The Minnesota Lynx didn’t make many changes this offseason. Adding Jessica Shephard and Karlie Samuelson were the most significant moves the team made. Both have been good off the bench for Minnesota.
Having such solid bench players has been a strength for Minnesota all season long. That strength just took a major hit. Karlie Samuelson will have to undergo surgery for an ankle injury she suffered against the Connecticut Sun in late June and will miss the rest of the season.
With Samuelson out, the Lynx will need one of their young players to step up. The Lynx only have three players under 25 on the roster: Diamond Miller, Alissa Pili, and Anastasiia Kosu. All three haven’t played much yet this season but Miller has shown flashes of her potential. She is the most obvious answer to the Lynx’s new bench problem.
Diamond Miller hasn’t earned Cheryl Reeve’s full trust yet
Diamond Miller first joined the Lynx as the second overall pick in the 2023 WNBA Draft. She played well in her first season, averaging 12.1 points, 3.5 rebounds, and 2.5 assists. Then, injuries slowed down her second season in the WNBA, and she found herself at the end of Cheryl Reeve’s bench in her third season.
Miller has only played ten or more minutes six times this season. She’s also had a lot of games in which she didn’t produce much. At the same time, however, she put together a couple of impressive games. In the Lynx’s season opener, she scored 13 points against the Wings on 80 percent shooting from the field. About a month later, she scored 12 points in 14 minutes in a 76-62 win over the Las Vegas Aces.
With Samuelson out, Reeve may have no other choice but to give Miller more minutes. Miller must respond with consistent performances to truly earn Reeve’s trust and help her team win.
It’s time for Miller to step into a bigger role
Being a high draft pick doesn’t carry the same weight in the WNBA as it does in other leagues, especially when you play for a big-time contender. Nevertheless, it is time for Miller to remind people why she was a top pick and take on a bigger role.
The Lynx don’t need her to turn into a star overnight. What they need is some reliable defense and scoring off the bench. Miller has everything it takes to fill that role well. She has great size and athleticism and is a dynamic scorer. Her performance against the Las Vegas Aces proved that more than anything.
Unless the Lynx make a trade—Marina Mabrey was an interesting target during the offseason—Miller will have to give her team more of that.