Last Updated on August 7, 2026 by Mat Diekhake
The Minnesota Lynx 2019 were led by Odyssey Sims, who emerged as the team’s primary scorer and playmaker, while Sylvia Fowles anchored the frontcourt with elite rebounding, efficient interior scoring, and defensive presence. Napheesa Collier made an immediate impact as a versatile two-way contributor, adding consistent production across the board. The statistics reflect a balanced team that relied on interior strength, shared scoring, and active defense to remain competitive.
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Odyssey Sims | Starter/Star (1.1) | 31.9 | High (1.2) | 14.5 | 3.4 | 5.4 | 1.5 | 71.3 | Lead guard who powered Minnesota’s perimeter attack with downhill pressure, pick-and-roll creation, and aggressive shot-making. Sims was trusted to handle a large offensive workload after joining the Lynx, giving the team a faster pace and a reliable creator who could generate offense when sets broke down. | WNBA All-Star (2019) |
| Napheesa Collier | Starter/Star (1.1) | 33.3 | Medium (1.1) | 13.1 | 6.6 | 2.6 | 2.8 | 52.1 | Two-way forward who immediately became one of Minnesota’s most versatile pieces. Collier’s ability to defend multiple positions, stretch the floor, and attack mismatches gave the Lynx a modern frontcourt weapon, with analysts frequently noting her maturity and basketball IQ during her rookie season. | WNBA Rookie of the Year (2019); WNBA All-Rookie Team (2019); WNBA All-Star (2019) |
| Sylvia Fowles | Starter/Star (1.1) | 29.5 | High (1.2) | 13.6 | 8.9 | 1.5 | 2.3 | 63.0 | Elite interior anchor who remained Minnesota’s defensive foundation. Fowles controlled the paint through rebounding, post efficiency, and timing as a shot blocker, while coverage of the Lynx continued to emphasize how her presence allowed younger teammates to play more aggressively defensively. | WNBA All-Star (2019); WNBA All-Defensive Second Team (2019) |
| Danielle Robinson | Starter/Star (1.1) | 27.0 | Medium (1.1) | 10.1 | 3.5 | 3.7 | 1.4 | 46.2 | Veteran point guard who brought speed and defensive pressure to Minnesota’s backcourt rotation. Robinson’s role centered on pushing tempo, attacking the lane, and creating advantages with her quickness, giving the Lynx another ball handler alongside Sims. | — |
| Damiris Dantas | Starter/Star (1.1) | 25.7 | Medium (1.1) | 9.2 | 4.5 | 3.2 | 1.3 | 41.3 | Stretch forward who became an important connector in Minnesota’s offense. Dantas provided spacing with her perimeter shooting while also making smart reads as a passer, helping the Lynx maintain offensive flow around their primary scorers. | — |
| Lexie Brown | Key Contributor (1.05) | 18.3 | Low (1.0) | 7.6 | 1.4 | 1.4 | 0.9 | 24.3 | Perimeter shooter who gave Minnesota needed floor spacing from the guard rotation. Brown’s value came from her willingness to fire from deep, defend opposing guards, and provide scoring bursts without requiring a large offensive role. | — |
| Jessica Shepard | Key Contributor (1.05) | 18.7 | Low (1.0) | 4.8 | 5.7 | 3.5 | 0.5 | 30.0 | Skilled reserve forward who flashed playmaking ability in limited appearances. Shepard’s passing instincts and rebounding translated quickly, giving Minnesota another frontcourt player capable of creating offense beyond traditional interior roles. | WNBA All-Rookie Team (2019) |
| Stephanie Talbot | Key Contributor (1.05) | 17.0 | Low (1.0) | 5.2 | 2.4 | 1.2 | 1.2 | 21.0 | Versatile wing who contributed through shooting, defensive activity, and lineup flexibility. Talbot’s ability to guard multiple spots and make perimeter shots fit well with Minnesota’s effort to balance veteran leadership with younger athletic pieces. | — |
| Temi Fagbenle | Key Contributor (1.05) | 15.1 | Low (1.0) | 5.4 | 2.9 | 0.8 | 0.6 | 20.2 | Athletic frontcourt reserve who provided energy through finishing, rebounding, and defensive mobility. Fagbenle’s role was built around running the floor and giving Minnesota a more active interior presence when Fowles rested. | — |
| Seimone Augustus | Starter/Star (1.1) | 13.0 | Low (1.0) | 3.8 | 0.6 | 1.3 | 0.5 | 13.6 | Veteran scorer adjusting to a reduced role while recovering from injury limitations. Augustus was used primarily as a stabilizing presence, bringing experience, spacing, and decision-making to a younger Minnesota rotation. | WNBA Champion (2017); WNBA All-Star (2019) |
| Karima Christmas-Kelly | Bench (1.0) | 12.0 | Low (1.0) | 2.7 | 0.8 | 1.0 | 1.0 | 11.0 | Defensive wing used in short stretches for toughness and perimeter coverage. Her minutes were focused on energy plays and maintaining defensive intensity rather than offensive creation. | — |
| Asia Taylor | Bench (1.0) | 8.1 | Low (1.0) | 3.1 | 1.8 | 0.9 | 0.2 | 12.0 | Frontcourt reserve who provided depth and efficient interior scoring in limited minutes. Taylor’s role was primarily situational, supporting the main rotation with physical play and rebounding. | — |
| Alaina Coates | Bench (1.0) | 6.6 | Low (1.0) | 2.5 | 2.4 | 0.1 | 0.6 | 11.2 | Reserve center who supplied size and interior depth behind Fowles. Coates’ opportunities were limited but she contributed through rebounding and protecting the paint during brief appearances. | — |
| Shao Ting | Bench (1.0) | 5.4 | Low (1.0) | 1.2 | 1.2 | 0.4 | 0.2 | 6.0 | International wing adjusting to a limited WNBA role. Shao Ting provided additional perimeter depth but struggled to find consistent offensive opportunities within Minnesota’s rotation. | — |
| Bridget Carleton | Bench (1.0) | 2.8 | Low (1.0) | 0.8 | 0.3 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 2.2 | Young wing receiving limited developmental minutes. Carleton’s role focused on gaining experience and adapting to professional spacing and defensive responsibilities. | — |
| Jillian Alleyne | Bench (1.0) | 2.8 | Low (1.0) | 0.8 | 1.0 | 0.2 | 0.2 | 4.4 | Reserve forward used briefly for frontcourt depth. Alleyne’s opportunities were limited behind Minnesota’s established interior rotation. | — |
| Kenisha Bell | Bench (1.0) | 3.7 | Low (1.0) | 0.0 | 0.3 | 0.3 | 0.0 | 1.2 | Young guard who appeared in limited minutes while developing within Minnesota’s system. Her role was primarily focused on learning the pace and structure of professional basketball. | — |
| Minnesota Lynx Totals | — | — | — | 104.6 | 48.6 | 26.4 | 16.5 | 429.8 | Minnesota’s 2019 rotation blended Sylvia Fowles’ interior dominance, Odyssey Sims’ perimeter creation, and Napheesa Collier’s immediate two-way impact as the franchise began transitioning toward a younger core. | — |
HeatingUp Impact Index: Playoff Team Impact Spotlight
| Player Name | Role Tier | MPG | Usage Tier | PPG | RPG | APG | STK (SPG + BPG) | Impact Index | Notes | Awards |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Napheesa Collier | Starter/Star (1.1) | 38.0 | High (1.2) | 19.0 | 10.0 | 3.0 | 3.0 | 92.4 | Two-way forward who carried Minnesota’s attack while guarding multiple positions. Collier’s ability to score efficiently inside, stretch the floor, rebound, and create for teammates showed why the Lynx viewed her as the centerpiece of their new core after her impressive rookie campaign. | WNBA Rookie of the Year (2019); WNBA All-Rookie Team (2019); WNBA All-Star (2019) |
| Sylvia Fowles | Starter/Star (1.1) | 24.0 | High (1.2) | 14.0 | 11.0 | 0.0 | 2.0 | 71.3 | Interior anchor who controlled the glass and protected the rim despite limited offensive touches. Fowles remained Minnesota’s defensive foundation, using positioning and timing around the basket to impact possessions even when opponents focused on limiting her post opportunities. | WNBA All-Star (2019); WNBA All-Defensive Second Team (2019) |
| Damiris Dantas | Starter/Star (1.1) | 28.0 | Medium (1.1) | 20.0 | 6.0 | 1.0 | 2.0 | 70.2 | Stretch forward who provided a major scoring boost through perimeter shooting and aggressive attacking. Dantas’ ability to space the floor while also contributing as a rebounder and defender gave Minnesota valuable frontcourt versatility alongside Collier and Fowles. | — |
| Seimone Augustus | Starter/Star (1.1) | 21.0 | Low (1.0) | 6.0 | 3.0 | 0.0 | 2.0 | 24.2 | Veteran wing scorer who filled a reduced offensive role while providing experience and defensive awareness. Augustus remained valuable because of her understanding of spacing, timing, and playoff-style possessions despite a difficult shooting night. | WNBA Champion (2017); WNBA All-Star (2019) |
| Lexie Brown | Key Contributor (1.05) | 20.0 | Low (1.0) | 5.0 | 1.0 | 3.0 | 0.0 | 18.9 | Perimeter guard who helped organize the offense and provide shooting gravity. Brown’s willingness to take outside shots created spacing, although aggressive defensive pressure limited her efficiency in this matchup. | — |
| Temi Fagbenle | Key Contributor (1.05) | 16.0 | Low (1.0) | 4.0 | 1.0 | 0.0 | 3.0 | 16.8 | Athletic reserve forward who changed the game defensively with energy around the rim. Fagbenle’s shot blocking and activity gave Minnesota a different frontcourt look, allowing the team to maintain pressure when rotating beyond its starters. | — |
| Odyssey Sims | Starter/Star (1.1) | 19.0 | Low (1.0) | 1.0 | 1.0 | 5.0 | 0.0 | 15.4 | Lead guard whose impact came mostly through playmaking and controlling possessions. Sims struggled as a scorer in this game but continued providing ball pressure, creation, and the ability to generate opportunities for teammates. | WNBA All-Star (2019) |
| Danielle Robinson | Key Contributor (1.05) | 19.0 | Low (1.0) | 0.0 | 4.0 | 3.0 | 0.0 | 14.7 | Speedy veteran guard who contributed through defense, rebounding effort, and transition play rather than scoring. Robinson’s quickness gave Minnesota another ball handler capable of changing the pace against opposing defenses. | — |
| Stephanie Talbot | Key Contributor (1.05) | 15.0 | Low (1.0) | 5.0 | 1.0 | 1.0 | 0.0 | 14.7 | Versatile wing who provided efficient shooting and defensive flexibility in a reserve role. Talbot’s ability to play multiple positions fit Minnesota’s need for adaptable lineups around its star frontcourt players. | — |
| Minnesota Lynx Totals | — | — | — | 74.0 | 37.0 | 16.0 | 12.0 | 338.6 | Minnesota’s playoff rotation leaned on Collier’s two-way emergence, Fowles’ interior control, and Dantas’ scoring versatility while veteran guards supplied secondary creation. | — |