WNBA Minnesota Lynx Anastasiia Olairi Kosu

Anastasiia Olairi

Kosu

Jessica Shepard

Jessica Shepard’s breakout season with the Dallas Wings doesn’t surprise her or Paige Bueckers

Jessica Shepard was a point guard before she grew into a 6-foot-4 forward, which is one of several reasons her breakout season with the Dallas Wings isn’t a surprise to her or teammates such as Paige Bueckers.

Associated Press,

Associated Press,

Did the Lynx hit their ceiling too early?

September 23, 2026 04:30 PM

Natalie Esquire and Terrika Foster-Brasby discuss whether the Minnesota Lynx peaked too early in the season after their embarrassing performance against the Indiana Fever.

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Latest Player News

Maria Kliundikova

MIN C #7

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Lynx signed Maria Kliundikova.

A few days after waiving Marième Badiane, the Lynx have filled the roster spot. The 6-foot-4 Kliundikova, who was in training camp with the Sparks before being waived on May 15, gives Minnesota another option to call upon in the frontcourt. And her arrival may also benefit rookie Anastasiia Oliari Kosu, as the two have been teammates with Russian club UMMC Ekaterinburg since the 2022-23 season.
Marième Badiane

MIN C

Marième Badiane finished Tuesday’s exhibition loss to the Sky with seven points (3-of-5 FGs, 1-of-2 FTs), two rebounds and two blocks in 14 minutes.

Signed by the Lynx in February, the 30-year-old Badiane made her unofficial debut on Tuesday. She was the second frontcourt sub off the bench, following second-year forward Alissa Pili. While Badiane provided some scoring, the two blocked shots stand out. Last season, the Lynx ranked first in the WNBA in two-point percentage defense and sixth in blocked shots. Badiane’s defense will likely need to stand out to lock down a roster spot, especially with rookie Anastasiia Kosu known for her defensive versatility.
Anastasiia Olairi Kosu

MIN F

The Lynx selected Anastasiia Kosu with the No. 15 pick in the 2025 WNBA Draft.

The 6-foot-1 Kosu, who has been playing for UMMC Ekaterinburg in Russia, may be the “mystery player” of this draft class. With Russia’s invasion of Ukraine prompting the nation’s exclusion from European competition, she hasn’t had the same opportunities to compete against the continent’s best at the club or national team levels. However, the combination of athleticism and instincts stands out, which is critical because Kosu is a bit undersized for a power forward. She does most of her work offensively in the paint, and the defensive versatility cannot be overlooked. She heads to Minnesota with a chance to compete for minutes on a Lynx team that finished one win short of a WNBA championship last season.