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.
Now that the dust has settled a bit on WNBA free agency and offseason moves, the focus now mostly returns to play taking place across the globe during offseason action.
For the Lynx, all 13 players who are under team control and now are underway this offseason while playing in either the United States or overseas.
Lynx players currently playing include: Napheesa Collier, Kayla McBride, Courtney Williams, Alissa Pili, Bridget Carleton, Alanna Smith, Natisha Hiedeman, Dorka Juhász, Diamond Miller, Maïa Hirsch, Jessica Shepard and newcomers Marième Badiane and Grace Berger.
This week, our Lynx Offseason Update includes a few new faces. Let’s take a look at the latest edition of our series that recaps how the Lynx have performed over the past week.
Napheesa Collier — Lunar Owls (United States)
Collier has shined through the first three weeks of the Unrivaled season, dominating both offensive and on the glass. Now a handful of games into the season, Collier leads Unrivaled in both scoring, rebounding and blocks.
This past week, Collier dominated once again and impressed all who tuned into the exciting new league, surpassing the 35-point mark in two of her three outings over the week while recording a double-double in two of the contests.
Season Stats:
- 8 games — 29.3 PPG, 11.5 RPG, 3.1 APG, 1.9 SPG, 0.9 BPG, 17.5 MPG
Recent Games:
- Feb. 3 vs. Vinyl (85-68 win): 36 points (13-18 FG, 0-1 3pt, 6-6 FT), 12 rebounds, five assists and four steals over 17 minutes
- Feb. 7 vs. Phantom (94-78 win): 20 points (8-14 FG, 2-4 3Pt, 1-1 FT), six rebounds, three assists and two steals over 17 minutes
- Feb. 8 vs. Mist (85-81 win): 38 points (16-27 FG, 0-2 3Pt, 5-5 FT), 15 rebounds, three assists, two steals and one block over 19 minutes
Kayla McBride — Laces (United States)
McBride has been a walking bucket, as normal, so far in the Unrivaled season, and she has paced Laces to a strong start to the year while sitting second among players in scoring behind only Napheesa Collier.
Over the past week, McBride and Laces were supposed to play in one game, but had that game canceled on Feb. 8 due to “prioritize player health and safety,” according to the league. So instead, the first action we will see of McBride and Laces in this week of games will take place Feb. 18.
Season Stats:
- 6 games — 24.7 PPG, 6.7 RPG, 3.0 APG, 1.0 SPG, 19.5 MPG
Recent Games:
- Jan. 27 vs. Rose (71-64 win): 31 points (8-18 FG, 4-10 3Pt, 5-5 FT), nine rebounds and three assists over 20 minutes
- Jan. 31 vs. Lunar Owls (75-73 loss): 26 points (9-14 FG, 6-8 3Pt, 1-1 FT), eight rebounds, two assists and one steal over 17 minutes
- Feb. 1 vs. Rose (83-69 loss): 20 points (7-15 FG, 2-7 3Pt, 3-4 FT), six rebounds and two assists over 14 minutes
Courtney Williams — Lunar Owls (United States)
Like we have seen with the Lynx in the WNBA, Williams has been the spark plug and energy generator for Lunar Owls so far in Unrivaled, distributing the ball well while also being able to help her squad with her shot when needed.
Over the past week, Williams contributed nicely off the bench for her squad, even stepping up for an impressive showing on Feb. 7 that resulted in her finishing one point shy of the 20-point mark.
Season Stats:
- 8 games — 10.3 PPG, 4.8 APG, 3.6 RPG, 0.4 SPG, 0.1 BPG, 8.4 MPG
Recent Games:
- Feb. 3 vs. Vinyl (85-68 win): 10 points (3-6 FG, 0-1 3Pt, 2-2 FT), three rebounds and three assists over six minutes
- Feb. 7 vs. Phantom (94-78 win): 19 points (7-13 FG, 2-2 3Pt, 1-1 FT), five assists and four rebounds over eight minutes
- Feb. 8 vs. Mist (85-81 win): nine points (4-7 FG, 1-1 FT), five assists, two rebounds and one steal over seven minutes
Natisha Hiedeman — Laces (United States)
After starting the Unrivaled season with Phantom, Hiedeman shifted squads when she was reassigned to Laces to join Lynx teammate Kayla McBride on one of the top teams in the league at the moment.
Over the past week, Hiedeman and Laces didn’t take the court in any contests, with their next outing taking place Feb. 19 against Phantom.
Season Stats:
- 5 games — 6.2 PPG, 2.0 RPG, 1.4 APG, 0.2 SPG, 0.2 BPG, 6.2 MPG
Recent Games:
- Jan. 27 vs. Rose (71-64 win): no points (0-1 FG) over two minutes
- Jan. 31 vs. Lunar Owls (75-73 loss): two points (1-3 FG, 0-1 3Pt) and one rebound over three minutes
Alissa Pili — Team Colson (United States)
Pili finally got her season underway with Athletes Unlimited, kicking off the year over the past week while taking part in three games as part of Team Colson.
Pili put together a strong week in her first action as part of the offseason league, providing a nice lift to her squad offensively and capping a trio of contests with her best outing of the year this past Saturday.
Season Stats:
- 3 games — 16.3 PPG, 6.0 RPG, 2.0 APG, 1.0 SPG, 32.3 MPG
Recent Games:
- Feb. 5 vs. Team Harrison (__): 14 points (3-13 FG, 1-8 3Pt, 7-10 FT), nine rebounds, four assists and one block over 36 minutes
- Feb. 7 vs. Team Westbrook (): 15 points (6-18 FG, 1-7 3Pt, 2-2 FT) and four rebounds over 31 minutes
- Feb. 8 vs. Team Bell (): 20 points (7-15 FG, 1-3 3Pt, 5-6 FT), five rebounds, three steals and two assists over 30 minutes
Bridget Carleton — ÇBK Mersin (Turkey)
Now with Carleton playing with ÇBK Mersin in Turkey after starting the offseason with UNI Györ in Hungary, Carleton has continued to put together a strong offseason thus far.
Over the past week, Carleton didn’t take the court with her Turkish squad, having suited up for her new team in eight games this season, four in both Turkey-KBSL and Euroleague action.
Season Stats:
With ÇBK Mersin:
- Turkey-KBSL: 4 games — 8.5 PPG, 5.5 RPG, 2.0 APG, 0.8 SPG, 0.5 BPG, 34.3 MPG
- Euroleague: 4 games — 11.0 PPG, 6.8 RPG, 3.5 APG, 1.3 SPG, 34.0 MPG
UNI Györ:
- Hungary-A Division: 5 games — 12.6 PPG, 8.8 RPG, 4.0 APG, 1.6 SPG, 0.8 BPG, 31.2 MPG
- Euroleague: 2 games — 15.0 PPG, 7.0 RPG, 2.5 APG, 2.0 SPG, 1.0 BPG, 36.0 MPG
Recent Games:
- Jan. 28 vs. Landes (74-67 win): 23 points (6-12 FG, 5-9 3Pt, 6-6 FT), eight rebounds, two steals and one assist over 35 minutes
- Feb. 1 vs. Galatasaray (60-57 win): seven points (2-9 FG, 2-8 3Pt, 1-1 FT), four rebounds, two assists, one block and one steal over 39 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.
Smith has put together a strong offseason thus far, appearing in one more game over the past week and flirting with a 20-20 outing in a dominating double-double performance.
Season Stats:
- China-WCBA: 27 games — 16.4 PPG, 10.6 RPG, 2.9 APG, 2.1 SPG
Recent Games:
- Feb. 4 vs. Fujian (85-69 win): 19 points (8-12 FG, 0-2 3Pt, 3-5 FT), 17 rebounds and three assists
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.
As the offseason progresses, Juhász has continues to play well in Italy-Serie A1 and Euroleague action, though she didn’t appear in any games over the past week.
Season Stats:
- Italy-Serie A1: 9 games — 8.1 PPG, 8.3 RPG, 1.1 APG, 1.1 SPG, 0.4 BPG, 19.7 MPG
- Euroleague: 7 games — 9.7 PPG, 8.9 RPG, 2.0 APG, 1.6 SPG, 0.4 BPG, 25.9 MPG
Recent Games:
- Jan. 28 vs. Bourges (84-72 win): 13 points (4-6 FG, 3-3 3Pt, 2-4 FT), eight rebounds, three assists, two steals and two blocks over 31 minutes
- Feb. 1 vs. Campobasso (69-56 win): 10 points (3-8 FG, 0-1 3Pt, 4-5 FT), 11 rebounds, two assists and one block over 29 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, she has done well in her first full healthy offseason.
Over the past week, Miller didn’t take the court while her squad has a bit of a break period, returning to action Feb. 22.
Season Stats:
- Poland-OBLK: 10 games — 17.1 PPG, 6.9 RPG, 3.1 APG, 0.9 SPG, 0.7 BPG, 28.3 MPG
- EuroCup: 4 games — 12.8 PPG, 8.8 RPG, 1.5 APG, 1.5 SPG, 0.5 BPG, 31.5 MPG
Recent Games:
- Jan. 19 vs. Poznan (78-74 loss): 17 points (7-11 FG, 0-4 3Pt, 3-4 FT), eight rebounds and three assists over 27 minutes
Marième Badiane — Fenerbahçe (Turkey)
Badiane is one of the newest member of the Lynx to be added to this offseason update series, following Minnesota announcing the signing of the French center when the free agency signing period opened Feb. 1.
Badiane is a veteran center that should add to the depth of the Lynx, and she has enjoyed a nice career overseas to this point. With Turkish powerhouse Fenerbahçe, where she spent time with Napheesa Collier and Kayla McBride, Badiane didn’t appear in any action over the past week.
Season Stats:
- Turkey-KBSL: 8 games — 13.8 PPG, 7.3 RPG, 2.0 APG, 1.0 SPG, 0.8 BPG, 28.9 MPG
- Euroleague: 12 games — 5.6 PPG, 4.3 RPG, 1.0 APG, 0.8 SPG, 0.4 BPG, 17.0 MPG
Recent Games:
- Jan. 28 vs. Valencia (88-71 win): five points (1-4 FG, 1-1 3Pt) and one steal over seven minutes
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.
Shepard had continued to shine in Greece while playing with Athinaikos AS Vurona, though she didn’t appear in any contests over the past week.
Season Stats:
- Greece-A1: 13 games — 27.4 PPG, 15.9 RPG, 4.7 APG, 1.3 SPG, 34.0 MPG
Recent Games:
- Jan. 26 vs. Giannena (95-85 win): 27 points (10-14 FG, 7-11 FT), 11 rebounds, six assists and two blocks over 39 minutes
- Feb. 1 vs. Panathlitikos (97-77 win): 25 points (11-17 FG, 3-6 FT), 21 rebounds, five assists and one steal over 39 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.
So far this offseason, Hirsch hasn’t seen a high level of production in France-BWL action, some of that due to the lack of minutes on the court in France. Over the past week, Hirsch didn’t appear in any action on the court with ESB Villeneuve.
Season Stats:
- France-BWL: 6 games — 3.0 PPG, 2.3 RPG, 0.5 BPG, 12.8 MPG
- EuroCup: 2 games — 8.5 PPG, 5.5 RPG, 0.5 APG, 19.0 MPG
Recent Games:
- Jan. 5 vs. Landerneau (81-65 win): no points (0-0 FG) and three rebounds over six minutes
Grace Berger — OGM Ormanspor (Turkey)
Berger is the newest member of the Lynx, being claimed off waivers by Minnesota over the weekend. This news comes just a week after the former seventh overall pick was waived by the Indiana Fever.
Berger is currently playing with OGM Ormanspor in Turkey, doing a little bit of everytihng for her Turkish squad in Turkey-KBSL action. Berger last appeared in a contest on Feb. 1, having somewhat of a quiet offensive performance that resulted in her finishing in single digits in scoring for just the fifth time of the season.
Season Stats:
- Turkey-KBSL: 17 games — 13.3 PPG, 6.3 RPG, 3.9 APG, 1.4 SPG, 35.5 MPG
Recent Games:
- Feb. 1 vs. Bodrum (86-66 win): nine points (4-9 FG, 1-1 3Pt), three rebounds, two assists and one steal over 25 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.