This is part of a 12-team series of fantasy women's basketball previews leading up to the 2022 WNBA season. For more information on ESPN's newest fantasy game, check out how to play fantasy women's basketball.
Minnesota Lynx
Head coach: Cheryl Reeve (13th season)
2021 record: 22-10
2021 offensive efficiency: (102.8, 5th in WNBA)
2021 defensive efficiency: (98, 4th)
2021 pace: (95.7, 7th)
Jump ahead: Offseason moves | Key stats | Top fantasy options | Sleeper
About the Lynx
During the 2020 season, the Lynx missed the Finals, which prompted Reeve to search for players who could propel Minnesota to the top. As a result, the team signed Natalie Achonwa, Kayla McBride and Aerial Powers during the offseason.
However, it took time for the Lynx to gel and the team also dealt with injuries. As soon as the team was united, it went on an eight-game winning streak and finished winning nine of its final 10 games. The Lynx reached the playoffs for the 11th consecutive season. As of 2022, that is the longest active playoff appearance streak in the league and the second-longest postseason appearance streak in league history.
In Minnesota's streak, Reeve has coached the team to all of its playoff appearances. After taking over as Lynx coach in 2010, Reeve has a career winning percentage of .678, the best among all coaches with a minimum of 100 WNBA games.
The Lynx were knocked out in the second round of the playoffs by the soon-to-be WNBA Champions, the Chicago Sky, 89-76. In search of another championship, the Lynx and Reeve would focus on the offseason. Napheesa Collier will be out of the lineup for at least some of the 2022 season while on parental leave.
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Offseason moves
Angel McCoughtry was the most important addition by the Lynx during free agency. While she is not the same player who won scoring titles in 2012 and 2013, McCoughtry averaged 14.4 PPG, 5.1 RPG, 2.5 APG and 1.3 SPG in just 20 minutes per game in the 2020 season. She was injured last season.
After trading the Nos. 8 and 13 picks to the Las Vegas Aces for 2023 picks, the Minnesota Lynx made it clear that they were not expecting much from this draft considering their limited cap space.
Key stats
Last season, the Lynx were third in the league in scoring defense, allowing 78.7 points per game. In that category, Minnesota finished in the top five for the seventh straight season. Only the Las Vegas Aces (47.2%) had a higher field goal percentage than the Lynx (46%). Additionally, Minnesota ranked fourth with 653 assists.
Top fantasy options
Sylvia Fowles, C (36.5 projected FP/G): Fowles had one of the best seasons of her career last season, ranking second in the league in steals (1.8 SPG) and blocked shots (1.8 BPG). She averaged 16.0 PPG and 10.1 RPG and shot 64% from the field. The 2021 Defensive Player of the Year is already the all-time leader in career rebounds (3,712) and is nearing another career milestone; Fowles is just 17 points shy of 6,000 points in her career, a mark only 11 players in league history have reached. With plenty of upside, she enters her final season in the league as one of the top fantasy centers.
Aerial Powers, C (25.3 FP/G): Powers dealt with another injury-plagued season in 2021 due to hamstring issues early in the year, and she underwent thumb surgery in mid-June. She averaged 13.4 PPG, 3.6 RPG and 2.1 APG in 22 MPG while shooting 42.7% from the field. Powers should have a prominent role in the frontcourt this season alongside Fowles.
Kayla McBride, G (23.7 FP/G): In her eighth WNBA season, McBride recorded 13.7 PPG, 3.6 RPG and 2.3 APG in 32 games played. In 31.6 MPG, she shot 43.3% from the floor while making 91% of her free throws. McBride led the Lynx in scoring and should continue to produce similar numbers heading into the 2022 season, but her start to the season will be delayed as she is currently playing professionally in Turkey and won't be available until that season ends.
Sleeper
Damiris Dantas, F (20.4 FP/G): Dantas' seventh WNBA season was cut short by a Lisfranc injury in late August. She played in 24 games overall, averaging 7.7 PPG, 4.0 RPG and 2.3 APG in 24 MPG while shooting an underwhelming 37.7% from the field. Dantas is in a good position to take on an increased role during Collier's parental leave. She must improve her efficiency in order to surpass expectations for fantasy managers in 2022.