The Minnesota Lynx stand at a crossroads. Which path will they take?
With the WNBA Finals in its last week, the 2026 season is nearing a close. Soon will come Unrivaled and college basketball as the calendar never truly lets up for women's basketball. And along with it will come the WNBA offseason.
The Lynx find themselves with some big decisions looming over them. Some are in their hands to make, pointing the franchise in a specific direction. Will they lean into next year and hope to make a run at the championship that has eluded this group for the past few seasons? Or will they pivot to build something new and fresh around rookie phenom Olivia Miles?
Some decisions are outside of their hands. Napheesa Collier is an unrestricted free agent. Does she choose to remain with the only W franchise she has ever played for? Or does the recent MVP runner-up decide to try something new and join a different team for a different challenge?
Those decisions will impact not only this season of Lynx basketball, but many seasons to come.
Will the Lynx embrace a rebuild?
The best player on the Lynx for the last half-decade has been Napheesa Collier, a perennial All-Defense selection and a versatile scoring threat at all three levels. Offseason surgery kept her out to start the season, however, and she was passed by the explosion of rookie point guard Olivia Miles.
The fast start of Miles has placed her firmly at the center of their future plans; she is now the most important player in the organization. That doesn't make it obvious what Minnesota should now do, however. Is Miles good enough right now to push the chips in and try to win the championship next season? Or does her youth and contract make it smarter to move on from key veterans and build a younger roster around Miles to contend for years to come?
The Lynx started that process last season, as key players left in free agency or were selected in the expansion draft. Few players from their WNBA Finals team -- Jessica Shepard, Alanna Smith and Bridget Carleton played on new teams this season.
Do the Lynx continue retooling, potentially moving on from Courtney Williams and Kayla McBride for value? Or do they recruit another high-level starter to step in and play alongside Miles for a team that won the No. 1 seed despite Collier missing half the season?
What will Collier do?
Speaking of Collier, she has a decision to make that will influence how Minnesota moves forward. An unrestricted free agent, she has her choice of teams she could join.
If Collier remains with the Lynx, she would be accepting a role as the No. 2 to Miles in the team heirarchy. Is she ready to make that shift? It would come with a supermax deal, making tens of thousands more than the "max" deal she is eligible for signing with another team.
Teams would line up to sign Collier, expecting her to return to full form with a full offseason to get healthy. The Golden State Valkyries have long been mentioned as a suitor, given their need for an offensive star, their defensive identity, and Collier's ties to the area. Other teams such as the Phoenix Mercury and Indiana Fever could be looking for a power forward / center as well. The Houston Comets need a star to be the centerpiece of their new chapter. The Dallas Wings have two of her old teammates, but she would be accepting a similar complementary role to another rising star guard in Paige Bueckers.
Napheesa Collier has a decision to make. The Lynx have a direction to choose. When you have a second-year star like Olivia Miles, the future is bright. But currently, the future is also uncertain. This offseason will go a long ways to paving the road ahead for the Minnesota Lynx.
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