Marième

Badiane

After totaling nine minutes in Minnesota’s first two games, Badiane did not appear in another game until May 30, playing two minutes against the Mercury. A member of the French national team, Badiane will represent her nation in this summer’s FIBA EuroBasket. Being waived at this point allows her to go through training camp ahead of the competition.

Smith and Badiane are available after the Lynx listed them as probable on the initial injury report. While the former will be in the starting lineup and has seen her minutes increase, Badiane will provide additional depth off the bench. Jessica Shepard’s playing time has decreased due to Smith being able to take on an increased workload since missing the season opener.

After playing nine minutes in Minnesota’s first two games, Badiane was a DNP-CD for Wednesday’s win over the Wings. With starter Alanna Smith being healthy and fellow reserve Jessica Shepard playing well, there has not been much room for Badiane in the Lynx rotation. That’s unlikely to change on Friday, as Smith (quad) is also considered probable to play.

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.