Ever since the beginning of the 2025 season, the Minnesota Lynx were the favorites to win the championship title. Their franchise record of 34 wins and securing the No. 1 seed in the playoffs only added to that expectation. But their postseason run was cut short in the semifinals, as the Mercury eliminated them 3-1. However, the Lynx still ensured they left a mark!

So, while the team is often remembered for one of the most controversial moments of the season—ever since their elimination, due to Collier’s remarks and Reeve’s firing at refs—they aren’t just limited to that. This time, they’ve come under the spotlight, thanks to the team’s standout players, Napheesa Collier and Alanna Smith.

The two were named to the All-Defensive First Team this Wednesday. This marks Collier’s second career All-Defensive First Team selection and Smith’s first. Now, the two are the only pair in Lynx history to earn All-Defensive First Team honors in the same season. But honestly, both of them deserved it.

Collier started all 33 games this season while putting up a career-high 22.9 points per game. She shot 53.1% from the floor and 90.6% from the free-throw line, becoming the first player in franchise history to do so while averaging 20+ points. She ranks second in scoring, third in steals, and fifth in blocks, with eight games recording at least three blocks.

She also surpassed 50 career double-doubles this season, after giving out consecutive double-double performances from May 23 to June 8. Well, watching her play, you see exactly how competitive she is. She can guard multiple positions, crash the glass, and anchor the defense.

If Collier is the Lynx’s right hand, Smith is the left. The 2025 Co-Defensive Player of the Year is averaging 9.6 points with a career-best 68.5% shooting from the floor while putting up a career-high 1.9 blocks per game. She finished third in the WNBA in blocks per game, with 80 blocks—a single-season franchise record—and became the eighth player in history to record 80 or more blocks in a season. The Hobart, Australian native recorded at least one block in 38 of her 42 appearances.

So, their All-Defensive selections are no surprise. But these are just two players from the Lynx roster—it wouldn’t be wrong to call the franchise a defensive powerhouse. They led the league in 2025 with a 97.5 defensive rating and a .229 opponent free-throw rate. They also secured the Defensive Player of the Year for the second season in a row. It’s safe to say we can expect a dominant upcoming season.

What’s Next for the Lynx?

In 2024, Minnesota was out for revenge, feeling the championship title had been “stolen” from them. But even in 2025, the storyline was similar. Everything went according to plan until Game 3, when the Lynx lost to the Mercury and their captain, Collier, was injured. Not only that, Cheryl Reeve was ejected and later suspended for one game after firing back at refs.

That’s how the 2025 season ended for the Lynx. But now, they have a lot of work ahead, as this offseason’s free agency period will be very different. While the Lynx have one of the most experienced teams in the league, only Dorka Juhasz and Anastasiia Olari Kosy are under contract for the 2026 season.

This means the team’s entire starting lineup and key reserves—including Hiedeman, Carrington, and Shepard—will hit free agency. As of now, only Juhasz has a guaranteed deal. However, the Lynx have little room to add or remove players, as they already have one of the best rosters in the league.

Still, they could consider adding players to strengthen their offense, which currently relies heavily on ball movement, cutting, and passing. This was one reason for their playoff exit, too. In clutch moments during the 2025 playoffs, the Lynx had an 83.7 offensive rating, shot nearly 39.5%, and committed 11 turnovers. Even in their last three defeats, they averaged only 13 points in the fourth quarter and blew two huge leads. So, while major roster changes may not be necessary, the Lynx will have to carefully consider their offseason moves. As of now, the question remains: what will happen next?