agent, HInes-Allen is spending her offseason in China while playing for Heilongjiang in the same league as her Lynx teammates Smith and Hiedeman. During her career, Hines-Allen has also played in France, Italy, South Korea, Russia and Turkey.
So far this season, Hines-Allen has nearly averaged a double-double in China-WCBA play, impressing on both ends of the court for her squad.
Season Stats:
- China-WCBA: 6 games — 15.3 PPG, 9.3 RPG, 3.3 APG, 3.0 SPG
Recent Games:
- Nov. 26 vs. Ganzhou (86-72 win): 34 points (14-19 FG, 2-2 3Pt, 0-1 FT), 15 rebounds, five steals and two assists
- Nov. 28 vs. Ganzhou (71-59 win): two points (1-1 FG), two assists, one rebound, and one steal
Jessica Shepard — Athinaikos AS Vurona (Greece)
Some may have forgotten about Shepard since she didn’t play in the WNBA in 2024 on a suspended contract while remaining overseas, but the veteran is still under control of the Lynx.
This offseason, Shepard is playing in Greece after taking part in overseas action in Israel and Italy earlier in her career. With Athinaikos AS Vurona, Shepard has dominated in Greece-A1 action while averaging a double-double and just under 30 points a game.
Season Stats:
- Greece-A1: 4 games — 29.8 PPG, 14.0 RPG, 5.5 APG, 2.0 SPG, 0.3 BPG, 35.0 MPG
Recent Games:
- Nov. 27 vs. Iraklis (93-51 win): 27 points (9-15 FG, 0-1 3Pt, 9-12 FT), 12 rebounds, six assists, and three steals over 30 minutes
Maïa Hirsch — ESB Villeneuve (France)
Hirsch has yet to appear with the Lynx or in the WNBA after being drafted 12th overall by Minnesota in 2023 but is still under team control as she remains in France with ESB Villeneuve.
After an injury-filled season last year, Hirsch returned to France-BWL action to begin the season while contributing off the bench but hasn’t appeared in a game since October.
Season Stats:
- France-BWL: 2 games — 6.0 PPG, 3.0 RPG, 1.0 BPG, 17.0 MPG
Recent Games:
- Sept. 28 vs. Landerneau (94-79 loss): 10 points (5-10 FG) and three rebounds over 19 minutes
- Oct. 6 vs. Lyon (69-57 loss): two points (1-3 FG), three rebounds and two blocks over 15 minutes
Not Yet Underway
While the players listed above have already begun their seasons across the globe, four more Lynx players will remain in the country and will take part in leagues in the United States at the start of the 2025 calendar year.
Napheesa Collier, Kayla McBride, and Courtney Williams are taking part in the new Unrivaled league, which is co-founded by Collier and Breanna Stewart. Former Lynx General Manager Clare Duwelius is also taking part in that league as an executive, serving as its General Manager and Executive Vice President.
Unrivaled, a 3-on-3 league featuring six players on six teams, will kick off its inaugural season in Miami on Jan. 17.
The fourth Lynx player remaining in the country but still playing is rookie Alissa Pili, who will take part in the Athletes Unlimited league. Athletes Unlimited, which was founded in 2022, will be taking the league to Nashville this season, kicking off the year on Feb. 5.
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.