2012 Minnesota Lynx season

none August 2023 March 2026 Minnesota Lynx 2012 27 7 Western 1 Cheryl Reeve Target Center WNBA Finals(lost to Fever 1–3) KLCI FS-NABC, ESPN, ESPN2, NBATV The 2012 Minnesota Lynx season was the 14th season for the Minnesota Lynx of the Women's National Basketball Association, and the 3rd season under head coach Cheryl Reeve. The Lynx were the defending WNBA Champions, having won the 2011 WNBA Finals over the Atlanta Dream. The Lynx qualified for the playoffs, and finished with the best record in the WNBA. On October 7, 2012, the Lynx won their second straight WNBA Western Conference championship, earning a spot in the 2012 WNBA Finals. Transactions WNBA draft The following are the Lynx' selections in the 2012 WNBA draft. Round Pick Player Nationality School/team/country 1 3 (from Was.) Devereaux Peters Notre Dame 1 12 Damiris Dantas Brazil 2 18 (from Pho.) Julie Wojta Wisconsin-Green Bay 2 19 (from N.Y.) Kayla Standish Gonzaga 2 20 (from Atl.) Nika Barič Merkur Celjie (Slovenia) 3 31 (from N.Y.) Jacki Gemelos USC Transaction log April 11, 2011: The Lynx acquired a second-round pick in the 2012 Draft from the Atlanta Dream as part of the Felicia Chester/Rachel Jarry transaction. April 11, 2011: The Lynx acquired a second-round pick in the 2012 Draft from the New York Liberty as part of the Jessica Breland trade. April 11, 2011: The Lynx acquired a first-round pick in the 2012 Draft from the Washington Mystics in exchange for Nicky Anosike. May 27, 2011: The Lynx swapped third-round picks in the 2012 Draft with the New York Liberty as part of the Quanitra Hollingsworth transaction. January 23: The Lynx re-signed Jessica Adair. January 26: The Lynx re-signed Taj McWilliams-Franklin. February 2: The Lynx traded Alexis Hornbuckle to the Phoenix Mercury in exchange for a second-round pick in the 2013 Draft. February 10: The Lynx re-signed Candice Wiggins. February 13: The Lynx signed Erin Thorn. February 28: The Lynx traded Charde Houston and the 24th pick in the 2012 Draft to the Phoenix Mercury in exchange for the 18th pick in the 2012 Draft. April 25: The Lynx signed Queralt Casas, Jasmine Lee, and Porsche Poole. April 26: The Lynx signed Tavelyn James and draft pick Julie Wojta. April 29: The Lynx signed Brittany Rayburn. May 2: The Lynx signed draft picks Devereaux Peters and Kayla Standish. May 6: The Lynx waived Jasmine Lee, Tavelyn James, and Kayla Standish. May 11: The Lynx waived Brittany Rayburn. May 16: The Lynx waived Queralt Casas and Julie Wojta. July 10: The Lynx signed Julie Wojta to a 7-day contract as an injury replacement. Trades DateTradeFebruary 2, 2012To Minnesota LynxTo Phoenix Mercury Second-round pick in 2013 Draft Alexis HornbuckleFebruary 28, 2012To Minnesota LynxTo Phoenix Mercury 18th pick in 2012 Draft Charde Houston and 24th pick in 2012 Draft Personnel changes 52% Additions PlayerSignedFormer team Erin Thorn February 12, 2012 Chicago Sky Devereaux Peters April 16, 2012 draft pick Julie Wojta July 10, 2012 free agent Subtractions PlayerLeftNew team Alexis Hornbuckle February 2, 2012 Phoenix Mercury Charde Houston February 28, 2012 Phoenix Mercury Julie Wojta August 19, 2012 free agent Roster Minnesota Lynx 2012 WNBA 1 Jessica Adair C 6 4 197 12-19-1986 2 George Washington USA no 33 Seimone Augustus G/F 6 0 165 04-30-1984 6 LSU USA 32 Rebekkah Brunson F 6 2 184 12-11-1981 8 Georgetown USA no 6 Amber Harris F 6 5 202 01-16-1988 1 Xavier USA no 8 Taj McWilliams-Franklin F/C 6 2 195 08-20-1970 13 St. Edward's USA 23 Maya Moore F 6 0 175 06-11-1989 1 Connecticut USA 14 Devereaux Peters F 6 2 170 10-08-1989 R Notre Dame USA no 5 Erin Thorn G 5 9 145 05-19-1981 9 Brigham Young USA 13 Lindsay Whalen G 5 9 160 05-09-1982 8 Minnesota USA 11 Candice Wiggins G 5 11 147 02-14-1987 4 Stanford USA 22 Monica Wright G/F 5 10 171 07-15-1988 2 Virginia USA USA Cheryl Reeve La Salle USA Shelley Patterson Washington State USA Jim Petersen Minnesota USA Chuck Barta 1 University of Wisconsin–La Crosse USA Keith Uzpen 1 Minnesota State University, Mankato Depth Pos.StarterBench C Taj McWilliams-Franklin Jessica AdairAmber Harris PF Rebekkah Brunson Devereaux Peters SF Maya Moore Monica Wright SG Seimone Augustus Candice Wiggins PG Lindsay Whalen Erin Thorn Season summary First Half of Season Expectations were high for the Lynx as they opened the 2012 season. The team returned all five starters from their 2011 championship season, including four all-stars. Those expectations were matched through the early part of the season, as the team set the WNBA record with 10 consecutive wins to start the season, before losing to Seattle on June 17.Minnesota-Phoenix https://web.archive.org/web/20130305075347/http://www.wnba.com/games/20120615/MINPHO/gameinfo.html 2013-03-05 The team then won two consecutive games to run their record to 12-1. July proved to be a difficult month. The team lost three straight to start the month, and lost forwards Devereaux Peters and Rebekkah Brunson to injuries. The team signed guard Julie Wojta, who had been drafted by the team but cut after training camp, to a 7-day contract to provide depth. The Lynx rebounded by winning back-to-back games over the Tulsa Shock, and went into the Summer Olympic Break with a 15-4 record. Olympics Three members of the Lynx—Seimone Augustus, Maya Moore, and Lindsay Whalen—were members of the United States women's national basketball team for the 2012 Summer Olympics. The three players were the most contributed by any WNBA squad. The team won gold during the games, the second medal for Augustus, and the first each for Moore and Whalen. Injuries Seimone Augustus missed two games in June with a strained quadriceps muscle. Jessica Adair underwent arthroscopic surgery on her knee on June 21. Devereaux Peters and Rebekkah Brunson both went out with injuries in July. Second half of season The Lynx returned to action on August 17, 2012, beating the Washington Mystics 98-69. They won their second game back, beating Tulsa 83–59 to clinch a berth in the playoffs.http://www.wnba.com/games/20120819/TULMIN/gameinfo.html Lynx beat Shock 83-59, clinch playoff berth 2012-08-20 https://web.archive.org/web/20120820162308/http://www.wnba.com/games/20120819/TULMIN/gameinfo.html 2012-08-20 dead It was the earliest in a season the Lynx had ever clinched a playoff spot. The Lynx tied a WNBA record on September 7, when they came back from a 25-point deficit to defeat the Atlanta Dream in double overtime.http://www.wnba.com/games/20120907/ATLMIN/gameinfo.html Minnesota 97, Atlanta 93 (2OT) 2012-09-08 https://web.archive.org/web/20120905015346/http://www.wnba.com/games/20120907/ATLMIN/gameinfo.html 2012-09-05 dead The Lynx did not lose until September 11, when they fell to the Chicago Sky. By that point, the Lynx were comfortably ahead in the Western Conference standings; the team ultimately won the top overall seed in the playoffs, and matched a franchise record with 27 wins. Season standings MIN Schedule Preseason y background:#054EA4; color:white 2012 Game Log: Preseason (May) Game Date Time (ET) Opponent TV Score High points High rebounds High assists Location/Attendance Record |- align="center" bgcolor="bbffbb" | 1 || Thu 10 || 7:00 || @ Connecticut || CPTV-S || 87-85 || Augustus (12) || PetersWojta (7) || Whalen (5) || Mohegan Sun Arena 4,835 || 1-0 |- align="center" bgcolor="bbffbb" | 2 || Tue 15 || 1:00 || Chicago || || 82-61 || Wright (14) || Brunson (7) || Whalen (8) || University of Minnesota 4,102 || 2-0 |- Regular season background:#054EA4; color:white 2012 Game Log: Regular Season y background:#3CBC71; color:white May (5–0) Game Date Time (ET) Opponent TV Score High points High rebounds High assists Location/Attendance Record |- align="center" bgcolor="bbffbb" | 1 || Sun 20 || 12:30 || Phoenix || ABC || 105-83 || Augustus (19) || Brunson (9) || McWilliams-FranklinWhalenWright (5) || Target Center 12,611 || 1-0 |- align="center" bgcolor="bbffbb" | 2 || Tue 22 || 7:00 || @ New York || || 80-62 || Augustus (22) || McWilliams-Franklin (11) || Moore (7) || Prudential Center 5,411 || 2-0 |- align="center" bgcolor="bbffbb" | 3 || Thu 24 || 8:00 || Los Angeles || || 92-84 || Augustus (25) || McWilliams-Franklin (8) || McWilliams-Franklin (4) || Target Center 7,923 || 3-0 |- align="center" bgcolor="bbffbb" | 4 || Sun 27 || 7:00 || Seattle || FS-N || 84-71 || Moore (19) || Brunson (7) || Whalen (8) || Target Center 7,832 || 4-0 |- align="center" bgcolor="bbffbb" | 5 || Wed 30 || 7:00 || @ Washington || CSN-MA || 79-77 || BrunsonMoore (16) || Brunson (9) || Whalen (7) || Verizon Center 8,131 || 5-0 |- y background:#3CBC71; color:white June (8–1) Game Date Time (ET) Opponent TV Score High points High rebounds High assists Location/Attendance Record |- align="center" bgcolor="bbffbb" | 6 || Fri 1 || 7:00 || @ Connecticut || CPTV-S || 85-72 || Augustus (23) || Brunson (13) || Whalen (8) || Mohegan Sun Arena 7,249 || 6-0 |- align="center" bgcolor="bbffbb" | 7 || Sun 3 || 7:00 || San Antonio || FS-NFS-SW || 83-79 || BrunsonMoore (17) || BrunsonWhalen (8) || Whalen (7) || Target Center 7,942 || 7-0 |- align="center" bgcolor="bbffbb" | 8 || Wed 6 || 8:00 || Seattle || || 79-55 || McWilliams-Franklin (17) || Wiggins (6) || Whalen (5) || Target Center 8,263 || 8-0 |- align="center" bgcolor="bbffbb" | 9 || Sat 9 || 8:00 || @ Tulsa || || 93-73 || Moore (26) || BrunsonMcWilliams-Franklin (6) || Whalen (10) || BOK Center 5,113 || 9-0 |- align="center" bgcolor="bbffbb" | 10 || Fri 15 || 10:00 || @ Phoenix || || 78-60 || Whalen (29) || HarrisMoore (7) || AugustusWright (3) || US Airways Center 7,394 || 10-0 |- align="center" bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 11 || Sun 17 || 9:00 || @ Seattle || || 62-65 || Moore (14) || Brunson (11) || BrunsonMcWilliams-FranklinWhalen (4) || KeyArena 8,349 || 10-1 |- align="center" bgcolor="bbffbb" | 12 || Thu 21 || 8:00 || New York || || 102-70 || Augustus (26) || BrunsonMoore (10) || Augustus (8) || Target Center 9,050 || 11-1 |- align="center" bgcolor="bbffbb" | 13 || Sat 23 || 12:30 || Chicago || ESPN || 79-67 || Whalen (25) || Brunson (7) || Whalen (8) || Target Center 9,267 || 12-1 |- align="center" bgcolor="bbffbb" | 14 || Wed 27 || 8:00 || Phoenix || FS-N || 96-80 || AugustusBrunson (16) || Brunson (13) || MooreWhalen (6) || Target Center 9,674 || 13-1 |- y background:#3CBC71; color:white July (2–3) Game Date Time (ET) Opponent TV Score High points High rebounds High assists Location/Attendance Record |- align="center" bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 15 || Sun 1 || 3:00 || @ San Antonio || || 84-93 || Wright (18) || Brunson (10) || Brunson (4) || AT&T Center 6,568 || 13-2 |- align="center" bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 16 || Thu 5 || 3:00 || @ Los Angeles || NBATVTWC101 || 90-96 || Augustus (18) || BrunsonMcWilliams-Franklin (9) || McWilliams-Franklin (6) || Staples Center 11,256 || 13-3 |- align="center" bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 17 || Sat 7 || 8:00 || Connecticut || FS-NCPTV-S || 80-86 || Moore (19) || BrunsonMcWilliams-Franklin (8) || Whalen (5) || Target Center 10,882 || 13-4 |- align="center" bgcolor="bbffbb" | 18 || Tue 10 || 12:30 || @ Tulsa || || 107-86 || Wiggins (25) || McWilliams-Franklin (8) || Whalen (7) || BOK Center 6,012 || 14-4 |- align="center" bgcolor="bbffbb" | 19 || Thu 12 || 12:00 || Tulsa || FS-N || 89-72 || Moore (28) || McWilliams-Franklin (12) || Whalen (8) || Target Center 15,318 || 15-4 |- | colspan="11" align="center" valign="middle" | Summer Olympic break |- y background:#3CBC71; color:white August (6–0) Game Date Time (ET) Opponent TV Score High points High rebounds High assists Location/Attendance Record |- | colspan="11" align="center" valign="middle" | Summer Olympic break |- align="center" bgcolor="bbffbb" | 20 || Fri 17 || 8:00 || Washington || NBATV || 98-69 || Augustus (20) || Brunson (7) || Whalen (9) || Target Center 10,933 || 16-4 |- align="center" bgcolor="bbffbb" | 21 || Sun 19 || 7:00 || Tulsa || || 83-59 || Moore (22) || Moore (10) || Moore (6) || Target Center 10,223 || 17-4 |- align="center" bgcolor="bbffbb" | 22 || Tue 21 || 10:00 || @ Seattle || ESPN2 || 86-73 || Augustus (22) || Brunson (14) || Whalen (9) || KeyArena 6,169 || 18-4 |- align="center" bgcolor="bbffbb" | 23 || Sat 25 || 7:00 || @ Atlanta || ESPN2 || 84-74 || Augustus (23) || Brunson (13) || Whalen (8) || Philips Arena 7,224 || 19-4 |- align="center" bgcolor="bbffbb" | 24 || Tue 28 || 8:00 || San Antonio || NBATV || 96-84 (OT) || AugustusMcWilliams-Franklin (19) || Brunson (20) || Whalen (8) || Target Center 8,532 || 20-4 |- align="center" bgcolor="bbffbb" | 25 || Fri 31 || 8:00 || Tulsa || NBATV || 92-83 || BrunsonMooreWhalen (19) || Brunson (11) || Moore (8) || Target Center 9,213 || 21-4 |- y background:#3CBC71; color:white September (6-3) Game Date Time (ET) Opponent TV Score High points High rebounds High assists Location/Attendance Record |- align="center" bgcolor="bbffbb" | 26 || Tue 4 || 8:00 || Los Angeles || NBATV || 88-77 || AugustusMoore (23) || Moore (9) || McWilliams-Franklin (5) || Target Center 8,123 || 22-4 |- align="center" bgcolor="bbffbb" | 27 || Fri 7 || 8:00 || Atlanta || FS-NSSO || 97-93 (2OT) || Moore (23) || Brunson (18) || Whalen (5) || Target Center 9,308 || 23-4 |- align="center" bgcolor="bbffbb" | 28 || Sun 9 || 3:00 || @ San Antonio || NBATV || 81-62 || Moore (18) || BrunsonMoore (12) || Moore (6) || AT&T Center 6,025 || 24-4 |- align="center" bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 29 || Tue 11 || 8:00 || @ Chicago || CN100 || 70-83 || Moore (18) || BrunsonWright (5) || Moore (7) || Allstate Arena 4,296 || 24-5 |- align="center" bgcolor="bbffbb" | 30 || Fri 14 || 7:00 || @ Indiana || || 66-64 || Moore (15) || Moore (7) || Moore (5) || Bankers Life Fieldhouse 8,819 || 25-5 |- align="center" bgcolor="bbffbb" | 31 || Mon 17 || 8:00 || Indiana || NBATVFS-NFS-I || 86-79 || Moore (29) || Whalen (8) || Whalen (6) || Target Center 9,523 || 26-5 |- align="center" bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 32 || Thu 20 || 10:30 || @ Los Angeles || NBATVTWC101 || 76-92 || Wright (19) || Peters (13) || Thorn (5) || Staples Center 10,217 || 26-6 |- align="center" bgcolor="bbffbb" | 33 || Fri 21 || 10:00 || @ Phoenix || NBATVFS-N || 89-66 || Moore (21) || Peters (9) || Peters (6) || US Airways Center 7,217 || 27-6 |- align="center" bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 34 || Sun 23 || 3:00 || @ San Antonio || || 84-99 || Augustus (18) || Peters (10) || Whalen (5) || AT&T Center 8,084 || 27-7 |- | All games are viewable on WNBA LiveAccess or ESPN3.com Postseason background:#054EA4; color:white 2012 Game Log: Postseason y background:#3CBC71; color:white Western Conference Semifinals Game Date Time (ET) Opponent TV Score High points High rebounds High assists Location/Attendance Series |- align="center" bgcolor="bbffbb" | 1 || September 28 || 9:00 || Seattle || ESPN2 || 78-70 || Whalen (20) || Brunson (11) || Whalen (6) || Target Center 9,213 || 1-0 |- align="center" bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 2 || September 30 || 9:00 || @ Seattle || ESPN || 79-86 (2OT) || Brunson (20) || Brunson(15) || Whalen (5) || KeyArena 8,479 || 1-1 |- align="center" bgcolor="bbffbb" | 3 || October 2 || 9:00 || Seattle || ESPN2 || 73-72 || Augustus (21) || Brunson (9) || McWilliams-Franklin (4) || Target Center 8,023 || 2-1 |- y background:#3CBC71; color:white Western Conference Finals Game Date Time (ET) Opponent TV Score High points High rebounds High assists Location/Attendance Series |- align="center" bgcolor="bbffbb" | 1 || October 4 || 8:00 || Los Angeles || ESPN2 || 94-77 || Moore (20) || Brunson (10) || Augustus (7) || Target Center 8,513 || 1-0 |- align="center" bgcolor="bbffbb" | 2 || October 7 || 3:30 || @ Los Angeles || ABC || 80-79 || Augustus (21) || Brunson (10) || McWilliams-FranklinWhalen (5) || Staples Center 10,791 || 2-0 |- y background:#3CBC71; color:white WNBA Finals Game Date Time (ET) Opponent TV Score High points High rebounds High assists Location/Attendance Series |- align="center" bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 1 || October 14 || 8:00 || Indiana || ESPN2 || 70-76 || Augustus (23) || BrunsonMoore (10) || Whalen (4) || Target Center 14,322 || 0-1 |- align="center" bgcolor="bbffbb" | 2 || October 17 || 8:00 || Indiana || ESPN || 83-71 || Augustus (27) || Brunson (7) || McWilliams-FranklinMooreWhalen (4) || Target Center 13,478 || 1-1 |- align="center" bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 3 || October 19 || 8:00 || @ Indiana || ESPN2 || 59-76 || Brunson (12) || Brunson (9) || Wiggins (3) || Bankers Life Fieldhouse 18,165 || 1-2 |- align="center" bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 4 || October 21 || 8:00 || @ Indiana|| ESPN2 || 78-87 || Whalen (22) || Augustus (7) || Whalen (8) || Bankers Life Fieldhouse 15,213 || 1-3 |- Statistics Regular season Player GP GS MPG FG% 3P% FT% RPG APG SPG BPG PPG Adair, Jessica Jessica Adair 19 0 8.8 .351 .000 .571 2.10 0.3 0.30 0.21 2.4 Augustus, Seimone Seimone Augustus 29 29 28.5 .491 .437 .852 3.60 2.5 0.93 0.21 16.6 Brunson, Rebekkah Rebekkah Brunson 31 31 27.0 .505 .000 .679 8.90 1.2 1.19 0.94 11.4 Harris, Amber Amber Harris 27 0 8.9 .404 .389 .682 1.90 0.6 0.33 0.48 3.5 McWilliams-Franklin, Taj Taj McWilliams-Franklin 33 33 26.6 .519 .400 .750 5.40 2.5 1.03 1.39 8.4 Moore, Maya Maya Moore34 34 29.7 .465 .388 .879 6.00 3.6 1.47 0.65 16.4 Peters, Devereaux Devereaux Peters 30 2 14.1 .560 .000 .706 3.80 1.1 0.47 0.77 5.3 Thorn, Erin Erin Thorn 26 0 7.5 .362 .353 1.000 0.90 0.9 0.15 0.00 2.0 Whalen, Lindsay Lindsay Whalen 33 33 27.0 .505 .500 .727 4.20 5.4 0.70 0.18 11.5 Wiggins, Candice Candice Wiggins34 1 21.8 .360 .397 .865 2.10 2.0 0.71 0.12 6.8 Wojta, Julie Julie Wojta 1 0 4.0 .000 .000 .000 2.00 0.0 0.00 0.00 0.0 Wright, Monica Monica Wright34 7 19.4 .458 .364 .740 2.40 1.9 1.03 0.18 8.6 Awards and honors Maya Moore was named WNBA Western Conference Player of the Week for the week of August 16, 2012 Maya Moore was named WNBA Western Conference Player of the Week for the week of September 3, 2012 Taj McWilliams-Franklin became the WNBA's all-time leading offensive rebounder WNBA record for most consecutive wins to begin a season (10) Team record for highest field goal percentage in a single game (.695), July 10 vs. Tulsa Lindsay Whalen finished as a Peak Performer, averaging 5.4 assists. References External links Minnesota Category:Minnesota Lynx seasons Category:Western Conference (WNBA) championship seasons Minnesota Lynx