When there’s mutual respect and love, does it really matter who’s Batman and who’s Robin? Apparently not—at least according to Phee, who dropped that gem when the Lynx pulled off what seemed like an impossible task. How, you ask? Well, when Napheesa Collier and Co. went 0-6 to start the 2023 season, Collier assured everyone that the rebuilding phase was going to be much shorter than expected. And so it happened, they made it into the playoffs that year. One of the reasons is the tandem in which Kayla McBride and Collier played. “I loved the evolution of Phee and K-Mac as a duo,” Reeve said. “One of my favorite parts of the season was the synergy that those two had.“

And now that the Lynx have weathered every kind of storm, they’re on a mission to reclaim what’s rightfully theirs. The squad looks locked and loaded with eight returning players, including all five starters, and Napheesa Collier casually dropping MVP-like performances. On paper, this team screams championship run. But wait… something’s missing. Kayla McBride, aka K-Mac, aka “the clutch queen,” has yet to grace the court. She skipped training camp, missed the preseason, and has been MIA in regular-season action.

Thankfully, Collier is out here doing amazing stuff solo. Against the Connecticut Sun, the Lynx found themselves staring down a 15-point deficit and the possibility of their perfect start getting ruined. But Phee wasn’t having it. She dropped 33 points and led a 23-2 run in the final 5:20. Combine the scoring spree with her 11 rebounds, 3 assists, 3 blocks, and 3 steals in the game, Napheesa filled the stat-sheet, becoming the first player in league history to put those numbers in a single game.

Honestly, as amazing as the entire team is, this is basically like watching a Marvel movie without one of the Avengers—you can, but it just doesn’t hit the same. And after the most recent game, fans aren’t just missing her—they’re practically staging a search party.

Fans hoping for the early return of Kayla McBride to help Napheesa Collier and co. in the title quest

Well, Kayla McBride has not played yet because of a very valid reason. On her social media, fans could see that she was resting at home and she needs all the rest. During the offseason, she played in the Unrivaled league and even overseas.

Cheryl Reeve had also provided a glimpse into how the reason isn’t any serious than her needing to give some time to her body and mind. “I don’t have any expectations at this point. We’re in touch with Mac and we are having conversations… we’re just kind of listening to her, listening to her body,” she had said when asked if McBride will join the training camp.

But this was the first game that lynx faithful felt her absence more than ever, urging the basketball gods to tell her to return. The Lynx got off to a rocky start, scoring just 15 points on 5-of-15 shooting. While Napheesa Collier sparked some life with 13 second-quarter points, the defense faltered, allowing the Sun to build a 10-point halftime lead. The shooting woes continued after the break, especially from deep, with Minnesota missing 13 of their first 16 three-point attempts. So, despite moments of promise, the offense never quite found its rhythm. And those who followed their 2024 season know that their deep run was built on the backs of strong shooting from Bridget Carleton, Cecilia Zandalasini, Kayla McBride, and Alanna Smith. Carleton has been struggling while Cecilia is not on the roster. So, Kayla’s absence was more than felt.

Hence, one fan said, “Kayla McBride seeing in real time how much she is needed.” Understandable, honestly.

After losing the 2024 WNBA title to the NY Liberty in the OT, the Minnesota Lynx side wanted to start the season strongly. Now with an emphatic comeback win over the Connecticut Sun, they are at the top of the table. And while Kayla is named in the Lynx’s roster, she has yet to touch the ball with 4 games already in the books. Multiple rookies and semi-vets were expected to fill in for Kayla, but HC Cheryl Reeve chose to play with 7-8 players, with fringe players clocking less than 10 minutes combined. The HC is really treating the whole season like playoffs, and one fan pointed out the same. “Diamond Miller not being able to crack the Lynx rotation especially with Kayla McBride currently out is very interesting! Cheryl playing seven players like it’s the playoffs.”

However, hopes were sparked for her return in the same game. Lynx Beat Reporter, Andrew Dukowitz confirmed that Kayla was present at the TC for the Lynx. She was on the bench in street clothes, and for her fans, this was enough to say, “A Kayla McBride sighting means she might be back within the next game or 2,” with a clapping emoji. In one picture, she could be seen posing with Aubrey Griffin, too. Some fans though chose a hilarious way to put forth their demands, writing, “kayla mcbride sitting next to evil kayla mcbride“.

It was all said in good energy but this reminds us of her Players’ Tribune essay, where McBride wrote, “It’s my seventh season in the league. I’ve been overseas every year except this year. My whole career it’s just been go, go, go — constantly training or playing or doing something. An interview here, a community appearance there. Everything always moving”. She did further say that she would even play basketball for free, but you can see the pressure she feels, too.

Some fans also praised the team’s effort to maintain the spotless record without one of their stars, saying, “Their ability to adapt and come back was impressive. The fact they did it without Kayla Mcbride makes the comeback win even better“. One fan, however, pointed out that there is no reason to disturb Kayla’s rest because the team is going to be just fine without her. “I think they’re fine Basically the same team from last year that was one call away from a championship Plus they added Jessica Shepard and Kayla McBride is yet to play a single minute“. Yes, the Lynx made a really smart move by bringing back Jessica. And she showed why, too. Against the Sun, she added 13 points, 6 rebounds, and 4 assists and regarding overall season average till now, it has been much better than her career one.

Still, some fans questioned the Lynx’s potential—wondering how a team that struggled this much against the Sun could really level up just by adding Kayla. Well, future’s got the final word. For now, the Lynx are looking sharp, and honestly, we wouldn’t expect anything less.