Kayla McBride Hilariously Compares Early WNBA Season Games To Playoffs After Running 5 Miles On The Court

The Dallas Wings suffered their second loss of the season, and it was a familiar foe for Paige Bueckers, who has yet to record a win over her hometown franchise. While the visitors made an incredible comeback in the second half, Kayla McBride indirectly praised her opponents for the fight they put in the game.

While the experienced Lynx team came away with a close victory, the 33-year-old was already feeling the improved performance from the young opponents, as she had to put in extra efforts for the win.

Kayla McBride Jokes About Competitive Regular Season Games

The 2025 table toppers were up against the 2025 bottom-placed side, but one off-season turned things around as the Wings provided much competition to the contender team and nearly came up with the victory.

The veteran guard shared her views about the game on social media as she wrote, “is it just me or these games feel like playoffs already first week?? I ran 5 miles in the game last night.”

is it just me or these games feel like playoffs already first week?? i ran 5 miles in the game last night 😂😵‍💫

— Kayla McBride (@kaymac_2123) May 15, 2026

McBride played 35 minutes in the game, and although she struggled offensively to make an impact, she led the team on defense and helped the side hold on to the slender lead in the late stages.

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While she might joke about tough opponents and playing huge minutes, the five-time All-Star might have to keep doing this as the leader of the side.

Kayla McBride Leading The Lynx In Phee’s Absence

Entering her sixth season with the Minnesota Lynx in 2026, the All-Star guard took the leadership role in the absence of Napheesa Collier, who is out early with an ankle injury. After signing a two-year deal, McBride acts as the cornerstone for a heavily transformed roster that lost several key starters to free agency and expansion.

As the experienced star alongside Courtney Williams, she will be guiding a new-look lineup, including rookie Olivia Miles, through the challenging early schedule. Known for her elite 3-point shooting—she became the first Lynx player to hit 100 threes in a season—McBride has immediately shouldered a high-scoring load, averaging 17.0 points over the first two games.

Breaking: Five-time All-Star Kayla McBride is returning to the Minnesota Lynx on a two-year, lower max salary, her agent tells @ramonashelburne. pic.twitter.com/r6OpGO30xB

— espnW (@espnW) April 12, 2026

She is critical for keeping Minnesota competitive and maintaining its championship mindset until Collier’s projected June return. The player showed her deep connection to the franchise as she became emotional over the playoff elimination last season. But this time, with a new spirit and team, the former Notre Dame star would look to lift the title.