Story by
Minnesota Lynx Shake Up Roster With 2 Key Moves Ahead of Playoffs
- Story by
- Minnesota Lynx Shake Up Roster With 2 Key Moves Ahead of Playoffs
Before the WNBA went on a short hiatus for the FIBA World Cup, the Minnesota Lynx finished their regular-season campaign in pole position. While everything seemed perfect for the franchise, the Lynx made a pair of notable roster changes ahead of the playoffs.
More than half of the Minnesota Lynx 's roster is currently competing in the FIBA World Cup. Napheesa Collier is representing the United States, while her teammates Chloe Bibby , Dorka Juhász, Antonia Delaere, and Eliska Joklova are part of the Australia, Hungary, Belgium, and Czechia teams, respectively. The international representation extends beyond the team's regular roster. Developmental players Elena Buenavida and Emma Cechova are also part of their respective home countries, Spain and Czechia.
May 28, 2023; Las Vegas, Nevada, USA; Las Vegas Aces guard Kelsey Plum (10) drives the ball against Minnesota Lynx forward Napheesa Collier (24) during the third quarter at Michelob Ultra Arena. Mandatory Credit: Lucas Peltier-USA TODAY Sports
However, in a shocking turn of events, the Minnesota Lynx waived one of their players while she was competing in the FIBA World Cup. Earlier Monday, the team shared a farewell post for young guard Eliska Joklova on its social media accounts. Moreover, they also brought in former No. 3 overall pick Aari McDonald as a replacement.
While Joklova started all five qualifying games for Czechia at the FIBA World Cup, she was not a regular feature for the Lynx. The 24-year-old guard is the first Czech woman to play in the WNBA. Her best performance came in a nine-minute outing in which she scored a career-high eight points against the Phoenix Mercury .
Advertisement
Aari McDonald Signing Could Be The Minnesota Lynx's Best Bet Entering The 2026 WNBA Playoffs
McDonald last appeared in a WNBA game in 2025 for the Indiana Fever against the Phoenix Mercury. However, a right foot injury in the fourth quarter forced her to leave the game and prematurely ended her season.
After recovering from the injury and returning to the court during Unrivaled's second season earlier this year, McDonald played just one game. A right lower-leg injury sidelined her to remain out of the action for the remainder of the season.
Indiana Fever guard Aari McDonald (2) celebrates Tuesday, June 3, 2025, during a game between the Indiana Fever and the Washington Mystics at Gainbridge Fieldhouse in Indianapolis.
Over her five-year WNBA career, McDonald has appeared in 136 games, averaging 8.8 points per game while shooting 39.5% from the field. Before suffering the injury in 2025, the Fresno native averaged 9.8 points per game while shooting a significantly better 42.9% from the field.
Advertisement
With over seven months into recovery, it was inevitable that McDonald wouldn't draw interest from WNBA teams. Now that the Minnesota Lynx have signed her, they will have their fingers crossed that the 28-year-old guard can stay healthy and contribute to the team during the playoffs.
More WNBA News:
