Balanced Lynx Attack Sets New WNBA Scoring Record

For the 2020 Minnesota Lynx, a big night could come from anyone.

The Lynx set a new WNBA scoring record with six players scoring 25-plus points in a game during a season, per Elias Sports. The previous record was five players, held by six different teams.

In her first career start, Bridget Carleton was the first Lynx to reach the 25-point mark on August 5 versus the New York Liberty. The Canadian international became just the third WNBA player to record 25-plus points and at least five rebounds in her first WNBA start.

The next game, on August 7, Lexie Brown went off for 27 points in a win over the Indiana Fever. Brown also recorded four steals in the victory.

In a loss to the Los Angeles Sparks on August 9, Crystal Dangerfield became the frontrunner in the WNBA’s Rookie of the Year race, scoring 29 points. Dangerfield’s eight performances of 20-plus points were the most for Lynx rookie since Seimone Augustus in 2006.

Napheesa Collier went reached the 25-point mark twice in 2020, scoring 26 points and 25 points in wins over New York and Los Angeles, respectively. Collier finished her second season with averages of 16.1 points, 9.0 rebounds, 3.3 assists, 1.82 steals, and 1.27 blocks per game. Per WBB Timeline, only Lisa Leslie (2006), Tamika Catchings (2007), and Candace Parker (2012, 2015) had previously recorded such averages in a single WNBA season.

On September 2, Damiris Dantas connected on five three-pointers to reach a career-high of 29 points in a win over the Chicago Sky. Dantas finished the 2020 season with seven consecutive games of double-figure scoring.

In Saturday’s season finale, Rachel Banham nailed seven three-point field goals to reach a career-high of 29 points in a win over the Indiana Fever. Banham also tallied a career-high of 10 assists in the victory.

Perhaps the most surprising part of the Lynx record is that none of the team’s highest scoring performances include either Sylvia Fowles or Odyssey Sims: two WNBA All-Stars who are proven scorers that can put it up big number on any given night in the W. Both veterans will be counted on to be focal points in the Minnesota offense in the postseason.