Aside from the Liberty, the Minnesota Lynx are one of the WNBA teams with the most to lose during tonight's Expansion Draft. While it's extremely likely the team will choose to protect its starting 5, there are at least three players who could fill the sixth and final protected spot — and the team can only choose one.
It will be important for the Lynx to think in the short and the long-term when it comes to their protected six. Here's who we think the Minnesota Lynx will protect:
Napheesa Collier
To be honest, it's silly to even pretend that Collier is going anywhere, so we aren't about to. Phee is the star of the Lynx and for good reason: she led the team in points, rebounds, and steals per game last season and won Defensive Player of the Year. Is there a Lynx without her? I don't think so.
Courtney Williams
Williams came out of the Finals as a true star after giving the team a solid season throughout the 2024 run. She's a true and blue member of the starting five and an invaluable part of what makes the Lynx the Lynx. She's safe!
Kayla McBride
McBride is easily the second-best player on the team. In nearly 40 games played in 2024, she was the second-leading scorer and had monster games throughout the team's playoffs run. She's also an incredible defender and a necessary part of the 2025 team.
Alanna Smith
Smith departed the Chicago Sky for the Lynx after 2023's season and seems to be right at home. She averaged a very solid 10.1 points per game during the regular season and the Lynx have no reason to not protect her — she has plenty to bring to the team in 2025.
Bridget Carlton
Carlton rounds out the starting 5 and is also a crucial component of the Collier-Williams-Carlton trifecta. She averaged 9.6 points per game throughout the 2024 season and 9.3 in the postseason.
Dorka Juhasz
Outside of the starting 5, there are three players the Lynx will likely have to decide between: Diamond Miller, Alissa Pili, and Dorka Juhasz. It's a tough call because Pili and Miller were drafted high by the team, but at the end of the day, Juhasz contributed the most to the Lynx througout this year's season. She didn't have the strongest playoffs, but there's room to grow.