Minnesota Lynx
| Minnesota Lynx | ||
|---|---|---|
| founding | 1998 | |
| history |
Minnesota Lynx since 1999 |
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| Stadion | Target Center | |
| Location | Minneapolis , Minnesota | |
| Club colors | blue, green, white and silver-colored | |
| league | WNBA | |
| Conference | Western Conference | |
| Head coach | Cheryl Reeve | |
| General manager | Roger Griffith | |
| owner | Glen A. Taylor | |
| Championships | 2011 , 2013 , 2015 , 2017 | |
| Conference title | 2011 , 2012 , 2013 , 2015 , 2016 *, 2017 * (* after regular season) | |
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The Minnesota Lynx are an American women's basketball team of the Women's National Basketball Association based in Minneapolis , Minnesota . The Lynx are the sister team to the Minnesota Timberwolves in the National Basketball Association . The Minnesota team is the most successful active franchise in the WNBA with four title wins. The team name comes from the English word for lynx .
The team plays its home games at the Target Center in Minneapolis , Minnesota .
history
In April 1998, the WNBA announced that a new franchise would be set up in Minneapolis , which will play in the WNBA as early as the 1999 season . Brian Agler has been named the Minnesota Lynx's first head coach. On April 6, 1999, an expansion draft took place for the Miracle and Lynx , where each team could select four players from eight WNBA teams in a certain order.
The long wait for success (1999 to 2010)
The Lynx started their first season as planned in 1999. In their first game of the season they met the Detroit Shock at the Target Center , which the Lynx won 68-51. The Lynx were able to win 15 of 32 games in their first WNBA season, but clearly missed the playoffs. The Lynx home games were attended by an average of 10,000 spectators per game.
Since the Lynx could not improve in the two following seasons, Agler was released during the 2002 season . Heidi VanDerveer took over Agler's post for the rest of the season. For the 2003 season , Suzie McConnell-Serio was appointed the new head coach of the Lynx. In her first season as head coach she was able to win 18 of 34 games with the Lynx and even reached the playoffs with the Lynx. In the playoffs, the Lynx failed narrowly to the Los Angeles Sparks with 1: 2 after games. In the 2004 season , the Lynx were able to win 18 of 34 games again and qualified for the second time in a row for the playoffs, where they clearly failed in the Conference semifinals 2-0 to the Seattle Storm .
After two relatively successful seasons in the WNBA, Katie Smith , who was the best player in the Lynx at the time, was transferred to the Detroit Shock. The Lynx lost most of their games in the 2005 season without Smith. However, the poor performance this season helped them secure their first pick in the 2006 WNBA Draft . The Lynx chose Seimone Augustus from Louisiana State University in the draft .
Although Augustus played a good first WNBA season, the Lynx could not convince in the 2006 season . After the Lynx lost 15 of 23 games, Suzie McConnell-Serio announced her retirement as the Lynx's head coach on July 23. Serio has been replaced by Carolyn Jenkins . The Lynx won only two of the remaining eleven games of the season under Jenkins. So this season was the Lynx's worst to date. At the end of that season, Augustus was named WNBA Rookie of the Year . Augustus is after Betty Lennox , the second Lynx player to receive this award.
On December 13, 2006, the Lynx appointed Don Zierden as the fifth head coach of the Lynx. On April 4th, the WNBA Draft 2007 took place. The Lynx chose Noelle Quinn in the first round . On the same day, the Lynx transferred Tangela Smith, selected by the Lynx in the Dispersal Draft , to the Phoenix Mercury for Lindsey Harding , who was selected by the Mercury first in the draft on that day. The Lynx lost their first seven games in the 2007 season . In July, the Lynx even lost ten games in a row. The Lynx ended this like the previous season with 10 wins from a total of 34 games.
The following seasons from 2008 to 2010 also ended for the Lynx without a playoff participation.
The successful years (since 2011)
After the Lxny reached the playoffs only twice in the first twelve seasons and failed there in the first round, a lot changed in the 2011 season . After the team had two top 4 picks in both the 2010 and 2011 drafts, the team's potential could be increased significantly. This was already evident in the 2011 regular season, in which the Lxny were able to more than double the number of wins and thus for the first time were able to move into the playoffs as the best team in the Western Conference. The first opponent there were the San Antonis Silver Stars against whom the club's first success in a playoff series could be achieved. After the success against the Phoenix Mercury, the team reaches the WNBA finals for the first time. There the Atlanta Dream could be defeated 3-0 without major problems and thus the first WNBA title for the Lynx could be secured.
For a long time, the 2012 season was identical to the previous one. The Lynx were again the best team in the west with 27: 7 successes. The successes could also be repeated in the conference semifinals and finals. But this time the title could not be won again after losing 3-1 to the Indiana Fever in the WNBA Finals.
Also in the 2013 season , the Lynx was the best team in the west even if only 26 games could be won in the regular season. In the playoffs, however, the performances were even better. With clear successes against the teams from Seattle, Phoenix and Atlanta, the Lynx celebrated the second WNBA championship. No playoff game was lost on the way to the title and the team was the second in WNBA history to achieve this with a 7-0 record.
In the 2014 season, only second place behind the Phoenix Mercury in the Western Conference could be won in the regular season. After the success in the first playoff round against the San Antonio, the team from Phoenix was also stronger in the playoffs and the Lynx lost a playoff series against a team from their own conference for the first time in ten years.
Although you could win fewer games in the regular season in the 2015 season, you were again the best team in the west. After successes in the playoff series against Tulsa, Phoenix and Indiana, the team was able to achieve the third WNBA title in 2015. This makes the Lynx, along with the Mercury, one of the most successful remaining teams in the WNBA.
In 2016 the team again reached the playoffs with the best record of the Western Conference. The team achieved the best season record in the history of the team with 28: 6 wins. After a bye in the first two rounds of the new playoff system , the team prevailed in the semi-finals without defeat against the Phoenix Mercury team . In the WNBA finals you met the team from Los Angeles. In a very exciting series, they were narrowly defeated by the Los Angeles Sparks team . The decision was only made in the final seconds of the crucial fifth game of the final series. Thus, the Lynx did not win a championship again in an even year.
In 2017 , the team again reached the playoffs with the best record of the Western Conference. The team achieved the best record of all WNBA teams with 27: 7 wins. After a bye in the first two rounds of the new playoff system, the team prevailed in the semi-finals without defeat against the Washington Mystics team . In the WNBA Finals you met the team from Los Angeles again. In a very exciting series, they narrowly defeated the Los Angeles Sparks team this time . The decision was made in the decisive fifth game of the final series. Thus, the Lynx managed to win the championship for the fourth time in a row in an odd year.
In the regular 2018 season it was not possible to build on the good results of previous years. The playoffs were reached anyway. There the season ended prematurely after a defeat in the first round against long-time rivals from Los Angeles. Thus, the Lynx did not win a championship this time in an even year. The 2019 season was almost exactly like the previous one. With again 18 wins, the playoffs were reached, which ended in the first round for the team. This time you failed on the Seattle Storm team . Thus the series ended with championship wins in the odd years.
Venue
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The Minnesota Lynx have played their home games at the Target Center in Minneapolis since their inception . The Target Center is currently also home to the Minnesota Timberwolves NBA team .
Audience numbers
With the exception of a positive founding season, the Lynx audience numbers were for many seasons, sometimes even well, below the WNBA average. With the sporting success also increased the number of viewers in Minneapolis. In the 2011 season , which brought the first playoff participation in a long time and ended with the first WNBA title, the league cut was exceeded for the first time after the founding season. This has not changed with the continuation of the success and the Lynx currently have the second best audience average of all WNBA teams several times. In 2017, the Lynx were again able to achieve a five-figure average attendance and only just missed the best value of the debut season. From 2018 onwards, the audience's popularity decreased slightly with no success, but it was still one of the best in the WNBA.
Achievements and honors
Sporting successes
After many unsuccessful years, the Lynx won the WNBA championship in the 2011 , 2013 , 2015 and 2017 seasons and lost WNBA finals in 2012 and 2016 . No team has won more titles in the WNBA, only the no longer existing Houston Comets have also been successful four times. In the years of the finals participation, the Lynx were also the best team of the regular season in the Western Conference.
Individual awards
Similar to the team successes, the individual awards in the first seasons of the Lynx were rather rare. Only with the success of the team did more individual awards go to Minneapolis.
Finals MVP Award : The Lynx won the championship in 2011, 2013, 2015 and 2017, and as usual, the award for player in the WNBA Finals went to the winning team. In contrast to other series winners, the award did not always go to the same player.
- 2011 - Seimone Augustus
- 2013 - Maya Moore
- 2015 - Sylvia Fowles
- 2017 - Sylvia Fowles
Most Valuable Player Award : So far, two Lynx players have won this important award.
Defensive Player of the Year Award : The award for the best female defensive player in the league went to Minnesota for the first time after the 2016 season.
Rookie of the Year Award : Betty Lennox was the first player on the team to receive an individual award. Overall, the award for the best newcomer has already gone to Minneapolis four times.
Peak Performer : The awards for the best statistical values have been awarded four times to Lynx players. The team was successful at least once in all three current areas.
- 2011 - Lindsay Whalen (Assists)
- 2012 - Lindsay Whalen (Assists)
- 2014 - Maya Moore (points)
- 2018 - Sylvia Fowles (Rebounds)
Kim Perrot Sportsmanship Award : One of the team's players, Teresa Edwards, has been honored once for her good sporting behavior.
Coach of the Year Award : The award for the best regular season coach has gone to Minnesota three times so far. Cheryl Reeve was twice successful.
- 2004 - Suzie McConnell-Serio
- 2011 - Cheryl Reeve
- 2016 - Cheryl Reeve
Sixth Woman of the Year Award : In 2008, Candice Wiggins was the first Lynx player to receive this award as the best supplementary player of the season.
Executive of the Year Award : This award has been given to the best team boss of the regular season since the 2017 season and this went to Minnesota for the first time in 2019.
Season overview
Abbreviations: Sp. = Games, S = victories, N = defeats
| season | Sp. | S. | N | Wins in% | space | Play-offs |
| 1999 | 32 | 15th | 17th | 46.9 | 5th, Western Conference | not qualified |
| 2000 | 32 | 15th | 17th | 46.9 | 6th, Western Conference | not qualified |
| 2001 | 32 | 12 | 20th | 37.5 | 6th, Western Conference | not qualified |
| 2002 | 32 | 10 | 22nd | 31.3 | 8th, Western Conference | not qualified |
| 2003 | 34 | 18th | 16 | 52.9 | 4th, Western Conference | Conference semifinals lost, 2-1 ( Los Angeles Sparks ) |
| 2004 | 34 | 18th | 16 | 52.9 | 3rd, Western Conference | Conference semifinals lost, 2-0 ( Seattle Storm ) |
| 2005 | 34 | 14th | 20th | 41.2 | 6th, Western Conference | not qualified |
| 2006 | 34 | 10 | 24 | 29.4 | 7th, Western Conference | not qualified |
| 2007 | 34 | 10 | 24 | 29.4 | 6th, Western Conference | not qualified |
| 2008 | 34 | 16 | 18th | 47.1 | 6th, Western Conference | not qualified |
| 2009 | 34 | 14th | 20th | 41.2 | 5th, Western Conference | not qualified |
| 2010 | 34 | 13 | 21st | 38.2 | 5th, Western Conference | not qualified |
| 2011 | 34 | 27 | 7th | 79.4 | 1st, Western Conference | Victory in the Conference Semifinals, 2-1 ( San Antonio Silver Stars ) Victory in the Conference Finals, 2-0 ( Phoenix Mercury ) WNBA champions , 3-0 ( Atlanta Dream ) |
| 2012 | 34 | 27 | 7th | 79.4 | 1st, Western Conference | Victory in the Conference Semifinals, 2-1 ( Seattle Storm ) victory in the Conference Finals, 2-0 ( Los Angeles Sparks ) defeat in the WNBA Finals, 1-3 ( Indiana Fever ) |
| 2013 | 34 | 26th | 8th | 76.5 | 1st, Western Conference | Conference semifinals win, 2-0 ( Seattle Storm ) Conference finals win, 2-0 ( Phoenix Mercury ) WNBA champions , 3-0 ( Atlanta Dream ) |
| 2014 | 34 | 25th | 9 | 73.5 | 2nd, Western Conference | Victory in the Conference Semifinals, 2-0 ( San Antonio Stars ) Defeat in the Conference Finals, 1: 2 ( Phoenix Mercury ) |
| 2015 | 34 | 22nd | 12 | 64.7 | 1st, Western Conference | Victory in the Conference Semifinals, 2-0 ( Tulsa Shock ) victory in the Conference Finals, 2-0 ( Phoenix Mercury ) WNBA champions , 3-2 ( Indiana Fever ) |
| 2016 | 34 | 28 | 6th | 82.4 | 1st, Western Conference | Victory in the WNBA semifinals, 3-0 ( Phoenix Mercury ), loss in the WNBA finals, 2: 3 ( Los Angeles Sparks ) |
| 2017 | 34 | 27 | 7th | 79.4 | 1st, Western Conference | WNBA semifinals win, 3-0 ( Washington Mystics ) WNBA champions , 3-2 ( Los Angeles Sparks ) |
| 2018 | 34 | 18th | 16 | 52.9 | 4th, Western Conference | 1st round loss, 0-1 ( Los Angeles Sparks ) |
| 2019 | 34 | 18th | 16 | 52.9 | 4th, Western Conference | 1st round loss, 0-1 ( Seattle Storm ) |
| total | 706 | 383 | 323 | 54.2 | 11 playoff appearances in 21 seasons 22 series: 15 wins, 7 losses 62 games: 41 wins, 21 losses (66.1%) |
Trainer
| Surname | season | Regular season | Playoffs | ||||
| GC | W. | L. | GC | W. | L. | ||
| Brian Agler | 1999 to 2002 | 96 | 33 | 63 | - | - | - |
| Heidi VanDerveer | 2002 | 13 | 4th | 9 | - | - | - |
| Suzie McConnell-Serio | 2003 to 2006 | 125 | 58 | 67 | 5 | 1 | 4th |
| Carolyn Jenkins | 2006 | 11 | 2 | 9 | - | - | - |
| Don ornaments | 2007 to 2008 | 68 | 26th | 42 | - | - | - |
| Jennifer Gillom | 2009 | 34 | 14th | 20th | - | - | - |
| Cheryl Reeve | since 2010 | 68 | 40 | 28 | 8th | 7th | 1 |
Brian Agler was the first head coach in Lynx history. As the Lynx under Agler could hardly make any progress in terms of sport, he was dismissed and Heidi VanDerveer took over the position of head coach for the remaining 13 games. In 2003 Suzie McConnell-Serio took over the coaching position. Under the leadership of McConnell-Serio, the Lynx not only ended the regular season for the first time with a positive balance, but also reached the playoffs for the first time in their history. McConnell-Serio was able to repeat this success in 2004. After the team's sporting successes decreased again from 2005 onwards, McConnell-Serio was finally dismissed in 2006 and Carolyn Jenkins took over the coaching position on an interim basis. Even under Don Zierden , head coach from 2007 to 2008, and under Jennifer Gillom , head coach in 2009, the playoffs could not be reached. Cheryl Reeve has been looking after the team since 2010 . After a moderate 2010 season, the Lynx, led by Reeve, ended the 2011 season with 27 wins in 34 games with the best record in the entire league. In the playoffs, the Lynx lost only one game (Conference Semifinals against the San Antonio Silver Stars ), which Reeve led the Lynx to the first title of the franchise. At the end of the season, Reeve received the Coach of the Year Award for her outstanding performance .
Players
Squad of the 2017 season
As of September 11, 2017
| No. | country | Surname | position | Date of birth | Experience in WNBA |
college |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3 |
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Natasha Howard | Forward | 09/02/1991 | 3 seasons | Florida State University |
| 7th |
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Jia Perkins | Guard | 02/23/1982 | 13 seasons | Texas Tech University |
| 9 |
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Cecilia Zandalasini | Forward | March 16, 1996 | Rookie | - |
| 12 |
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Alexis Jones | Guard | 05/08/1994 | Rookie | Baylor University |
| 13 |
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Lindsay Whalen | Guard | 05/09/1982 | 13 seasons | University of Minnesota |
| 14th |
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Temi Fagbenle | center | 09/08/1992 | Rookie | - |
| 21st |
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Renee Montgomery | Guard | 12/02/1986 | 8 seasons | University of Connecticut |
| 22nd |
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Plenette Pierson | Forward | 08/31/1981 | 14 seasons | Texas Tech University |
| 23 |
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Maya Moore | Forward | 06/11/1989 | 6 seasons | University of Connecticut |
| 32 |
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Rebekkah Brunson | Forward | 12/11/1981 | 13 seasons | Georgetown University |
| 33 |
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Seimone Augustus | Guard-Forward | 04/30/1984 | 11 seasons | Louisiana State University |
| 34 |
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Sylvia Fowles | center | 06.10.1985 | 9 seasons | Louisiana State University |
Well-known former players
(Team membership and position in brackets)
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First-round voting rights in the WNBA Draft
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Since 1999, the club had 24 draft rights in the first round of the WNBA draft in 19 seasons . In 2003 , 2015 and 2016 , the Lynx did not have a first-round draft pick due to trades. In the meantime, two players have been selected six times in the first round of the draft. In the 2000 draft , three players could even be selected in the first round. This was unique in the WNBA until the WNBA Draft 2017 , in 2017 the Dallas Wings also had three options.
The fact that the Lynx have regularly made good selection decisions in recent years shows not only the team successes but also that a total of three players received the award as the best newcomer of the year in the WNBA. In addition to the two top draft picks Seimone Augustus (2006) and Maya Moore (2012), who fulfilled the expectations placed in them, this was also Betty Lennox after the 2000 season .
In the 2017 season , Seimone Augustus , Renee Montgomery , Maya Moore and Alexis Jones were four players selected by the team in the first round of the draft.
Web links
- The Lynx website (English)
Individual evidence
- ^ Minnesota Lynx Draft History. WNBA, accessed May 30, 2017 .
- ^ All-Time WNBA Draft Picks. WNBA, accessed November 30, 2016 .