Ahead of the Minnesota Lynx making their 2020 debut against the Connecticut Sun, several players provided LynxBasketball.com with answers to a lengthy list of insightful questions for Lynx fans enjoyment.

Why did you choose your number?

Rachel Banham: No. 1 was taken already, so I went with 15 because it was my high school number and my birthday!

Bridget Carleton: 6 is the same number I wear with Team Canada!

Kayla Alexander: There is no special significance. In high school the largest number was 40. With team Canada I wear 14, I wanted to switch to 14 in college but it was taken. So I stuck with 40 and have been ever since.

Lexie Brown: My dad wore it in college.

Crystal Dangerfield: I didn’t have a specific reason for picking No. 2.

Napheesa Collier: Kobe.

Shenise Johnson: I chose No. 42 because, growing up my sister (Shawntalae Johnson) was No. 32. She was my toughest opponent and I always wanted to be 10x better than her so I chose a number that stated just that!

Megan Huff: 5 is my favorite number.

Sylvia Fowles: First number ever giving to me by my coach.

What was your first impression of Coach Reeve?

Banham: She was a bit intimidating but also hilarious.

Carleton: Intense.

Alexander: First impression was how accomplished and what a wealth of knowledge she has. After getting to know her personally, her attention to detail, her bluntness, witty humor, passion and how caring she is.

Brown: She scared me 😂😂😂😂

Dangerfield: She’s very passionate about basketball.

Collier: Someone you want to play hard for, and she’s easy to talk to.

Johnson: My first impression of Reeve was that she was genuine and tough as sh@$.

Huff: A very personable woman, disciplined but fun to be around.

Fowles: She’s madd petty.

What are you most excited for this season?

Banham: I’m excited to play with my new teammates and wear the Lynx jersey, and represent my home state!

Carleton: Taking advantage of being in close proximity to each other for team bonding and seeing it translate onto the court.

Alexander: Competing with my teammates in what will be a very different WNBA season. Also the messaging the league is dedicated to surrounding social and racial issues, and how we can hopefully do our part to create change and have a lasting positive impact.

Brown: Everyone’s growth and our growth as a team over time.

Dangerfield: Competing against the best of the best.

Collier: Playing with my new teammates and seeing how everyone does under the weird circumstances we’re in.

Johnson: I’m most excited to be back on the floor this season competing at the highest level in the world!

Huff: We have some really amazing personalities on this team and I can’t wait to go through the ups and the downs of this season with some amazing women.

Fowles: Playing with all the new faces we have on our team.

Favorite thing about Minnesota?

Banham: The beautiful lakes and the city of Minneapolis.

Carleton: I love the city of Minneapolis and an added bonus for me is how close it is to my alma mater, Iowa State.

Alexander: Haven’t been able to explore Minny like that, so I will have to go with the people within the Lynx Organization.

Brown: The fans.

Dangerfield: The support shown to its sports teams.

Collier: Cheese curds!! New favorite food.

Johnson: Although I haven’t spent much time in Minnesota, my favorite thing so far would be the food options. I’m a huge foodie.

Huff: Minnesota is a beautiful place, and all of the amazing resources the Lynx have.

Fowles: Nature (trees), parks, lakes.

What’s your favorite basketball memory?

Banham: Winning a state championship my junior year of high school and going 32-0.

Carleton: Getting drafted and/or helping Team Canada qualify for the Olympics this year!

Alexander: Helping team Canada qualify for the Olympics. I had faced a lot of adversity to get to that point, so this experience was a literal dream come true.

Brown: Making it to my first Final Four.

Dangerfield: It’s hard to pinpoint one specific memory, so I’m fast forwarding a little for when we play our first game this season.

Collier: Winning a national championship.

Johnson: My favorite basketball memory thus far is in 2015 game 5 vs the Minnesota Lynx. I remember standing for the national anthem crying right before the game because the arena was packed (sold-out if my memory serves me correct) and everyone in sports was talking about this competitive series. My dreams were finally a reality. I was present, living in the moment! Nothing like that feeling!

Huff: Going to the NCAA tournament my sophomore year

Fowles: Winning 2 championships.

Who’s your favorite Lynx teammate?

Banham: Bridget and Phee!

Carleton: Don’t have a favourite (Editor’s note: Bridget is Canadian, so we’ll let it slide), we have a really good group that’s fun to be around.

Alexander: All of them.

Brown: I love everyone equally!

Dangerfield: Napheesa, but I’m biased 😅. Syl is up there too though  lol

Collier: Mama Syl.

Johnson: It’s hard to name just one of my favorite teammates! Probably Karima Christmas-Kelly

Huff: All of them.

Fowles: All of them.

Who’s the funniest Lynx teammate?

Banham: Phee!

Carleton: Rachel or Phee.

Alexander: Have you met personalities on this team? Lol, can’t chose just one.

Brown: Rachel

Dangerfield: A tie between Moe and Rachel.

Collier: Rachel Banham.

Johnson: Karima/Rachel

Huff: Rachel.

Fowles: Money Mone and Lindsay (Editor’s note: Syl’s been around a while.)

Do you have a pet? If so, what kind of animal is it and what’s its name?

Banham: I have a dog. He’s a German Shepard mix. His name is Kobe.

Carleton: No pets.

Alexander: No but one day I hope to have a pet dog, probably a black lab.

Brown: Kodak. He’s my little puppy.

Dangerfield: No pets.

Collier: Yes! Luna she’s a dog, a Maltese mix.

Johnson: No pets.

Huff: I have two family dogs Bella and Maggie.

Fowles: 2 dogs (Yorkies) by the name of Tootie and Poppi.

If you had one message for Lynx fans, what would it be?

Banham: Thanks for being such incredible fans and supporting women’s basketball. We love all of you!

Carleton: We are disappointed we won’t be playing in the Target Center in front of the best fans in the league but we hope you are just as excited as us to get this season going!

Alexander: Thanks for your continued support especially with this unique season we are having here in the Florida bubble.

Brown: Kodak. You show us so much love always. It’s noticed and appreciated. Can’t wait to get back into Target Center!

Dangerfield: I couldn’t wait to play in front of everyone at the target center this season! I hope the same energy we would’ve received there is the same everyone has watching us on tv.

Collier: We need you this year! Keep being awesome on social media and tune into our games on tv. Can’t wait to get back to you guys next season.

Johnson: Thank you for your continued support, especially during the pandemic! I’m so excited to be a part of this organization and for the first time ever, every single game will be televised! Without you, we can’t do what we love. You are appreciated!🙏🏾

Huff: Get ready for a exciting season!

Fowles: Thank you all for the love/support and I can wait to see you all back at Target center.

Favorite hobby outside of basketball?

Banham: Watching Netflix and Hulu

Carleton: Hanging out with family, preferably by the pool or on the beach.

Alexander: Anything that allows me to be creative, so drawing, writing, reading, etc

Brown: Making vlogs.

Dangerfield: Finding new activities to try for the first time.

Collier: Reading.

Johnson: House shopping, or anything on the HGTV network(fixer upper, property brothers).

Huff: Drawing.

Fowles: Sleeping.

Favorite TV show?

Banham: The Office and Law and Order SVU

Carleton: Grey’s Anatomy

Alexander: I don’t have a favorite but I am currently hooked on The Office. Decided to see what all the hype was about, and now I am hooked.

Brown: The Office

Dangerfield: My favorite TV show is The Office.

Collier: Game of Thrones

Johnson: The Chi and  ATL (Childish Gambino’s show)

Huff: Criminal Minds

Fowles: Golden Girls and M.A.S.H.

Favorite movie?

Banham: Glory Road and Bridesmaids

Carleton: Step Brothers

Alexander: Don’t have a favorite, so many good movies out there. I enjoyed the Avengers, Coach Carter, Unconditional, Contagion, Jaws, etc. If you ask me this question tomorrow I’ll have a completely different list for you.

Brown: Mean Girls

Dangerfield: My favorite movies are the Harry Potter series.

Collier: The Help

Johnson: Girls Trip with Queen Latifah, Jada Pinkett Smith, Regina Hall, and Tiffany Haddish.

Huff: White Chicks

Fowles: Poetic Justice

Favorite musical artist?

Banham: Boyz II Men. (I know they are a group but I love them!!!)

Carleton: Drake! Oh Canada.

Alexander: Don’t have a favorite, so many talented artists out there. I am currently enjoying Chloe and Halle new album.

Brown: Drake

Dangerfield: Lil Baby

Collier: H. E. R.

Johnson: Ari Lennox/Erykah Badu/Drake

Huff: Lil Baby

Fowles: Too many great artists just to choose one.

What skill/hobby did you pick up during quarantine?

Banham: I became really good at card/board games!

Carleton: I learned how to braid my own hair!

Alexander: I taught myself how to create simple/ short animations using the Procreate App on my iPad Pro!

Brown: Making TikToks

Dangerfield: Photography

Collier: Keyboard

Johnson: One skill I picked during quarantine is learning how to cook. I spent time with my mother and grandmother in the kitchen. I still need some work but the time spent was invaluable.

Huff: Yoga and painting

Fowles: None, as of yet but I want to start baking.

Other than clothes/basketball gear, what did you HAVE to bring to Bradenton?

Banham: My purple pillow. I’ve had it since 4th grade and it looks like a rag now but I don’t go anywhere without it.

Carleton: Sunscreen!!

Alexander:

– iPad Pro and Apple Pencil
– Journal and books
– Laptop
– Playing cards
– Not listing necessities like toiletries…

Brown: Bathing suits!!!!

Dangerfield: My Roku and puzzles.

Collier: Books and my iPad to watch Netflix.

Johnson: I had to bring my Khaim Co. Candles to Bradenton, Florida. There is nothing like coming back to a hotel room that smells like home. They’re definitely a vibe! ☯️

Huff: Stuff for treatment, bands, massage gun, etc.

Fowles: Face soap (black soap).