‘At all times, we need her’ — Seimone Augustus playing unique role on youthful Lynx roster
By Ben Rosof
Seimone Augustus, vital member of the Lynx, as ever
Asked how she’s feeling following her team’s 89-73 victory in New York on Tuesday night, Minnesota Lynx guard and 14-year veteran Seimone Augustus sighed, heavy bags of ice strapped to her knees.
“Shit, I’m moving well,” she said. Just a few games into her personal 2019 season, she’s still finding her rhythm on the court. “Obviously, this is my fourth game back, so it takes a little time to get into a flow, but my legs feel better.”
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Augustus, who’s been with the franchise since it drafted her first overall in 2006, has spent the majority of the season recovering from offseason knee surgery she underwent in early June. In the four games she’s played this year, she’s averaged only 15 minutes and 5.3 points per contest. For somebody that’s averaged 30 minutes every night over her career, that load has obviously been reduced and remains a game-to-game decision as she re-acclimates herself to WNBA competition.
“[Augustus’] minutes are determined by her quality of play, so she restricts her own minutes,” Lynx coach Cheryl Reeve said with a smile.
Although she was unable to provide her normal scoring while sidelined — she sports a career 16.2 point per game average — those around her have felt her presence in other ways. She’s spent significant time traveling with the team to road games and cheering on her teammates from the bench. Asked if it was frustrating to watch the team battle through its first 21 games without her, Augustus acknowledged that it’s difficult, but emphasized the positives.
“These situations happen for a reason so early in the season, it was meant for them to grow,” she said, motioning towards other players moving about the locker room. “It was a great opportunity for us to kind of mature.”
Additionally, Reeve has raved about the role Augustus played on the team when she wasn’t able to play, and has emphasized that her contributions to the Lynx aren’t restricted to effectiveness during games — her personality is vibrant and engaging. During pregame warmups in New York, she was sitting on the team bench, surrounded by teammates on either side. She kept angling her head in alternating directions to talk, and laugh, with both.
“Everybody loves being around Seimone. She’s funny, she’s engaging, she’s talented, she has so much to offer, advice as a veteran,” Reeve said on Tuesday. “It’s been fun to see her embrace that role.”
Minnesota has experienced significant roster turnover from when it won four championships since 2011 — only three players remain on the current team from when the Lynx won it all in 2017. That team contained veterans such as Lindsay Whalen, who now coaches at the University of Minnesota, and Maya Moore, who’s taking the year off from the league to focus on family and ministry. This year’s players average just 4.4 years of WNBA experience.
Napheesa Collier, although maybe not necessarily a surprise, has experienced an impressive rookie season, one that earned her an All-Star bid and a large amount of Augustus’ attention. When asked what’s worked for Collier so quickly at this level, Augustus lit up.
“That’s my ROY, Rookie of the Year, man!” Augustus exclaimed. “A lot of rookies come in, and it takes them a minute to get accustomed to professional basketball… the speed of the game is a lot faster, the three-point line is further back, but she’s adjusted great. She’s been a great teammate, and she’s been putting up great numbers.”
The respect is clearly mutual, as Collier raved about the leadership that Augustus not only provided during her time on the bench at the beginning of the season, but in uniform and in the lineup for the past couple weeks as well.
“It’s been awesome learning from [Augustus],” Collier said. “Having her on the court now… she can see things that maybe we don’t, and her jump shot is crazy. She has that experience and she makes things better.”
Augustus has started every regular-season game she’s played in her career, but while injured, the Lynx were forced to get creative with their backcourt. Reeve called upon Danielle Robinson and Odyssey Sims to fill the void left by Augustus and Whalen, and both have thrived. Sims was even named to her first all-star selection of her career.
“People just kind of blossom,” Augustus said, referring to Sims. “Odyssey’s in a position where she can show off her talent… and she’s been doing an amazing job of running this team, being effective on the court, and then defensively is always where she’s most impactful, just guarding the other team’s best player and getting her hands on the ball.”
Robinson, whose spot in the starting lineup was given to Augustus upon her return, is averaging nearly ten more minutes and four more points per game than last season, her first in Minnesota. Robinson spent her first five seasons in the WNBA with the then-San Antonio Stars before one year in Phoenix, starting all but three games after her rookie season. She only started two games last year. A similarity that Robinson noted during her two years in Minnesota is having Augustus on her side.
“Seimone is one of the best people I know,” Robinson said. “Seeing her when I was playing on other teams, you’re seeing the charisma she brings, you see the humor all of that. To be on her team… it’s been an honor. Obviously she’s a legend, such a great player, such a great mind. At the end of the day, she’s going to ride with her teammates.”
The Lynx, at 13-12, have only nine more regular-season opportunities for Augustus to prepare herself for a potential postseason run. They currently sit in sole possession of seventh place in the league standings, so they would make the playoffs if the season ended today. Whether or not the veteran returns to her peak form by Game 34 may not matter, not simply because of the ability of the rest of the roster to compensate — the Lynx handily beat the Liberty with Augustus scoring just 2 — but because of how her general presence is appreciated on its own.
“I told Seimone that no matter how she’s feeling, up, down, hype, not hype, at all times, we need her, and that’s a big responsibility,” said Reeve.
As Augustus continued to ice her knees after the game, she was one of the few players not standing up in the locker room, socializing with friends and coaches. Though not in the midst of the social cluster, her teammates knew exactly where Seimone Augustus was.
“She’s such a great teammate, but an even better person,” Robinson said, glancing over towards Augustus.
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