Wintry mix spreads across Minnesota

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Rumors and social media posts have launched endless theories about trades, draft picks and player contracts for the WNBA. But one thing is certain: this season will look much different for the league.    

Here’s what is known going into Monday’s draft, which is at 6 p.m. on ESPN. 

On Tuesday, the Lynx extended a core qualifying offer to Napheesa Collier. This all but guarantees that the veteran, an unrestricted free agent, will remain in Minnesota.  

Core designation gives a team exclusive negotiating rights to a player. For the player, it comes with a baseline contract of a one-year deal worth the supermax. Under the new collective bargaining agreement, that’s $1.4 million in 2026, though Collier could negotiate different terms. That’s an increase from a supermax of $249,000 in 2025.  

Teams can only have one cored player at a time. The Lynx have six other free agents: Alanna Smith, Kayla McBride, Courtney Williams, DiJonai Carrington, Jessica Shepard and Natisha Hiedeman.  

Smith, who continued to prove beneficial to the Lynx throughout her two years with the team, voiced interest in exercising her free agency when she recently spoke to media in Australia. 

“I’m open to any opportunity, I think. Like I said I think it is about best fit. You know, I have loved Minnesota, but a lot of teams are looking different this season,” Smith said. “I think I am doing a disservice to myself if I wasn't exploring at other opportunities.” 

Last season ended devastatingly for the Lynx. Collier suffered an ankle injury during the playoffs. She’s spent the off season recovering from double ankle surgery. The timeline of when she will be cleared to be back is unknown.  

Carrington sustained a foot injury last season and is expected to be back for the start of the season. 

In the expansion draft, the Lynx lost two players. Bridget Carleton, a veteran Lynx forward, was selected as the No. 1 overall pick by the Portland Fire. The Ontario native played with Minnesota since she was drafted by the team in 2019. She was a key starter for most of the past two seasons.   

The Lynx also lost forward Maria Kliundikova to the Toronto Tempo.   

On Monday, the Lynx have the No. 2 overall pick. Unlike last year, there's no clear No. 1 pick like Paige Bueckers. Instead, there's a host of talent to select from: UCLA's Lauren Betts, UConn's Azzi Fudd, LSU's Flau'jae Johnson and TCU's Olivia Miles. There's also Spanish player Awa Fam, who Lynx Coach Cheryl Reeve had previously identified as a player to watch.  

As for players from Minnesota, some mock drafts have UCLA’s guard Gianna Kneepkens from Duluth going in the first round.  

If there is one word to describe the excitement heading into the WNBA draft Monday, it’s possibility.   

And all those possibilities lead fans to speculate and share rumors.  

Recently, a host of rumors and trades have drawn attention. A balloon company in Minnesota posted and quickly deleted a promotional video on social media earlier this week of a design they made for the Lynx. In the post, a green, navy and blue balloon arch framed shining giant letters that said “Welcome Nneka,” arranged in the team’s practice facility.  

ESPN’s Alexa Philippou quickly shared that the former WNBA MVP Nneka Ogwumike was only on a visit with the Lynx, like she was doing with a number of teams.  

Ogwumike has had fun with it, remixing famous TikTok trends on her Instagram with the caption “my [for you page] is getting a little too personal.”  

On Thursday, Ogwumike sent fans theorizing again after she shared a post thanking the team she’s been with, the Seattle Storm, announcing her departure. It came out Friday morning that Ogwumike intends to return to the Los Angeles Sparks.  

Fans of the StudBudz were sent reeling Friday morning after Natisha Hiedemann, one half of the Twitch streaming and basketball star duo, posted a gallery of Lynx photos with a caption saying, “With love.”  

Rumors aside, one thing is certain. The WNBA will look much different this season. 

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Anika Besst

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With the expansion draft, new contract and veteran players entering free agency, WNBA teams — including the Minnesota Lynx — may look much different this season.  

The WNBA draft is Monday. Here’s what to expect

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