# 2022 Minnesota Lynx season

The 2022 WNBA season is the current and 24th season for the Minnesota Lynx of the Women's National Basketball Association. The season began on May 6, 2022, versus the Seattle Storm.
On November 28, 2021, Napheesa Collier announced her pregnancy with an announcement in People Magazine. Collier stated, "“I am very excited to start a family with my fiancé Alex. Having a child is truly a beautiful journey and I am grateful to have the support of our families, friends and the Lynx as I begin this special chapter of motherhood.” On December 8, 2021, Cheryl Reeve was named the new United States women's national basketball team head coach for the 2021-2024 cycle.
On February 1, 2022, the Lynx opened free agency and re-signed Sylvia Fowles to a one-year deal. Fowles also announced at this time that this season would be her last and she would be retiring following the 2022 season.
The Lynx struggled to start the season, losing their first four games and only winning two games in the first month of the season. They finished May 2–7 overall. Their struggles continued into June as they won only one of the first seven games in the month and went on a five game losing streak. However, their fortunes improved at the end of the month as they won three of their last four games to finish the month 4–7. The momentum carried over into July and the Lynx won four of their first six games, but then only won two of their last five games to finish the season 6–5. A better August might have seen the Lynx qualify for the playoffs, but they finished the month 2–3, which left them one game out of the eighth and final playoff spot. This was the first time since 2010, the Lynx missed the playoffs and had a sub-.500 record. This ended the WNBA’s longest active playoff streak at 12 straight years.
Moriah Jefferson recorded the first-ever triple-double in Lynx history on June 28, 2022. She had 13 points, 10 rebounds, and 10 assists in a 92–64 victory over her former team, the Dallas Wings. The 10 assists were also a career-high for Jefferson.
Napheesa Collier returned to the court on August 7, 2022, just 10 and half weeks after giving birth to her daughter. She finished with 6 points, 2 rebounds, 1 assist, 1 steal, and 1 block in the game.

## Transactions
### WNBA draft

| Round | Pick | Player | Nationality | School/team/country |
| 2 | 22 | Kayla Jones | United States | NC State |
| 3 | 28 | Hannah Sjerven | United States | South Dakota |

### Trades and Roster Changes

| Date | Transaction |
| January 3, 2022 | Extended Qualifying Offers to Anna Cruz and Bridget Carleton |
| January 4, 2022 | Signed Bridget Carleton to a Qualifying Offer |
| January 12, 2022 | Promoted Katie Smith to Associate head coach |
| February 1, 2022 | Re-signed Sylvia Fowles to a One-Year Deal |
| February 2, 2022 | Signed Angel McCoughtry to a One-Year Deal |
| February 8, 2022 | Signed Layshia Clarendon to a One-Year Deal |
| February 8, 2022 | Signed Rachel Banham to a training-camp contract |
| February 18, 2022 | Signed Yvonne Turner and Natasha Mack to training-camp contracts |
| April 10, 2022 | Traded the #8 and #13 picks in the 2022 WNBA draft to the Las Vegas Aces in exchange for a First and a Second Round Pick in the 2023 WNBA Draft |
| April 13, 2022 | Signed Kayla Jones and Hannah Sjerven to rookie-scale contracts |
| April 13, 2022 | Signed Chloe Bibby, CeCe Hooks, and Moon Ursin to training-camp contracts |
| April 15, 2022 | Waived Natasha Mack |
| April 28, 2022 | Waived CeCe Hooks |
| May 2, 2022 | Signed Napheesa Collier to a Multi-Year Extension |
| May 2, 2022 | Waived Chloe Bibby and Moon Ursin |
| May 3, 2022 | Signed Odyssey Sims to a training-camp contract |
| May 3, 2022 | Waived Layshia Clarendon, Crystal Dangerfield, Yvonne Turner, Rennia Davis, Hannah Sjerven, and Kayla Jones |
| May 5, 2022 | Temporarily Suspend Kayla McBride due to Overseas Commitments |
| May 6, 2022 | Signed Yvonne Turner and Nina Milić |
| May 10, 2022 | Signed Rennia Davis to a Hardship Contract |
| May 12, 2022 | Waived Angel McCoughtry and Odyssey Sims |
| May 12, 2022 | Released Rennia Davis, Nikolina Milić, and Yvonne Turner from their Hardship Contracts |
| May 13, 2022 | Signed Moriah Jefferson and Evina Westbrook |
| May 13, 2022 | Signed Yvonne Turner, Nikolina Milić, and Hannah Sjerven to Hardship Contracts |
| May 16, 2022 | Signed Jessica Shepard to a Multi-Year Contract Extension |
| May 16, 2022 | Activated Kayla McBride from her Temporary Suspension |
| May 16, 2022 | Released Yvonne Turner from her Hardship Contract |
| May 22, 2022 | Released Hannah Sjerven from her Hardship Contract |
| May 31, 2022 | Signed Elissa Cunane to a Hardship Contract |
| June 1, 2022 | Signed Kamiah Smalls to a Hardship Contract |
| June 9, 2022 | Released Kamiah Smalls from her Hardship Contract |
| June 21, 2022 | Released Elissa Cunane from her Hardship Contract |
| June 23, 2022 | Released Nikolina Milić from her Hardship Contract |
| June 24, 2022 | Waived Evina Westbrook |
| June 26, 2022 | Signed Nikolina Milić to a 7-day contract |
| July 3, 2022 | Signed Nikolina Milić to a 2nd 7-day contract |
| July 11, 2022 | Signed Nikolina Milić to a 3rd 7-day contract |
| July 19, 2022 | Signed Nikolina Milić to a Hardship Contract |
| July 21, 2022 | Signed Lindsay Allen to a 7-Day Hardship Contract |
| July 28, 2022 | Signed Lindsay Allen to a 2nd 7-Day Hardship Contract |
| August 7, 2022 | Signed Lindsay Allen to a 3rd 7-Day Hardship Contract |
| August 7, 2022 | Signed Nikolina Milić to a Hardship Contract |
| August 9, 2022 | Released Nikolina Milić and Lindsay Allen from their Hardship Contracts |
| August 10, 2022 | Signed Lindsay Allen to a Hardship Contract |

## Roster
### Depth

| Pos. | Starter | Bench |
| C | Sylvia Fowles | Natalie Achonwa |
| PF | Jessica Shepard | Nikolina Milić Damiris Dantas (inactive) |
| SF | Napheesa Collier | Aerial Powers Bridget Carleton |
| SG | Kayla McBride | Rachel Banham |
| PG | Moriah Jefferson | Lindsay Allen |

## Schedule
### Preseason

2022 pre-season game log Total: 1–1 (Home:1–0; Road: 0–1) :
April: 0–1 (Home: 0–0; Road: 0–1)
GameDateTeamScoreHigh pointsHigh reboundsHigh assistsLocation AttendanceRecord
1
April 27
@ Washington
L 66–78
Sylvia Fowles (16)
Sylvia Fowles (8)
Achonwa Turner (2)
Entertainment and Sports Arena 3,220
0–1 :
May
: 1–0 (Home: 1–0; Road: 0–0)
GameDateTeamScoreHigh pointsHigh reboundsHigh assistsLocation AttendanceRecord
2
May 1
Las Vegas
W 89–86
Yvonne Turner (15)
Rennia Davis (13)
Clarendon Turner Shepard (3)
Target Center N/A
1–1 :
2022 pre-season schedule :

### Regular Season

2022 game log Total: 14–22 (Home: 7–11; Road: 7–11) :
May: 2–7 (Home: 1–3; Road: 1–4)
GameDateTeamScoreHigh pointsHigh reboundsHigh assistsLocation AttendanceRecord
1
May 6
@ Seattle
L 74–97
Sylvia Fowles (16)
Jessica Shepard (12)
Jessica Shepard (5)
Climate Pledge Arena 12,904
0–1
2
May 8
Washington
L 66–78
Jessica Shepard (16)
Jessica Shepard (12)
Jessica Shepard (4)
Target Center 8,134
0–2
3
May 10
@ Indiana
L 76–82
Sylvia Fowles (26)
Sylvia Fowles (14)
Jessica Shepard (9)
Gainbridge Fieldhouse 1,078
0–3
4
May 14
Chicago
L 78–82
Nikolina Milić (18)
Sylvia Fowles (11)
Jefferson Westbrook (5)
Target Center 6,503
0–4
5
May 17
@ Los Angeles
W 87–84
Kayla McBride (24)
Sylvia Fowles (12)
Moriah Jefferson (6)
Crypto.com Arena 4,701
1–4
6
May 19
@ Las Vegas
L 87–93
Aerial Powers (25)
Jessica Shepard (14)
Moriah Jefferson (7)
Michelob Ultra Arena 3,640
1–5
7
May 21
@ Dallas
L 78–94
Fowles McBride Shepard (14)
Sylvia Fowles (9)
Banham Jefferson (4)
College Park Center 3,813
1–6
8
May 24
New York
W 84–78
Aerial Powers (18)
Sylvia Fowles (14)
Jefferson Shepard (4)
Target Center
2–6
9
May 29
Los Angeles
L 83–85
Kayla McBride (19)
Sylvia Fowles (7)
Moriah Jefferson (4)
Target Center 7,234
2–7 :
June
: 4–7 (Home: 2–3; Road: 2–4)
GameDateTeamScoreHigh pointsHigh reboundsHigh assistsLocation AttendanceRecord
10
June 1
@ Atlanta
L 76–84
Kayla McBride (20)
Sylvia Fowles (20)
Rachel Banham (6)
Gateway Center Arena 1,268
2–8
11
June 5
@ New York
W 84–77
Aerial Powers (27)
Sylvia Fowles (8)
Rachel Banham (4)
Barclays Center 4,119
3–8
12
June 7
@ New York
L 69–88
Kayla McBride (13)
Jessica Shepard (7)
Smalls Westbrook (4)
Barclays Center 3,196
3–9
13
June 10
Washington
L 59–76
Aerial Powers (12)
Jessica Shepard (15)
Moriah Jefferson (6)
Target Center 6,315
3–10
14
June 12
Indiana
L 80–84
Nikolina Milić (18)
Sylvia Fowles (11)
Aerial Powers (7)
Target Center 6,806
3–11
15
June 14
Seattle
L 79–81
Kayla McBride (20)
Nikolina Milić (7)
Aerial Powers (7)
Target Center 6,031
3–12
16
June 19
@ Las Vegas
L 95–96
Moriah Jefferson (23)
Jessica Shepard (19)
Moriah Jefferson (7)
Michelob Ultra Arena 4,603
3–13
17
June 21
@ Phoenix
W 84–71
Kayla McBride (18)
Jessica Shepard (13)
Moriah Jefferson (9)
Footprint Center 6,394
4–13
18
June 23
Phoenix
W 100–88
Moriah Jefferson (21)
Sylvia Fowles (10)
Aerial Powers (6)
Target Center 8,004
5–13
19
June 26
@ Chicago
L 85–88
McBride Shepard (15)
Jessica Shepard (8)
Aerial Powers (7)
Wintrust Arena 7,022
5–14
20
June 28
Dallas
W 92–64
Aerial Powers (20)
Natalie Achonwa (13)
Moriah Jefferson (10)
Target Center 5,603
6–14 :
July
: 6–5 (Home: 3–4; Road: 3–1)
GameDateTeamScoreHigh pointsHigh reboundsHigh assistsLocation AttendanceRecord
21
July 1
Las Vegas
L 85–91
Rachel Banham (24)
Sylvia Fowles (5)
Achonwa Banham (4)
Target Center 6,104
6–15
22
July 3
Las Vegas
W 102–71
Aerial Powers (32)
Sylvia Fowles (11)
Moriah Jefferson (6)
Target Center 7,603
7–15
23
July 6
Chicago
W 81–78
Aerial Powers (22)
Aerial Powers (11)
Moriah Jefferson (6)
Target Center 11,103
8–15
24
July 12
Phoenix
W 118–107 (2OT)
Aerial Powers (35)
Sylvia Fowles (14)
Kayla McBride (5)
Target Center 6,503
9–15
25
July 14
Dallas
L 87–92
Rachel Banham (24)
Sylvia Fowles (17)
Sylvia Fowles (3)
Target Center 4,834
9–16
26
July 15
@ Indiana
W 87–77
Kayla McBride (28)
Sylvia Fowles (12)
Jefferson Shepard (5)
Indiana Farmers Coliseum 1,530
10–16
27
July 17
@ Washington
L 57–70
Kayla McBride (16)
Fowles Shepard (12)
Jessica Shepard (7)
Entertainment and Sports Arena 4,200
10–17
28
July 22
Connecticut
L 84–94
Aerial Powers (14)
Natalie Achonwa (6)
Lindsay Allen (7)
Target Center 8,321
10–18
29
July 24
Connecticut
L 79–86
Aerial Powers (17)
Jessica Shepard (8)
Aerial Powers (4)
Target Center 7,231
10–19
30
July 28
@ Atlanta
W 92–85
Aerial Powers (25)
Sylvia Fowles (14)
Moriah Jefferson (7)
Gateway Center Arena 2,396
11–19
31
July 31
@ Los Angeles
W 84–77
Moriah Jefferson (22)
Jessica Shepard (10)
Jefferson Powers (4)
Crypto.com Arena 6,857
12–19 :
August
: 2–3 (Home: 1–1; Road: 1–2)
GameDateTeamScoreHigh pointsHigh reboundsHigh assistsLocation AttendanceRecord
32
August 3
@ Seattle
L 77–89
Nikolina Milić (13)
Fowles Milić (6)
Natalie Achonwa (6)
Climate Pledge Arena 13,500
12–20
33
August 7
Atlanta
W 81–71
Kayla McBride (20)
Sylvia Fowles (8)
Jefferson McBride (6)
Target Center 9,421
13–20
34
August 10
@ Phoenix
W 86–77
Kayla McBride (18)
Jessica Shepard (12)
Moriah Jefferson (12)
Footprint Center 7,307
14–20
35
August 12
Seattle
L 69–96
Aerial Powers (18)
Sylvia Fowles (12)
L. Allen McBride (3)
Target Center 12,134
14–21
36
August 14
@ Connecticut
L 83–90
Lindsay Allen (26)
Sylvia Fowles (12)
Lindsay Allen (6)
Mohegan Sun Arena 7,489
14–22 :
2022 season schedule :

## Standings

| # | Teamvte | W | L | PCT | GB | Conf. | Home | Road | Cup |
| 1 | x – Las Vegas Aces | 26 | 10 | .722 | – | 15–3 | 13–5 | 13–5 | 9–1 |
| 2 | x – Chicago Sky | 26 | 10 | .722 | – | 15–3 | 14–4 | 12–6 | 9–1 |
| 3 | x – Connecticut Sun | 25 | 11 | .694 | 1.0 | 11–7 | 13–5 | 12–6 | 5–5 |
| 4 | x – Seattle Storm | 22 | 14 | .611 | 4.0 | 10–8 | 13–5 | 9–9 | 6–4 |
| 5 | x – Washington Mystics | 22 | 14 | .611 | 4.0 | 11–7 | 12–6 | 10–8 | 5–5 |
| 6 | x – Dallas Wings | 18 | 18 | .500 | 8.0 | 8–10 | 8–10 | 10–8 | 5–5 |
| 7 | x – New York Liberty | 16 | 20 | .444 | 10.0 | 10–8 | 9–9 | 7–11 | 6–4 |
| 8 | x – Phoenix Mercury | 15 | 21 | .417 | 11.0 | 7–11 | 11–7 | 4–14 | 3–7 |
| 9 | e – Minnesota Lynx | 14 | 22 | .389 | 12.0 | 8–10 | 7–11 | 7–11 | 4–6 |
| 10 | e – Atlanta Dream | 14 | 22 | .389 | 12.0 | 5–13 | 8–10 | 6–12 | 3–7 |
| 11 | e – Los Angeles Sparks | 13 | 23 | .361 | 13.0 | 6–12 | 7–11 | 6–12 | 3–7 |
| 12 | e – Indiana Fever | 5 | 31 | .139 | 21.0 | 2–16 | 3–15 | 2–16 | 2–8 |

## Statistics
### Regular Season

| Player | GP | GS | MPG | FG% | 3P% | FT% | RPG | APG | SPG | BPG | PPG |
| Sylvia Fowles | 30 | 30 | 27.7 | .622 | .000 | .660 | 9.8 | 1.2 | 1.0 | 1.2 | 14.4 |
| Aerial Powers | 35 | 31 | 26.9 | .385 | .308 | .815 | 4.7 | 2.9 | 1.2 | 0.3 | 14.4 |
| Kayla McBride | 31 | 31 | 29.8 | .405 | .356 | .909 | 2.8 | 2.1 | 1.0 | 0.1 | 13.3 |
| Moriah Jefferson$^≠$ | 30 | 30 | 26.8 | .452 | .474 | .815 | 2.5 | 4.9 | 1.2 | 0.1 | 10.8 |
| Odyssey Sims$^‡$ | 2 | 0 | 27.0 | .304 | .250 | .444 | 3.5 | 3.5 | 0.5 | 1.0 | 9.5 |
| Jessica Shepard | 36 | 22 | 26.1 | .500 | .250 | .734 | 7.4 | 3.0 | 0.4 | 0.3 | 8.1 |
| Rachel Banham | 36 | 5 | 17.5 | .430 | .383 | .800 | 1.3 | 2.3 | 0.3 | 0.1 | 7.9 |
| Napheesa Collier | 4 | 4 | 22.8 | .423 | .286 | .714 | 3.0 | 1.0 | 0.5 | 0.3 | 7.3 |
| Lindsay Allen$^≠$ | 9 | 0 | 14.9 | .526 | .571 | .923 | 1.6 | 3.4 | 0.2 | 0.0 | 6.7 |
| Yvonne Turner$^‡$ | 4 | 2 | 22.0 | .308 | .429 | .857 | 2.5 | 2.5 | 0.5 | 0.0 | 6.3 |
| Nikolina Milić$^‡$ | 31 | 4 | 11.7 | .548 | .273 | .738 | 3.0 | 0.7 | 0.3 | 0.3 | 6.0 |
| Angel McCoughtry$^‡$ | 2 | 2 | 10.0 | .375 | .000 | 1.000 | 3.0 | 1.0 | 0.5 | 1.0 | 6.0 |
| Natalie Achonwa | 22 | 0 | 15.1 | .304 | .262 | .815 | 4.1 | 1.7 | 0.4 | 0.3 | 5.3 |
| Damiris Dantas | 15 | 15 | 17.5 | .304 | .262 | .833 | 3.8 | 1.9 | 0.2 | 0.1 | 5.1 |
| Bridget Carleton | 36 | 2 | 16.8 | .403 | .354 | .731 | 2.1 | 1.1 | 0.4 | 0.1 | 4.3 |
| Evina Westbrook$^‡$ | 14 | 2 | 12.4 | .318 | .143 | .667 | 1.4 | 1.4 | 0.4 | 0.4 | 2.6 |
| Rennia Davis$^‡$ | 1 | 0 | 3.0 | 1.000 | .000 | .000 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 2.0 |
| Kamiah Smalls$^‡$ | 3 | 0 | 11.3 | .250 | .000 | .000 | 1.7 | 2.0 | 1.3 | 0.0 | 1.3 |
| Elissa Cunane$^‡$ | 3 | 0 | 3.3 | .500 | .000 | .000 | 1.7 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.7 |
| Hannah Sjerven$^‡$ | 3 | 0 | 3.0 | .000 | .000 | .000 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.3 | 0.0 |
$^‡$Waived/Released during the season $^†$Traded during the season $^≠$Acquired during the season

## Awards and honors

| Recipient | Award/Milestone | Date Awarded |
| Sylvia Fowles | WNBA All-Star Starter & Co-Captain | June 22 |
| Sylvia Fowles | Peak Performer:Rebounds | August 15 |
| Sylvia Fowles | Kim Perrot Sportsmanship Award | August 19 |
| Sylvia Fowles | All-Defensive First Team | August 30 |
| Sylvia Fowles | All-WNBA Second Team | September 15 |
| Aerial Powers | Western Conference Player of the Week | July 8 |