This is part of a 12-team fantasy women’s basketball preview team series leading into the 2022 WNBA season. For more information on ESPN’s new fantasy game, check out How to Play Fantasy Women’s Basketball.

The Head Coach: Cheryl Reeve (13th season)
Record 2021: 22-10
Offensive efficiency 2021: (102.8, 5th in WNBA)
Defensive efficiency 2021: (98, 4th)
Rhythm 2021: (95.7, 7th)

Jump forward: Off-season movements | Key Statistics | Best Fantasy Options | Sleeper

About Lynx

In the 2020 season, the Lynx missed the Finals, prompting 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 in the offseason.

However, it took time for the Lynx to gel and the team also had to deal with injuries. As soon as the team was united, they went on an eight-game winning streak and won nine of their last 10 games. The Lynx reached the playoffs for the 11th straight season. As of 2022, it is the longest active playoff appearance streak in the league and the second-longest playoff appearance streak in league history.

In Minnesota’s streak, Reeve coached the team in all of its playoff appearances. After taking over as coach of the Lynx in 2010, Reeve has a career winning percentage of .678, the best among any coach with a minimum of 100 games in the WNBA.

The Lynx were eliminated in the second round of the playoffs by eventual WNBA champions Chicago Sky, 89-76. Looking for another championship, the Lynx and Reeve would focus on the offseason. Napheesa Collier will be out of training for at least part of the 2022 season while on parental leave.

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Off-season moves

Angel McCoughtry was the most significant Lynx addition during free agency. Although not the same player who won 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. during the 2020 season. She got injured last season.

After trading the No. 8 and No. 13 picks to the Las Vegas Aces for 2023 picks, the Minnesota Lynx made it clear they don’t expect much from this draft given their limited cap space.

Key statistics

Last season, the Lynx finished third in the league in defensive points, allowing 78.7 points per game. In this category, Minnesota finished in the top five for the seventh consecutive 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.

Best Fantasy Options

Sylvia Fowles, C (36.5 projected FP/G): Fowles had one of the best seasons of his career last season, ranking second in the league in steals (1.8 GSP) 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 approaching 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.

Air Powers, C (25.3 FP/G): Powers faced another injury-plagued season in 2021 due to hamstring issues earlier 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 percent from the field. Powers is expected to play a starring role in the frontcourt this season alongside Fowles.

Kayla McBride, G (23.7 FP/G): In his eighth WNBA season, McBride recorded 13.7 PPG, 3.6 RPG, and 2.3 APG in 32 games played. At 31.6 MPG, she shot 43.3 percent from the floor while making 91 percent 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 will not be available until the end of this season.

Sleeper

Damiris Dantas, F (20.4 FP/G): Dantas’ seventh WNBA season was cut short by an injury to Lisfranc 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 a disappointing 37.7 percent from the field. Dantas is well positioned to take on an increased role during Collier’s parental leave. She must improve her efficiency in order to exceed the expectations of fantastic managers in 2022.