WNBA Champion Janel McCarville returns to Minnesota as assistant coach

Minneapolis/St. Paul – The Minnesota Lynx today announced several additions to the team’s basketball operations and coaching staff ahead of the upcoming season, highlighted by the return of WNBA Champion and former Lynx Janel McCarville as assistant coach, along with the hiring of Jasmine Allen as basketball operations manager, Jeremy Ford as dietitian, Imani Lewis as video coordinator, Andy Oakland as basketball operations coordinator and Grace Allen as sports performance coordinator.

McCarville returns to the Lynx after a WNBA career spanning nine seasons, highlighted by a 2013 championship with Minnesota. The former first overall pick in the 2005 draft was named the WNBA’s Most Improved Player in 2007 while establishing herself as one of the league’s most skilled and versatile post players. Across her career, she appeared in 286 games with Charlotte, New York and Minnesota, averaging 7.7 points on 49.1% shooting from the floor, along with 4.4 rebounds and 1.9 assists per game. Acquired by Minnesota via trade in 2013, McCarville became a key contributor during one of the most successful eras in franchise history, appearing in 27 postseason games and helping the team to two WNBA Finals appearances (2013, 2016).

A standout at the University of Minnesota, McCarville led the Golden Gophers to two Sweet Sixteen appearances and the program’s first-ever Final Four berth in 2004, while becoming the first player in program history to compete in the NCAA Tournament in all four seasons. Following her playing career, McCarville transitioned into coaching, gaining experience with Swedish club Alvik Basket before returning to her alma mater, Stevens Point Area Senior High School (Wis.), serving as head coach of the girls’ basketball program and helping elevate it into one of the top programs in the state. McCarville now reunites with former Golden Gopher and Lynx teammate Lindsay Whalen, alongside former Lynx teammate Rebekkah Brunson, completing Minnesota’s coaching staff.

Jasmine Allen joins the Lynx after serving as director of basketball operations at Temple University, where she oversaw day-to-day program logistics, team travel, scheduling and administrative coordination. Prior to her time at Temple, she served in a variety of roles at Towson University, starting as a women’s basketball manager before advancing into basketball operations roles, including assistant director and director of basketball operations. In addition to her collegiate experience, Allen contributed extensively to USA Basketball from 2018–20, supporting national team trials, training camps and international preparation events in Colorado Springs, Colo. She also served as a team attendant for the NBA’s 2020 Season Restart in Orlando, supporting game-day operations for various NBA teams. Allen earned a bachelor’s degree in sports management with a minor in business administration from Towson.

Ford joins Minnesota following his role as assistant director of Olympic sports nutrition at the University of South Carolina, working primarily with the Gamecocks’ men’s and women’s basketball programs through individualized nutrition planning, team meal coordination and performance-based fueling strategies. He also implemented hydration and supplementation protocols and coordinated educational programming, including grocery store tours and cooking demonstrations, to enhance athlete performance and recovery. Prior to South Carolina, Ford served as a sports dietitian at James Madison University, working directly with the men’s and women’s basketball programs as their first full-time dietitian. Earlier in his career, Ford gained experience as a performance nutrition intern at the University of Alabama at Birmingham and the University of Alabama, also serving as an adjunct instructor in Tuscaloosa, teaching courses in introductory and performance nutrition. Ford is a registered dietitian nutritionist, a Board Certified Specialist in Sports Dietetics (CSSD) and Certified Strength and Conditioning Specialist (CSCS). He earned a master’s degree in sports medicine from Armstrong State University and a bachelor’s degree in human performance from the University of Alabama, along with a bachelor’s degree in food and nutrition from Armstrong State.

Lewis joins the Lynx after serving as a graduate assistant and video coordinator at Clemson University, where she supported all facets of the women’s basketball program’s video operations, including opponent scouting, film breakdown, advanced editing and game day video coordination. She worked closely with the coaching staff to produce player development edits and detailed scouting materials, contributing to both individual skill development and overall team performance analysis through comprehensive film study and preparation. Lewis played collegiate basketball at the University of Wisconsin and Duke University and is a two-time All-Big Ten Second Team selection. She appeared in 92 career games with 84 starts for the Badgers, averaging double-figure scoring across all three seasons. Lewis concluded her collegiate career at Duke, where she earned a bachelor’s degree in psychology before completing a master’s degree in athletic leadership at Clemson.

Oakland rejoins the Lynx as basketball operations coordinator after more than a decade with the organization as a team attendant. Previously, Oakland supported all aspects of game day and team operations, including assisting players, coaches, staff and officials, while also coordinating visiting team needs and practice logistics. In addition to his work with the Lynx, Oakland has served as head girls basketball coach at Heron Lake-Okabena/Fulda for six seasons, overseeing all facets of the program, and worked as a physical education teacher at Fulda Public Schools, where he focused on student development through physical activity and wellness education. Oakland earned a bachelor’s degree in sports management and coaching from Southwest Minnesota State University.

Grace Allen joins the Lynx after serving as an assistant strength and conditioning coach at Minnesota State University Moorhead, where she designed and implemented training programs for multiple women’s sports, including softball, tennis, golf and dance. She also contributed to the department’s internship program and staff development initiatives focused on continuing education and applied research. Previously, Allen completed internships at Minnesota State Moorhead and Ohio State University, assisting with training programs across a wide range of sports and gaining experience with sports science technologies, including force plates and performance tracking systems. Allen is a National Strength and Conditioning Association (NSCA) Certified Strength and Conditioning Specialist (CSCS) who earned her bachelor’s degree in exercise science from North Dakota State University and is pursuing a master’s degree in educational leadership at Minnesota State Moorhead.

The Lynx will tip off the 2026 season with their home opener on Sunday, May 10, at 6 p.m. CT vs. the Atlanta Dream at Target Center. Fans looking to guarantee tickets for a specific game are encouraged to explore a variety of available ticket packages for the upcoming season by visiting lynxbasketball.com.

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