2018 Minnesota Lynx Training Camp Breakdown

2018 Minnesota Lynx Training Camp Breakdown

Coming off their fourth championship season, the Minnesota Lynx entered training camp looking to bolster their bench and give the veteran players some competition prior to the 2018 regular season.

Coming off their fourth championship season, the Minnesota Lynx entered training camp looking to bolster their bench and give the veteran players some competition prior to the 2018 regular season.

The Minnesota Lynx began their training camp on April 29th. Coming off another championship season in 2017 (their fourth), they have kept their core five of Sylvia Fowles, Maya Moore, Rebekkah Brunson, Seimone Augustus, and Lindsey Whalen intact. Their offseason signings have added to their reserves, leaving few roster spots up for grabs. 

The Lynx currently have 17 players on their roster but will have to whittle this number down to 12 for the regular season. With a proven starting five and no first or second-round draft picks, Minnesota was not looking to develop young players in their 2018 training camp. Instead, the aim of the camp was to prepare the team to compete for back-to-back titles. In this article, we'll take a look at the Lynx's squad heading into another promising season. 

Seimone Augustus

At 34-years-old, Augustus isn't quite what she used to be. However, the seven-time All-Star is still an excellent player and has playoff experience galore. She has been crucial to each of the Lynx's four championship victory's and her excellent play and leadership are a big reason this team has become a dynasty. Augustus is a lock for a starting guard spot and will likely see plenty of minutes in her 13th season. 

Rebekkah Brunson

Brunson has been with the Lynx since 2010 and is the only player in WNBA to have won five titles. Even at 36-years-old, Brunson is still a threat in the paint due to her strength and size. Last year, it was her increased aggression in Game 5 of the WNBA Finals that turned the tide of the series for the Lynx. The four-time All-Star will be a starting forward in 2018 and will see no shortage of minutes. 

Temi Fagbenle

Though Fagbenle was a part of last year's championship team, she averaged just 4 minutes a game. However, the sophomore player should be a bit better this year after spending the offseason playing overseas. She may not be a lock to make the roster, but considering the Lynx's lack of depth in the frontcourt, she is still a likely candidate.

Sylvia Fowles

Fowles is coming off a dominant 2017 season, in which she was both regular season and Finals MVP. The four-time All-Star averaged an incredible 18.9 points, 10.4 rebounds and 1.9 blocks per game while shooting a career-high 65.5 percent. Her height and sheer power mean that few other players can contend with her on either end. Expect the center to play heavy minutes for the Lynx this year.

Alexis Jones

Although Jones didn't wow the crowd in her rookie season last year, she did show promise. Like her former teammate at Duke, Chelsea Gray, Jones shoots very well on three-pointers. However, she has yet to translate her scoring and distributing abilities from college to the WNBA. While she isn't guaranteed a spot on the regular season roster, there's a good chance that Jones will be in a Lynx uniform again this season. 

Lynetta Kizer

After losing Plenette Peterson to retirement, the Lynx signed Kizer in the offseason. She has played for five teams in eight years, and everywhere she went she proved herself to be a solid bench player. Kizer doesn't light up the scoreboard, but she's capable of putting up a consistent six points and three rebounds. With her steady, efficient production and experience, Kizer will no doubt make the Lynx's final roster. 

Endy Miyem

Miyem has not yet played in the WNBA, but she led France to a silver medal and fourth place finish in the last two Olympics. Miyem has averaged 10.8 points per game on 48.4 percent shooting with the Italian club Famila Schio. As a capable offensive player, Miyem is in the race to make one of the Lynx's final roster spots.

Maya Moore

At only 28-years-old, Moore is the most junior member of the Lynx's core five. She missed training camp because she was overseas winning yet another championship, but she will likely return for the Lynx's second preseason game on May 12th. A key player in each of Minnesota's four championships, Moore is an excellent scorer, defender, and distributor. Her athleticism and court vision make her the centerpiece of the Lynx's offense, so Moore will likely play big minutes this season. 

Danielle Robinson

The Lynx acquired Robinson this offseason from Phoenix in exchange for a first-round pick. After losing Renee Montgomery in free agency, Robinson will be a welcome addition to bolster Minnesota's backcourt. The veteran point guard has plenty of playoff experience with the now defunct San Antonio Stars and the Phoenix Mercury. There's no doubt that Robinson will make the final roster and will play decent minutes as a backup to Lindsey Whalen.

Carlie Wagner

The Lynx selected Minnesota Golden Gophers' guard Carlie Wagner with the final pick in the 2018 draft. Wagner finished her career with the Gophers as the third all-time leading scorer in the history of the school's women's basketball program. Despite her status as a hometown favorite, Wagner will be a long shot to make the final roster. 

Lindsey Whalen

Whalen affirmed her place as the face of basketball in Minnesota by accepting a job as head coach of Gopher's women's basketball. She'll have no shortage of activity this year as she intends to continue her playing career in the WNBA. At 35-years-old, her athleticism and point production have dropped off in the last few seasons, but her high basketball IQ and leadership abilities help to make up for it. Whalen has been with Minnesota through all four championship runs, and her experience and intelligence should prove valuable in the coming season. 

Tanisha Wright

Minnesota signed Wright to make up for the gaping hole left by Jia Perkins, who announced her retirement after the team's 2017 Finals victory. With career playoff averages of 10 points, 3.3 assists, and 3 rebounds, Wright is a welcome addition to the squad. In her thirteenth season, she has significant playoff experience and great court vision. A backup backcourt consisting of Wright and Robinson will be a formidable opponent for any team in the league. 

Cecilia Zandalasini

The Lynx signed Italian star Zandalashi back in August 2017. Though she played in just three games last year, Zandalashi is a good candidate to replace Natasha Howard, who was traded in the offseason. In FIBA Eurobasket 2017, Zandalashi made her explosive debut with 19 points and 9.6 rebounds per game. At just 22-years-old, her youth and athleticism will be a welcome addition for a team populated largely by older players. 

Camille Zimmerman

After going undrafted in 2018, Columbia University's Camille Zimmerman was signed by Minnesota. At 6'1", Zimmerman is big for a guard and was the leader in Ivy League rebounding and scoring. Despite her college success, Zimmerman will have a tough time beating out the competition for the Lynx's limited roster space. 

The Minnesota Lynx began their training camp on April 29th. Coming off another championship season in 2017 (their fourth), they have kept their core five of Sylvia Fowles, Maya Moore, Rebekkah Brunson, Seimone Augustus, and Lindsey Whalen intact. Their offseason signings have added to their reserves, leaving few roster spots up for grabs. 

The Lynx currently have 17 players on their roster but will have to whittle this number down to 12 for the regular season. With a proven starting five and no first or second-round draft picks, Minnesota was not looking to develop young players in their 2018 training camp. Instead, the aim of the camp was to prepare the team to compete for back-to-back titles. In this article, we'll take a look at the Lynx's squad heading into another promising season. 

Seimone Augustus

At 34-years-old, Augustus isn't quite what she used to be. However, the seven-time All-Star is still an excellent player and has playoff experience galore. She has been crucial to each of the Lynx's four championship victory's and her excellent play and leadership are a big reason this team has become a dynasty. Augustus is a lock for a starting guard spot and will likely see plenty of minutes in her 13th season. 

Rebekkah Brunson

Brunson has been with the Lynx since 2010 and is the only player in WNBA to have won five titles. Even at 36-years-old, Brunson is still a threat in the paint due to her strength and size. Last year, it was her increased aggression in Game 5 of the WNBA Finals that turned the tide of the series for the Lynx. The four-time All-Star will be a starting forward in 2018 and will see no shortage of minutes. 

Temi Fagbenle

Though Fagbenle was a part of last year's championship team, she averaged just 4 minutes a game. However, the sophomore player should be a bit better this year after spending the offseason playing overseas. She may not be a lock to make the roster, but considering the Lynx's lack of depth in the frontcourt, she is still a likely candidate.

Sylvia Fowles

Fowles is coming off a dominant 2017 season, in which she was both regular season and Finals MVP. The four-time All-Star averaged an incredible 18.9 points, 10.4 rebounds and 1.9 blocks per game while shooting a career-high 65.5 percent. Her height and sheer power mean that few other players can contend with her on either end. Expect the center to play heavy minutes for the Lynx this year.

Alexis Jones

Although Jones didn't wow the crowd in her rookie season last year, she did show promise. Like her former teammate at Duke, Chelsea Gray, Jones shoots very well on three-pointers. However, she has yet to translate her scoring and distributing abilities from college to the WNBA. While she isn't guaranteed a spot on the regular season roster, there's a good chance that Jones will be in a Lynx uniform again this season. 

Lynetta Kizer

After losing Plenette Peterson to retirement, the Lynx signed Kizer in the offseason. She has played for five teams in eight years, and everywhere she went she proved herself to be a solid bench player. Kizer doesn't light up the scoreboard, but she's capable of putting up a consistent six points and three rebounds. With her steady, efficient production and experience, Kizer will no doubt make the Lynx's final roster. 

Endy Miyem

Miyem has not yet played in the WNBA, but she led France to a silver medal and fourth place finish in the last two Olympics. Miyem has averaged 10.8 points per game on 48.4 percent shooting with the Italian club Famila Schio. As a capable offensive player, Miyem is in the race to make one of the Lynx's final roster spots.

Maya Moore

At only 28-years-old, Moore is the most junior member of the Lynx's core five. She missed training camp because she was overseas winning yet another championship, but she will likely return for the Lynx's second preseason game on May 12th. A key player in each of Minnesota's four championships, Moore is an excellent scorer, defender, and distributor. Her athleticism and court vision make her the centerpiece of the Lynx's offense, so Moore will likely play big minutes this season. 

Danielle Robinson

The Lynx acquired Robinson this offseason from Phoenix in exchange for a first-round pick. After losing Renee Montgomery in free agency, Robinson will be a welcome addition to bolster Minnesota's backcourt. The veteran point guard has plenty of playoff experience with the now defunct San Antonio Stars and the Phoenix Mercury. There's no doubt that Robinson will make the final roster and will play decent minutes as a backup to Lindsey Whalen.

Carlie Wagner

The Lynx selected Minnesota Golden Gophers' guard Carlie Wagner with the final pick in the 2018 draft. Wagner finished her career with the Gophers as the third all-time leading scorer in the history of the school's women's basketball program. Despite her status as a hometown favorite, Wagner will be a long shot to make the final roster. 

Lindsey Whalen

Whalen affirmed her place as the face of basketball in Minnesota by accepting a job as head coach of Gopher's women's basketball. She'll have no shortage of activity this year as she intends to continue her playing career in the WNBA. At 35-years-old, her athleticism and point production have dropped off in the last few seasons, but her high basketball IQ and leadership abilities help to make up for it. Whalen has been with Minnesota through all four championship runs, and her experience and intelligence should prove valuable in the coming season. 

Tanisha Wright

Minnesota signed Wright to make up for the gaping hole left by Jia Perkins, who announced her retirement after the team's 2017 Finals victory. With career playoff averages of 10 points, 3.3 assists, and 3 rebounds, Wright is a welcome addition to the squad. In her thirteenth season, she has significant playoff experience and great court vision. A backup backcourt consisting of Wright and Robinson will be a formidable opponent for any team in the league. 

Cecilia Zandalasini

The Lynx signed Italian star Zandalashi back in August 2017. Though she played in just three games last year, Zandalashi is a good candidate to replace Natasha Howard, who was traded in the offseason. In FIBA Eurobasket 2017, Zandalashi made her explosive debut with 19 points and 9.6 rebounds per game. At just 22-years-old, her youth and athleticism will be a welcome addition for a team populated largely by older players. 

Camille Zimmerman

After going undrafted in 2018, Columbia University's Camille Zimmerman was signed by Minnesota. At 6'1", Zimmerman is big for a guard and was the leader in Ivy League rebounding and scoring. Despite her college success, Zimmerman will have a tough time beating out the competition for the Lynx's limited roster space. 

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