MINNEAPOLIS/ST. PAUL – Minnesota Lynx Head Coach and General Manager Cheryl Reeve today announced the team has set their roster ahead of the 2021 season.
The 2021 Lynx roster returns seven players from the 2020 roster, WNBA’s all-time leading rebounder Sylvia Fowles, 2020 All-WNBA selection Napheesa Collier, Damiris Dantas, reigning WNBA Rookie of the Year Crystal Dangerfield, Minnesota’s own Rachel Banham and Bridget Carleton. Jessica Shepard returns to the roster after missing the 2020 season due to injury.
The 2021 roster features four new faces highlighted by offseason acquisitions Natalie Achonwa, Kayla McBride and Aerial Powers. Achonwa was originally selected by Indiana in the first round (ninth overall) the 2014 WNBA Draft, has garnered off the court accomplishments as well in her six seasons in the league. She was named the recipient of the 2020 Dawn Staley Community Leadership Award and the 2019 WNBA Community Assist winner. The 2015 All-Rookie Team selection has played in 168 regular season games with career averages of 7.7 ppg (on 52.6% shooting) and 4.5 rpg. and has also appeared in seven career playoff games, highlighted by a trip to the 2015 WNBA Finals vs. Minnesota. McBride, a three-time WNBA All-Star, joins the Lynx after spending her first seven seasons with San Antonio and Las Vegas, having helped the Aces reach the 2020 Finals by starting all 22 games and averaging 12.5 ppg, 2.3 rpg and 2.4 apg. In 195 games, the Erie, Pa., native holds career averages of 14.7 ppg, 3.4 rpg and 2.4 apg while connecting on 36.7% from three-point range and 89.5% from the free throw line. Powers, a five-year veteran and 2019 WNBA Champion joins the Lynx after spending the first five seasons of her career with the Dallas Wings and the Washington Mystics organizations. In 104 career games she holds averages of 10.1 ppg, 3.2 rpg and 1.3 apg in 19.0 mpg. In 2020 she played in six games for the Mystics and averaged 16.3 ppg, 4.8 rpg, 2.5 apg and 1.5 spg.
Joining the veteran acquisitions is rookie Rennia Davis (first round, ninth overall) from the University of Tennessee. Davis, a 6-2 forward, played in 118 career games (116 starts) for the Lady Volunteers, holding career averages of 15.4 ppg, 8.0 rpg and 2.0 apg. In her senior season, she averaged 17.3 ppg, 8.8 rpg and 2.3 apg in 24 games (all starts) and garnered the 2020-21 Coaches All-SEC First Team honors. At the conclusion of her career, she became one of four Tennessee players, joining Chamique Holdsclaw, Candace Parker and Tamika Catchings to rank top-10 in points (ninth, 1,815), points per game (ninth, 15.4), rebounds (10th, 947) and rebounds per game (sixth, 8.1).
The Lynx will tip-off their 23rd WNBA season, presented by Mayo Clinic, on May 14 vs. Phoenix at 8:00 p.m. CT. The 2021 season includes 32 regular season games from May 14 through Sept. 19. Today, the team also announced the 2021 Broadcast schedule. To view the entire Lynx broadcast schedule please click here. Details related to Minnesota’s ticketing information will be announced at a later date.
To view the finalized 2021 Minnesota Lynx roster, please click here.