How the Lynx built the WNBA's best team again in 2026
The Minnesota Lynx sit atop the WNBA at 22-6 after remaking their roster through drafts, free agency, and smart role fits under Cheryl Reeve. Even after free agency reshaped the squad and without Napheesa Collier for nearly the entire season, Minnesota remains the league's best team and a 2026 title favorite.
That rebuild is the story behind the buzz. As covered by the Star Tribune, the Lynx won four titles in the 2010s, stayed playoff-relevant from 2018 to 2023, then climbed back into true contention—and entered the final 16 games of the post–All-Star schedule with the league's best record.
Key Takeaways
- The Lynx lead the WNBA at 22-6 despite missing Collier for almost all of 2026 so far.
- Minnesota retained Kayla McBride and Courtney Williams and added Natasha Howard after Alanna Smith left for Dallas.
- Olivia Miles, taken No. 2 in the 2026 draft, has looked like a Rookie of the Year lock and an MVP candidate.
- Coach Cheryl Reeve's system asks players to lean into strengths—and skip what does not fit.
- Sixteen games remained after the All-Star break as Minnesota chased another title.
How did the Lynx rebuild after free agency?
Free agency emptied much of the roster this past offseason under the new collective bargaining agreement. Reeve's staff still kept core pieces and filled gaps with value instead of chasing every max deal.
McBride, signed in 2021 after a career-low 12.5 points per game in Las Vegas in 2020, was a re-signing priority. Williams, who arrived in 2024 and helped Minnesota win 64 combined regular-season games in 2024 and 2025, also stayed on a lucrative two-year deal. After Smith left for a three-year max in Dallas, the Lynx signed Howard for about $700,000—roughly half of Smith's pay—and asked her to rebound and run pick-and-rolls rather than force threes.
Who makes the Lynx starting five so strong?
Collier, the 2019 No. 6 pick and a former Rookie of the Year, remains the franchise through line even while sidelined. Howard rewarded the bet by starting in the All-Star Game. Miles, landed after Minnesota maneuvered for the No. 2 pick, gives the Lynx a true point guard and multi-level scorer; Williams has shifted to shooting guard beside her.
In short, the Lynx have hit on drafts, found free-agent fits, and built a system that lets stars and complementary players do what they do best. For more sports-meets-culture coverage across our Future Tech & AI Wonders hub, that mix of process and performance is the viral hook.
What is next for Minnesota's title push?
Coming close the past two seasons, the Lynx enter the final stretch as title favorites on paper. Official team notes for the July 28 home date against the Toronto Tempo listed tip-off at 7:00 p.m. CT at Target Center, with streaming on Victory+, Emma Cechova out with a knee injury, and Rebel Edition jerseys on the night.
The harder test is the schedule ahead. With Miles still ascending and sixteen games left after the All-Star break, Minnesota's path is clear: keep the same disciplined roster construction that put the Lynx back on top of the WNBA.