Last Updated on August 7, 2026 by Mat Diekhake

The Minnesota Lynx 2016 were led by Maya Moore’s all-around offensive production and Sylvia Fowles’ dominant interior presence, combining elite scoring, rebounding, and defense. Lindsay Whalen orchestrated the offense with consistent playmaking, while Seimone Augustus added efficient perimeter scoring and veteran leadership. The statistics reflect a well-balanced team that excelled through efficient offense, strong rebounding, disciplined defense, and shared contributions across an experienced core.

HeatingUp Impact Index: Regular Season Team Impact Spotlight

Player Name Role Tier MPG Usage Tier PPG RPG APG STK (SPG + BPG) Impact Index Notes Awards
Maya Moore Starter/Star 29.7 High 19.3 5.1 4.2 2.3 81.58 Complete offensive engine who combined scoring, playmaking, and perimeter defense as Minnesota’s primary creator. Her 40.4% three-point shooting and 4.2 assists showed the expanded role she handled while still generating turnovers and defending multiple positions. WNBA Champion (2017); All-Star (2017); All-WNBA First Team (2017)
Sylvia Fowles Starter/Star 28.5 High 13.9 8.5 1.2 3.1 70.49 Dominant interior anchor who controlled the paint with elite finishing and rim protection. Her 1.8 blocks and 8.5 rebounds reflected the defensive presence that allowed Minnesota’s perimeter players to pressure opponents more aggressively. WNBA Champion (2017); WNBA Defensive Player of the Year (2017); All-Star (2017); All-WNBA First Team (2017)
Rebekkah Brunson Starter/Star 24.6 Medium 7.4 7.3 1.8 1.2 42.83 Relentless rebounder and defensive forward who continued to impact games through positioning and physical play. Her 7.3 rebounds helped Minnesota win possession battles, while her off-ball instincts remained a major part of the Lynx system. WNBA Champion (2017); WNBA All-Defensive Second Team (2017)
Seimone Augustus Starter/Star 26.4 Medium 11.2 2.9 2.4 0.9 42.11 Veteran scoring wing who provided efficient half-court offense through footwork and controlled shot selection. Her role shifted toward secondary creation, but she remained a trusted option when Minnesota needed a reliable perimeter scorer. WNBA Champion (2017); All-Star (2017)
Lindsay Whalen Starter/Star 24.6 Medium 9.8 2.6 3.8 0.6 40.66 Floor general who balanced scoring with veteran playmaking and game management. Her 3.8 assists showed the responsibility she carried organizing Minnesota’s offense while adapting to a lower-minute role. WNBA Champion (2017); All-Star (2017)
Natasha Howard Key Contributor 14.6 Low 6.7 3.6 0.8 1.5 26.46 Athletic frontcourt defender who provided energy, rebounding, and finishing around the basket. Her 0.8 blocks and efficient 57.4% shooting showed the defensive versatility that made her valuable in a reserve role. WNBA Champion (2017)
Renee Montgomery Key Contributor 19.3 Low 7.5 0.9 2.8 1.1 25.83 Reserve guard who supplied pace, perimeter shooting, and secondary ball handling. Her ability to pressure the ball and create offense helped Minnesota maintain intensity when rotating beyond its starters. WNBA Champion (2017)
Jia Perkins Key Contributor 20.7 Low 6.4 2.6 1.3 1.1 23.94 Veteran perimeter option who provided toughness and experience off the bench. Although her shooting efficiency varied, her defensive competitiveness and ability to handle playoff pressure remained valuable. WNBA Champion (2017)
Janel McCarville Bench 12.6 Low 3.3 2.5 1.6 0.9 16.60 Skilled reserve big who contributed through passing, screening, and defensive awareness. Her ability to make quick decisions from the frontcourt helped maintain offensive flow in limited minutes. WNBA Champion (2017)
Anna Cruz Bench 10.0 Low 2.8 1.0 2.0 0.3 12.20 Versatile guard who provided short stretches of playmaking and defensive activity. Her limited role reflected Minnesota’s deep backcourt rotation, but her experience added stability when needed. WNBA Champion (2017)
Keisha Hampton Bench 6.8 Low 2.6 0.4 0.4 0.4 7.60 Reserve wing who supplied occasional shooting and athletic depth. Her minutes were limited behind Minnesota’s established rotation, making her role primarily situational. WNBA Champion (2017)
Bashaara Graves Bench 3.4 Low 0.3 0.3 0.2 0.0 1.60 Young frontcourt reserve who saw limited action during the championship season. Her role focused on development within a veteran-heavy environment. WNBA Champion (2017)
Totals — 241.3 — 91.9 37.1 22.7 16.4 392.12 Minnesota’s championship rotation blended elite interior defense, veteran leadership, and versatile perimeter creation, with Maya Moore and Sylvia Fowles providing the foundation on both ends. WNBA Champion (2017)

HeatingUp Impact Index: Playoff Team Impact Spotlight

Player Name Role Tier MPG Usage Tier PPG RPG APG STK (SPG + BPG) Impact Index Notes Awards
Maya Moore Starter/Star 32.9 High 22.4 7.3 4.6 2.4 87.60 Elite two-way wing who carried Minnesota’s playoff offense through scoring, rebounding, and playmaking. Her 22.4 points and 4.6 assists showed how much creation responsibility she handled, while her 1.9 steals reflected the defensive activity that made her difficult to attack. WNBA Champion (2017); WNBA Finals MVP (2017); All-WNBA First Team (2017)
Sylvia Fowles Starter/Star 31.4 High 12.9 9.8 1.3 2.7 57.64 Defensive cornerstone who controlled the paint with efficient finishing and elite rim protection. Her 9.8 rebounds and 1.8 blocks per game gave Minnesota a physical interior advantage that shaped the team’s postseason identity. WNBA Champion (2017); WNBA Defensive Player of the Year (2017); All-WNBA First Team (2017)
Lindsay Whalen Starter/Star 26.6 Medium 13.1 1.9 3.9 0.5 42.46 Veteran guard who provided efficient scoring and steady offensive organization. Her 56.9% shooting in the playoffs showed her ability to punish defenses while still creating opportunities for teammates as a secondary playmaker. WNBA Champion (2017); All-Star (2017)
Rebekkah Brunson Starter/Star 29.3 Medium 8.9 6.5 2.5 1.9 39.42 Physical frontcourt defender who impacted games through rebounding, toughness, and smart positioning. Her 6.5 rebounds and 2.5 assists showed the all-around role she played beyond simply defending the interior. WNBA Champion (2017); WNBA All-Defensive Second Team (2017)
Seimone Augustus Starter/Star 26.9 Medium 11.1 2.9 3.3 1.2 40.81 Veteran scorer who adjusted into a complementary role while continuing to create from the perimeter. Her 3.3 assists highlighted her willingness to facilitate, even as defenses focused heavily on Minnesota’s primary options. WNBA Champion (2017); All-Star (2017)
Natasha Howard Key Contributor 13.0 Low 5.6 2.6 0.6 1.0 20.58 Athletic reserve forward who supplied energy, finishing, and defensive versatility. Her 70% shooting showed her efficiency around the basket, while her activity gave Minnesota another physical option in the frontcourt. WNBA Champion (2017)
Jia Perkins Key Contributor 17.6 Low 5.1 2.0 1.9 1.1 20.67 Veteran perimeter reserve who brought defensive pressure and experience in difficult playoff situations. Her minutes were built around toughness, ball handling, and keeping the offense organized when starters rested. WNBA Champion (2017)
Renee Montgomery Bench 12.6 Low 4.1 0.4 1.9 0.5 13.80 Backup guard who provided quick offense and reliable perimeter shooting. Her 44.4% three-point shooting helped maintain spacing during bench stretches despite a limited overall role. WNBA Champion (2017)
Anna Cruz Bench 8.5 Low 1.2 1.0 1.2 0.3 7.40 Versatile guard used mainly for defensive flexibility and ball movement. Her limited minutes reflected Minnesota’s deep veteran rotation during the championship run. WNBA Champion (2017)
Janel McCarville Bench 4.8 Low 1.0 1.0 0.3 0.0 4.60 Veteran reserve center who provided leadership and depth in short appearances. Her role was primarily supporting the frontcourt rotation rather than carrying offensive responsibility. WNBA Champion (2017)
Keisha Hampton Bench 2.0 Low 1.3 0.0 0.0 0.0 2.60 Reserve wing who received limited postseason minutes on a championship roster loaded with established contributors. WNBA Champion (2017)
Totals — 208.4 — 86.7 35.4 21.0 12.6 338.25 Minnesota’s playoff success came from a balanced core: Maya Moore’s all-around creation, Sylvia Fowles’ interior dominance, and veteran role players executing defined defensive and offensive responsibilities. WNBA Champion (2017)