A stalled CBA discussion raised questions about the 2026 season. But the league took a bold step and announced the schedule before making substantial progress in the discussions. This gave the teams a chance to work with their schedules, training camps and also pre-season friendlies.
The 2024 finalists, the Minnesota Lynx, also prepared for the season by playing three teams before the start of the season. One of those competitors is the Nigerian Women’s National team.
Minnesota Lynx Sets Record With Its Preseason Fixture Announcement
The Lynx announced its preseason schedule ahead of the 2026 season, during which the team will take on the Washington Mystics and the Toronto Tempo. Apart from these WNBA sides, they will test their team against the Nigerian Women’s national team. The franchise shared a statement announcing the schedule.
The statement reads, “The matchup against the Nigeria Women’s National Team adds a compelling international element to the exhibition schedule, while the game against the Toronto Tempo, one of the WNBA’s newest franchises, is sure to draw plenty of interest as the young organization continues to find its footing in the league.”
In 2025, the Indiana Fever became the first franchise to play an international team in a friendly game, and the Chicago Sky followed suit, hosting the Brazilian national team before the start of the 2025 season. Now the Lynx will welcome the Nigerian team and become the first side to face an African team.
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As for the team, the franchise already has a top pick in hand, received from the Chicago Sky in the 2024 trade. With a talented draft class, coach Reeves will analyze the situation for her team’s long-term future.
Earlier in the off-season, Reeves attended a UCLA game, which prompted speculation about Lauren Betts, but the recent mock draft tells a different story.
Minnesota Lynx Could Draft Olivia Miles As Its Top Pick
With a strong forward line-up, the Lynx team lacks back-court support and converted the shooting guard Courtney Williams into a playmaker. It’s clear that the side will do well with a back-court player feeding Napheesa Collier and Co. Last time the team had a legit playmaker, Lindsay Whalen, the side won four championships in just an eight-year span.
Though Miles isn’t up to Whalen’s level, but has potential and scoring ability to be close to the top pick in the 2026 draft. Currently, she is a top-five passer in the NCAAW and also an elite rebounder from the guard position.