The Minnesota Lynx look different and the draft hasn’t even happened yet
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It's safe to say the WNBA — and the Lynx — will look different this season. Heading into draft night Monday, the Minnesota Lynx features a nearly entirely new roster.
In the past weekend, the Lynx signed multiple players in free agency.
They signed three-time WNBA champion Natasha Howard for a two-year, $1.4 million deal, according to ESPN. This brings back the Indiana Fever forward who was a part of the Minnesota team for their WNBA Championship win in 2017.
The Lynx welcome Minnesota-native Nia Coffey, who has been a forward for the Atlanta Dream for the past four seasons. Prior to her professional career, she was a Hopkins High School star player.
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Minnesota also signed six other players, five of whom are on training camp contracts: Emma Čechová, Antonia Delaere, Eliška Hamzová, Reigan Richardson and Jaylyn Sherrod. The sixth player, Aubrey Griffin, was signed to a rookie scale contract.
These additions join Napheesa Collier, Kayla McBride and Courtney Williams who will return this season after being re-signed.
Also this weekend, Minnesota said farewell to a number of veterans.
Natisha Hiedeman, one of the two players who make up the StudBudz, is leaving after signing onto a two-year deal with the Seattle Storm. The Green Bay Native spent the last two seasons with the Lynx.
Alanna Smith signed a three-year deal with the Dallas Wings. Last season, she was named co-Defensive Player of the Year honors alongside A'ja Wilson.
Joining Smith in Dallas is Jessica Shepard, who signed a multiyear deal after five years with the Lynx.
Dallas has the No. 1 pick in Monday’s collegiate draft. They also had the first selection last year, drafting Paige Bueckers.
Guard/forward DiJonai Carrington heads to the Chicago Sky. Last season, the Lynx traded Diamond Miller and Karlie Samuelson with Dallas to acquire the veteran defensive player.
This comes after Bridget Carleton, a veteran Lynx forward, was selected as the No. 1 overall pick in the expansion draft by the Portland Fire. The team also lost forward Maria Kliundikova to the Toronto Tempo.
The Lynx have the second overall draft pick Monday in the collegiate draft.
