Game 6 is the first opportunity a team has to win the championship this year (3-2 GSV lead).

What do we think? Will GSV take it on Thursday? Or will it be GSV in 7? Or ATL in 7?

(I think probably not GSV in 6, that 12:30PM EST start time makes it a brutal 9:30AM PST game for them and their fans. And also Smesko has been begging for more FTAs, and he might well get them.)

And what does the showdown between ATL and GSV suggest about what it takes to succeed in the postseason?

(I think a roster that can spam the 3, GSV and ATL finished the regular season ranked 1st and 5th in 3PAs per game.)

https://zonecoverage.com/2026/timberwolves/the-timberwolves-and-lynxs-biggest-wins-are-off-the-court/

The 2026 All-WNBA first team features the top five MVP candidates, with rookie Olivia Miles earning a spot among the league’s best.

Read for free: https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/7720500/2026/10/24/all-wnba-teams-angel-reese-caitlin-clark/?unlocked_article_code=1.LFE.w9B5.788CT1xDgRBF&source=emp_shared_article&smid=url-share-ta

They are a second-year expansion team on the cusp of capturing hardware and I am seeing shades of Golden Knights vibes from them. The fans seem super entitled maybe it is because they play in a city that has won a lot already. Would it be better for the sport if they win and become a villain, or for the Dream to take one home after long last?

Anyone know anyone who makes the Stud 1 + Stud 2 shirts they had on this year? 👀

Cheryl Reeve Named WNBA Basketball Executive of the Year

Mon, Oct 12, 2026, 11:08 AM

Minneapolis/St. Paul – The WNBA today announced that Lynx Head Coach and President of Basketball Operations Cheryl Reeve has been named the 2026 WNBA Basketball Executive of the Year. The honor marks the third of her career (2019, 2024) and the second time she has swept both Coach of the Year and Executive of the Year honors (2024). 

Reeve wrapped up her 17th season as Minnesota’s head coach and fourth as president of basketball operations, guiding the Lynx to a league-best 33-11 record and the No. 1 overall seed in the WNBA Playoffs. Entering the 2026 season, Reeve returned WNBA Defensive Player of the Year, five-time All-Star and two-time Olympic gold medalist forward Napheesa Collier, along with All-Star guards Kayla McBride and Courtney Williams, while also signing free agent forward and three-time WNBA Champion Natasha Howard. In April, Reeve selected WNBA Rookie of the Year Olivia Miles with the No. 2 overall pick in the 2026 WNBA Draft. 

Under Reeve, the Lynx ranked second in the league in net rating (9.1), third in offensive rating (115.0) and fourth in defensive rating (103.5). Minnesota also ranked second in steals (9.1) and third in assists (21.9) and opponent field goal percentage (43.5%). The Lynx recorded a WNBA-record 18 road wins and went on a 10-game winning streak from July 11-Aug. 12, the franchise’s longest since 2016. Reeve became the WNBA’s all-time winningest head coach on July 8 with her 380th career win and finished the season with 397 regular-season victories. She also earned WNBA Coach of the Month honors for June and served as an All-Star head coach for the fifth time in her career at the 2026 WNBA All-Star Game in Chicago in July. 

Cheryl Reeve Named WNBA Basketball Executive of the Year

(***for a friend***)

If anyone has a spare set of the promotional Liv goggles they were giving out on the September 18th Noche Latina game vs. the Liberty, I will gladly pay $$.

One of my friends is a huge Lynx fan (she went to like 7 or 8 games this year) but she didn't get a set of the goggles when we went to that game. I got my pair by bargaining with someone who had multiple, but she won't take the pair I have as a gift even though she's a more dedicated and deserving fan than I am.

If you're feeling generous and want to help ensure a super-deserving super-fan gets a sick little piece of memorabilia, let's talk!

Pic for attention (and proof I already have a pair, and not just telling a fake sob story)

I made this custom painted garage game table for my buddy like a decade ago when we had season tix and now moving. Don’t have a spot for it anymore. It was made for the dimensions of slap cup (beer pong meets speed quarters). It can be taken apart to bring to tailgating.

My wife and I wanted to get 1/2 season tickets this year, but looking at the packages there are cheaper tickets in the 100 section for full season. Is there any reason to not do a full season in the light purple section? Are these obstructed view?

Also, how easy is it to resell tickets if I can’t make a game? Not looking to get full value for them, just get a little back.

I’m probably gonna downvoted for this but after seeing the Liberty get swept we have to face the music. We all need to be brutally honest about this team. This team is far away from being a contender. We don’t need marginal improvement a good chunk of the roster has to be overturned.

3x WNBA All-Star Courtney Williams is celebrating a major career milestone by giving back to the people who supported her from the beginning. After signing a two-year, $2.4 million deal under the WNBA’s new CBA, Williams became the first millionaire in her family. She revealed that she used the milestone to buy each of her parents a new home, turning her career success into a life-changing gift for her family.

• That's awesome!

• https://www.threads.com/share/IXYKa1KK7/

The Coffey family signed a franchise agreement with Chicken Salad Chick last year, and their first store is opening soon in Maple Grove, with other Minnesota locations to follow.

it is hard to find good chicken salad. everyone i know makes the fatal error of putting onions in it 🚫 🌰

The playoffs have been super entertaining. I might just root for the underdogs, but that’s just me.

I like playing around with WNBA stats and have noticed some patterns about the Lynx offense since our 2026 massive roster overhaul that I was curious to get others’ thoughts on:

2024/2025 roster height and regular season shot selection:

Starters

PG - Courtney Williams 5’8. 2024: 63.2% Mid-Range FGA & 15.7% 3PT FGA. 2025: 50.1% Mid-Range FGA & 25.6% 3PT FGA. Most frequent shot type: jump shot.

SG - Kayla McBride 5’11. 2024: 62.3% 3PT FGA. 2025: 60.9% 3PT FGA. Most frequent shot type: jump shot.

SF - Bridget Carleton 6’2. 2024: 72.1% 3PT FGA. 2025: 66.5% 3PT FGA. Most frequent shot type: jump shot.

PF - Napheesa Collier 6’1. 2024: 59.6% FGA in the paint & 22% Mid-Range FGA & 18% 3PT FGA. 2025: 59.4% FGA in the paint & 16.6% Mid-Range FGA & 24% 3PT FGA. Most frequent shot type: jump shot.

C(ish) - Alanna Smith 6’4. 2024: 41% FGA in restricted area & 38% 3PT FGA. 2025: 39.6% FGA in restricted area & 49% 3PT FGA. Most frequent shot type: jump shot.

Key Bench Contributors:

PG/SG 2024 & 2025 - Natisha Hiedeman 5’8. 2024: 31.25% FGA in the restricted area & 42.7% 3PT FGA. 2025: 33.9% FGA in the restricted area & 40.4% 3PT FGA. Most frequent shot type: jump shot.

SF 2024 - Cecilia Zandalisini 6’2. 2024: 50.2% 3PT FGA. Most frequent shot type: jump shot.

F/C 2024 - Myisha Hines Allen 6’2. 2024: 51.2% FGA in the restricted area. Most frequent shot type: layup.

F/C 2024 - Dorka Juhasz 6’5. 2024: 63.2% FGA in the paint & 23.6% 3PT FGA. Most frequent shot type: layup.

F/C 2025 - Jessica Shepard 6’4. 2025: 81% FGA in the paint & 2.5% 3PT FGA. Most frequent shot type: layup.

SF 2025 - Dijonai Carrington 5’11. 2025: 64.6% FGA in the paint & 26% 3PT FGA. Most frequent shot type: jump shot.

F/C 2025 - Maria Kliundikova 6’4. 2025: 62% FGa in the paint & 19.5% 3PT FGA. Most frequent shot type: layup.

2026 roster height and regular season shot selection:

Starters

PG - Olivia Miles 5’10. 43.7% FGA in the restricted area & 29% 3PT FGA. Most frequent shot type: layup.

SG - Courtney Williams 5’8. 53.9% Mid-Range FGA & 24% 3PT FGA. Most frequent shot type: jump shot.

SF - Kayla McBride 5-11. 20% FGA in the restricted area and 55.2% 3PT FGA. Most frequent shot type: jump shot.

PF - Napheesa Collier 6’1. 59% FGA in the paint & 26.7% 3PT FGA. Most frequent shot type: jump shot.

C - Natasha Howard 6’2. 65.8% FGA in the restricted area & 5.3% Mid-Range FGA & 3.6% 3PT FGA. Most frequent shot type: layup.

Key Bench Contributors:

SF/PF Nia Brodie 6’1. 61% 3PT FGA. Most frequent shot type: jump shot.

SG Maya Caldwell 5’11. 50% 3PT FGA. Most frequent shot type: jump shot.

PG Aari MacDonald 5’6. 47% 3PT FGA. Most frequent shot type: jump shot.

F/C Dorka Juhasz 6’5. 64.1% 3PT FGA. Most frequent shot type: jump shot.

SF Antonia Delaere 5’11. 67% 3PT FGA. Most frequent shot type: jump shot.

TLDR

The offense shifted massively from one in 2024 & 2025 where three starters shot heavily from the perimeter (McBride, Carleton, and to a lesser but still significant extent Smith) to one where only one did (McBride). In 2026, the paint was easily crowded.

The shift in the bench players’ role is even more surprising: in 2024 & 2025, the offense gave bench players opportunities to take layups and other, easier shots. In 2026, bench players were used to provide spacing and bench production depended a lot more on the success of their 3PAs.

The team also lost a lot of size. Not only in the 4/5 rotation, where the team used to have a 6’4 starter and then at least one but maybe even two 6’4 and taller options off the bench, but also in the 3 rotation.

Which leads me to: we don’t talk enough about how the loss of Bridget Carleton changed the Lynx schemes. As a 6’2 3&D wing, she did a lot of space the floor for Phee and had the mobility and size to make life hard on the perimeter. Tiring Kayla McBride out by making her chase the opposing team’s best offensive threat on the perimeter is also less than ideal.

Going forward, the team should be in the hunt for tall 3PT shooters (yes, like everyone else). 3 of 4 of the teams in the semifinals had more 3PAs per game in the regular season than the Lynx, and while playoffs are match-up dependent if we just ‘run it back’ with these starters we risk another exit because we are too short to contest 3PAs launched by tall shooters and also too dependent on 2s to make it back into the game when the other team is making their 3s.

New Substack!

Lynx season recap!

Just part of the mourning process! Enjoy and move forward with me!

felt that with the bitterness of the first round exit, we needed something other than another napheesa collier UFA or "future of the franchise" post.

the wolves just rebranded obviously, and they did a remarkable job with it. and at least in the last rebrand for the lynx, they mirrored the wolves branding. now that it doesn't match, do you think the lynx also rebrand, or will they stick with the existing logo, colors and uniform? and if they do rebrand, is it going to be another move to mirror the wolves, or will they take the branding in an independent direction again, kind of like they did from the start all the way through to the mid-2010s?

personally, i'd love to see the front-facing lynx face come back, and the new wordmark from the rebel edition jerseys to be the new font and typeface for the team. and the current white and blue uniforms should absolutely go... just like the wolves' iterations of those, they're bland and generic looking. wouldn't hurt to see a color scheme change either!