2011 Minnesota Lynx season

none August 2023 March 2026 Minnesota Lynx 2011 27 7 Western 1 Cheryl Reeve Target Center Won WNBA Finals KLCI FS-NESPN2, NBATV yes The 2011 Minnesota Lynx season was the 13th season for the Minnesota Lynx of the Women's National Basketball Association, and the 2nd season under head coach Cheryl Reeve. The Lynx qualified for the WNBA Playoffs for the first time since 2004 and won their first Western Conference championship. The Lynx finished the season with a 27–7 record, best in the WNBA and the best regular-season record in franchise history. They then defeated the San Antonio Silver Stars in three games and the Phoenix Mercury in two to reach the 2011 WNBA Finals. The Lynx swept the Atlanta Dream to win their first WNBA championship. Offseason 2011 WNBA draft 2011 WNBA draft The Lynx held the first overall pick in the 2011 draft, and surprised nobody by selecting Maya Moore, a 6'0" forward out of Connecticut. Moore had won three consecutive Wade Trophies as the best player in women's college basketball, the only player to have done so. She had also won two championships with the Huskies.Maya Moore heads to Lynx as top pick The Lynx also held the fourth overall pick, which they used to select Amber Harris from Xavier. Both Moore and Harris would ultimately make the team out of training camp. In the second round, the Lynx selected Jessica Breland, Felicia Chester, and Kachine Alexander. The Lynx ultimately released Alexander. Round Pick Player Nationality School/team/country 1 1 Maya Moore Connecticut 1 4 (from Conn.) Amber Harris Xavier 2 13 (from Tul. via Conn.) Jessica Breland North Carolina 2 14 Felicia Chester DePaul 2 26 Kachine Alexander Iowa Free agency The Lynx declined to re-sign Hamchetou Maiga-Ba and Kristen Mann. Instead, they signed veteran center Taj McWilliams-Franklin and center/forward Jessica Adair, who had played one game with the Lynx in the 2010 season. Trades The Lynx traded the draft rights to Jessica Breland to the New York Liberty for Angel Robinson and a second-round pick in the 2012 WNBA draft. They traded Felicia Chester to the Atlanta Dream for Rachel Jarry and a second-round pick in the 2012 draft. They traded Quanitra Hollingsworth to the Liberty for the rights to swap third-round picks in the 2012 draft, and they traded Nicky Anosike for a first-round pick in the 2012 draft. The Lynx ultimately waived Jarry and Robinson. DateTradeApril 9, 2011To Minnesota LynxTo Washington Mystics first-round pick in 2012 draft Nicky AnosikeApril 11, 2011To Minnesota LynxTo New York Liberty Angel Robinson and a second-round pick in 2012 draft Jessica BrelandApril 11, 2011To Minnesota LynxTo Atlanta Dream Rachel Jarry and a second-round pick in 2012 draft Felicia ChesterMay 27, 2011To Minnesota LynxTo New York Liberty right to swap third-round picks in 2012 draft Quanitra Hollingsworth Transaction log February 1: The Lynx signed Jessica Adair. February 18: The Lynx signed Taj McWilliams-Franklin. April 9: The Lynx traded Nicky Anosike to the Washington Mystics in exchange for their first-round pick in the 2012 draft. April 11: The Lynx traded draft rights to Jessica Breland to the New York Liberty for the draft rights to Angel Robinson and New York's second-round pick in the 2012 draft. April 11: The Lynx traded Felecia Chester to the Atlanta Dream for Rachel Jarry and a 2012 second-round draft pick. May 12: The Lynx waived Hamchetou Maiga-Ba. May 27: The Lynx waived Angel Robinson and Kachine Alexander. May 27: The Lynx traded Quanitra Hollingsworth to the New York Liberty in exchange for the right to swap third-round picks in the 2012 draft. 52% Additions PlayerSignedFormer team Jessica Adair February 1, 2011 free agent Taj McWilliams-Franklin February 18, 2011 New York Liberty Maya Moore April 11, 2011 draft pick Amber Harris April 11, 2011 draft pick Subtractions PlayerLeftNew team Nicky Anosike April 9, 2011 Washington Mystics Hamchetou Maiga-Ba May 12, 2011 free agent Kristen Mann May 13, 2011 free agent Quanitra Hollingsworth May 27, 2011 New York Liberty Roster Minnesota Lynx 2011 WNBA 1 Jessica Adair C 6 4 206 12-19-1986 1 George Washington USA 33 Seimone Augustus G/F 6 0 179 04-30-1984 5 LSU USA 32 Rebekkah Brunson F 6 2 175 12-11-1981 7 Georgetown USA 6 Amber Harris F 6 5 215 01-16-1988 R Xavier USA 14 Alexis Hornbuckle G 5 10 155 10-16-1985 3 Tennessee USA 24 Charde Houston F 6 0 189 04-10-1986 3 Connecticut USA 8 Taj McWilliams-Franklin F/C 6 2 188 08-20-1970 12 St. Edward's USA 23 Maya Moore F 6 0 175 06-11-1989 R Connecticut USA 13 Lindsay Whalen G 5 9 150 05-09-1982 7 Minnesota USA 11 Candice Wiggins G 5 11 154 02-14-1987 3 Stanford USA 22 Monica Wright G/F 5 10 178 07-15-1988 1 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-Mankato Depth Pos.StarterBench C Taj McWilliams-Franklin Jessica Adair PF Rebekkah Brunson Amber HarrisCharde Houston SF Maya Moore Monica Wright SG Seimone Augustus Candice Wiggins PG Lindsay Whalen Alexis Hornbuckle Season standings MIN Schedule Preseason y background:#054EA4; color:white 2011 Game Log: Preseason Game Date Time (ET) Opponent Score High points High rebounds High assists Location/Attendance Record |- align="center" bgcolor="bbffbb" | 1 || May 24 || 1:00pm || Indiana || 71–66 || Brunson (11) || Harris (10) || Wright (4) || Concordia University 2,055 || 1–0 |- align="center" bgcolor="bbffbb" | 2 || May 31 || 7:00pm || @ Indiana || 76–70 || Whalen (12) || McWilliams-Franklin (8) || Wiggins (4) || Conseco Fieldhouse 3,817 || 2–0 |- Regular season background:#054EA4; color:white 2011 Game Log: Regular Season y background:#3CBC71; color:white June Game Date Time (ET) Opponent TV Score High points High rebounds High assists Location/Attendance Record |- align="center" bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 1 || June 3 || 11:00pm || @ Los Angeles || NBATVPRIME || 74–82 || Moore (21) || Brunson (12) || Whalen (5) || Staples Center 13,589 || 0–1 |- align="center" bgcolor="bbffbb" | 2 || June 5 || 3:30pm || Los Angeles || FS-NPRIME || 86–69 || Augustus (17) || Brunson (15) || Whalen (7) || Target Center 10,123 || 1–1 |- align="center" bgcolor="bbffbb" | 3 || June 7 || 8:00pm || Tulsa || || 75–65 || Brunson (17) || Brunson (15) || Whalen (4) || Target Center 7,713 || 2–1 |- align="center" bgcolor="bbffbb" | 4 || June 9 || 10:00pm || @ Seattle || || 81–74 || Brunson (22) || Brunson (14) || Whalen (10) || KeyArena 6,291 || 3–1 |- align="center" bgcolor="bbffbb" | 5 || June 17 || 8:00pm || Atlanta || || 96–85 || Augustus (25) || Brunson (14) || Whalen (8) || Target Center 7,556 || 4–1 |- align="center" bgcolor="bbffbb" | 6 || June 19 || 3:00pm || @ Atlanta || SSO || 77–64 || Augustus (19) || McWilliams-Franklin (12) || MooreWhalen (5) || Philips Arena 7,274 || 5–1 |- align="center" bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 7 || June 24 || 10:00pm || @ Seattle || KONG || 55–65 || Augustus (17) || McWilliams-Franklin (8) || Whalen (3) || KeyArena 7,914 || 5–2 |- align="center" bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 8 || June 26 || 7:00pm || Indiana || NBATVFS-N || 75–78 || Moore (21) || Brunson (11) || Whalen (4) || Target Center 7,117 || 5–3 |- align="center" bgcolor="bbffbb" | 9 || June 30 || 8:00pm || @ Tulsa || || 101–73 || Whalen (21) || McWilliams-Franklin (9) || Whalen (5) || BOK Center 3,970 || 6–3 |- y background:#3CBC71; color:white July Game Date Time (ET) Opponent TV Score High points High rebounds High assists Location/Attendance Record |- align="center" bgcolor="bbffbb" | 10 || July 9 || 8:00pm || Connecticut || NBATVFS-N || 90–67 || Moore (26) || BrunsonMcWilliams-Franklin (10) || Whalen (8) || Target Center 8,205 || 7–3 |- align="center" bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 11 || July 13 || 1:00pm || Phoenix || NBATVFS-NFS-A || 105–112 || Augustus (22) || Brunson (16) || Whalen (6) || Target Center 11,820 || 7–4 |- align="center" bgcolor="bbffbb" | 12 || July 15 || 7:00pm || @ Indiana || || 80–70 || Brunson (20) || McWilliams-Franklin (9) || Whalen (7) || Conseco Fieldhouse 7,538 || 8–4 |- align="center" bgcolor="bbffbb" | 13 || July 16 || 8:00pm || Seattle || || 69–62 || Augustus (19) || Moore (9) || McWilliams-Franklin (4) || Target Center 7,733 || 9–4 |- align="center" bgcolor="bbffbb" | 14 || July 20 || 3:30pm || @ Phoenix || NBATVFS-A || 106–98 || Augustus (25) || AugustusBrunson (6) || Whalen (8) || US Airways Center 12,118 || 10–4 |- | colspan="11" align="center" valign="middle" | All-Star break |- align="center" bgcolor="bbffbb" | 15 || July 26 || 8:00pm || Los Angeles || || 85–72 || Augustus (22) || McWilliams-Franklin (9) || Whalen (7) || Target Center 8,044 || 11–4 |- align="center" bgcolor="bbffbb" | 16 || July 29 || 8:00pm || Seattle || || 92–67 || AugustusWiggins (16) || Augustus (5) || Moore (6) || Target Center 7,856 || 12–4 |- align="center" bgcolor="bbffbb" | 17 || July 31 || 3:00pm || @ San Antonio || NBATV || 70–69 || Whalen (23) || Brunson (13) || Whalen (6) || AT&T Center 7,260 || 13–4 |- y background:#3CBC71; color:white August Game Date Time (ET) Opponent TV Score High points High rebounds High assists Location/Attendance Record |- align="center" bgcolor="bbffbb" | 18 || August 2 || 8:00pm || Phoenix || ESPN2 || 90–73 || Moore (22) || McWilliams-Franklin (10) || Whalen (5) || Target Center 7,126 || 14–4 |- align="center" bgcolor="bbffbb" | 19 || August 4 || 8:00pm || San Antonio || NBATVFS-SW || 62–60 || McWilliams-Franklin (18) || Brunson (13) || Whalen (6) || Target Center 8,123 || 15–4 |- align="center" bgcolor="bbffbb" | 20 || August 7 || 8:30pm || @ Los Angeles || NBATV || 84–78 || Whalen (24) || AugustusBrunson (7) || Whalen (8) || Staples Center 13,528 || 16–4 |- align="center" bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 21 || August 9 || 10:00pm || @ Phoenix || || 80–85 || Moore (28) || Brunson (11) || Whalen (6) || US Airways Center 6,726 || 16–5 |- align="center" bgcolor="bbffbb" | 22 || August 12 || 8:30pm || @ Chicago || CN100 || 79–76 || Whalen (16) || Brunson (11) || Whalen (6) || Allstate Arena 6,289 || 17–5 |- align="center" bgcolor="bbffbb" | 23 || August 14 || 7:00pm || Tulsa || NBATVFS-NCOX || 82–54 || Augustus (16) || Brunson (6) || Whalen (9) || Target Center 8,388 || 18–5 |- align="center" bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 24 || August 16 || 7:30pm || @ Connecticut || CSN-NE || 79–108 || Whalen (20) || BrunsonMoore (5) || McWilliams-Franklin (3) || Mohegan Sun Arena 9,323 || 18–6 |- align="center" bgcolor="bbffbb" | 25 || August 18 || 7:00pm || @ Washington || || 81–62 || Augustus (18) || McWilliams-Franklin (7) || Whalen (7) || Verizon Center 9,483 || 19–6 |- align="center" bgcolor="bbffbb" | 26 || August 20 || 8:00pm || Los Angeles || || 87–68 || Augustus (17) || McWilliams-Franklin (8) || Whalen (5) || Target Center 8,816 || 20–6 |- align="center" bgcolor="bbffbb" | 27 || August 23 || 8:00pm || @ Tulsa || || 78–72 || McWilliams-Franklin (18) || Brunson (10) || McWilliams-FranklinWhalen (4) || BOK Center 3,750 || 21–6 |- align="center" bgcolor="bbffbb" | 28 || August 26 || 8:00pm || San Antonio || NBATV || 85–75 || Augustus (19) || Brunson (8) || Whalen (9) || Target Center 9,212 || 22–6 |- align="center" bgcolor="bbffbb" | 29 || August 28 || 3:00pm || @ San Antonio || || 72–61 || Augustus (20) || Brunson (14) || 4 players (3) || AT&T Center 7,924 || 23–6 |- align="center" bgcolor="bbffbb" | 30 || August 30 || 8:00pm || Washington || || 73–56 || Whalen (21) || Brunson (7) || Whalen (5) || Target Center 8,065 || 24–6 |- y background:#3CBC71; color:white September Game Date Time (ET) Opponent TV Score High points High rebounds High assists Location/Attendance Record |- align="center" bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 31 || September 2 || 8:00pm || New York || || 62–78 || Augustus (17) || Brunson (8) || Augustus (6) || Target Center 8,929 || 24–7 |- align="center" bgcolor="bbffbb" | 32 || September 4 || 4:00pm || @ New York || || 86–68 || Moore (19) || BrunsonMcWilliams-FranklinMoore (6) || Whalen (7) || Prudential Center 8,247 || 25–7 |- align="center" bgcolor="bbffbb" | 33 || September 8 || 8:00pm || Chicago || NBATVFS-NCN100 || 78–69 || Augustus (22) || MooreWhalen (7) || Whalen (10) || Target Center 8,781 || 26–7 |- align="center" bgcolor="bbffbb" | 34 || September 11 || 6:00pm || @ Phoenix || FS-A || 96–90 || AugustusMooreWright (15) || Adair (13) || Wright (6) || US Airways Center 12,666 || 27–7 |- | All games are viewable on WNBA LiveAccess or ESPN3.com Postseason background:#054EA4; color:white 2011 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 16 || 9:00pm || San Antonio || NBATV || 66–65 || Whalen (20) || Brunson (14) || Whalen (5) || Target Center 11,891 || 1–0 |- align="center" bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 2 || September 18 || 5:00pm || @ San Antonio || ESPN2 || 75-84 || Augustus (24) || Brunson (16) || Whalen (3) || AT&T Center 7,023 || 1–1 |- align="center" bgcolor="bbffbb" | 3 || September 20 || 8:00pm || San Antonio || ESPN2 || 85–67 || Augustus (22) || Brunson (9) || AugustusMcWilliams-FranklinMoore (4) || Target Center 8,734 || 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 || September 22 || 9:00pm || Phoenix || ESPN2 || 95–67 || Augustus (21) || Brunson (13) || Augustus (7) || Target Center 8,912 || 1–0 |- align="center" bgcolor="bbffbb" | 2 || September 25 || 5:00pm || @ Phoenix || ESPN2 || 103–86 || McWilliams-FranklinMoore (21) || Brunson (9) || McWilliams-Franklin (7) || US Airways Center 8,617 || 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="bbffbb" | 1 || October 2 || 8:30pm || Atlanta || ESPN || 88–74 || Brunson (26) || Brunson (11) || Augustus (7) || Target Center 15,258 || 1–0 |- align="center" bgcolor="bbffbb" | 2 || October 5 || 8:00pm || Atlanta || ESPN2 || 101–95 || Augustus (36) || Augustus (8) || Whalen (4) || Target Center 15,124 || 2–0 |- align="center" bgcolor="bbffbb" | 3 || October 7 || 8:00pm || @ Atlanta || ESPN2 || 73–67 || Augustus (16) || Brunson (9) || AugustusMcWilliams-Franklin (4)|| Philips Arena 11,543 || 3–0 |- Statistics Regular season Player GP GS MPG FG% 3P% FT% RPG APG SPG BPG PPG Adair, Jessica Jessica Adair 31 1 10.4 .485 .000 .653 2.9 0.3 0.26 0.58 4.3 Augustus, Seimone Seimone Augustus34 34 29.3 .504 .417 .865 3.5 2.2 0.88 0.44 16.2 Brunson, Rebekkah Rebekkah Brunson34 34 27.6 .511 .000 .667 8.9 1.2 0.82 0.53 10.2 Harris, Amber Amber Harris 27 0 10.3 .398 .000 .742 2.2 0.4 0.11 0.41 3.3 Hornbuckle, Alexis Alexis Hornbuckle 29 0 7.2 .375 .294 .500 1.1 0.6 0.34 0.10 1.1 Houston, Charde Charde Houston 27 0 7.8 .365 .261 .750 1.7 0.5 0.33 0.07 2.9 McWilliams-Franklin, Taj Taj McWilliams-Franklin34 33 28.4 .444 .222 .770 6.0 2.4 1.03 0.71 8.3 Moore, Maya Maya Moore34 34 28.0 .439 .369 .788 4.6 2.6 1.41 0.47 13.2 Whalen, Lindsay Lindsay Whalen34 34 28.1 .511 .405 .730 3.5 5.9 1.09 0.15 13.6 Wiggins, Candice Candice Wiggins34 0 17.1 .386 .395 .625 1.9 1.5 0.53 0.21 5.9 Wright, Monica Monica Wright 29 0 13.6 .379 .259 .750 1.6 1.1 0.79 0.17 5.1 Postseason Player GP GS MPG FG% 3P% FT% RPG APG SPG BPG PPG Adair, Jessica Jessica Adair 8 0 12.3 .469 .000 .667 3.60 0.3 0.63 0.63 5.8 Augustus, Seimone Seimone Augustus 8 8 33.0 .527 .438 .886 4.50 3.8 0.88 0.63 22.0 Brunson, Rebekkah Rebekkah Brunson 8 8 30.6 .473 .000 .781 10.80 1.5 0.88 0.63 11.9 Harris, Amber Amber Harris 6 0 5.2 .400 1.000 .000 1.20 0.2 0.17 0.00 1.5 Hornbuckle, Alexis Alexis Hornbuckle 4 0 3.8 .600 .000 1.000 1.30 1.3 0.00 0.50 2.8 Houston, Charde Charde Houston 2 0 6.0 .375 .000 .000 2.00 0.5 0.50 0.00 3.0 McWilliams-Franklin, Taj Taj McWilliams-Franklin 8 8 30.3 .455 .000 .833 5.30 3.3 0.60 1.25 10.6 Moore, Maya Maya Moore 8 8 27.9 .458 .400 .690 5.90 2.3 1.00 0.63 13.8 Whalen, Lindsay Lindsay Whalen 8 8 32.0 .463 .286 .818 3.60 3.8 1.50 0.50 12.0 Wiggins, Candice Candice Wiggins 8 0 16.0 .345 .348 .667 1.60 1.3 0.25 0.13 4.0 Wright, Monica Monica Wright 8 0 10.6 .360 .250 .333 1.30 0.6 0.75 0.25 2.5 Awards and honors Rebekkah Brunson was named WNBA Western Conference Player of the Week for the week of June 3, 2011. Rebekkah Brunson was named WNBA Western Conference Player of the Week for the week of July 11, 2011. Seimone Augustus was named WNBA Western Conference Player of the Week for the week of July 18, 2011. Seimone Augustus was named WNBA Western Conference Player of the Week for the week of August 1, 2011. Seimone Augustus was named WNBA Western Conference Player of the Week for the week of August 22, 2011. Rebekkah Brunson was named WNBA Western Conference Player of the Month for the month of June. Seimone Augustus was named WNBA Western Conference Player of the Month for the month of July. Lindsay Whalen was named WNBA Western Conference Player of the Month for the month of August. Maya Moore was named WNBA Rookie of the Month for the month of July. Maya Moore was named WNBA Rookie of the Month for the month of August. Seimone Augustus was named to the 2011 WNBA All-Star Team as a reserve. Rebekkah Brunson was named to the 2011 WNBA All-Star Team as a reserve. Maya Moore was named to the 2011 WNBA All-Star Team as a starter. Lindsay Whalen was named to the 2011 WNBA All-Star Team as a reserve. Lindsay Whalen finished as a Peak Performer, averaging 5.9 assists per game. Rebekkah Brunson was named to the All-Defensive First Team. Maya Moore was named Rookie of the Year. Maya Moore was named to the All-Rookie Team. Lindsay Whalen was named to the All-WNBA First Team. Seimone Augustus was named to the All-WNBA Second Team. Cheryl Reeve was named Coach of the Year. Seimone Augustus was named Finals Most Valuable Player. References External links Lynx look to keep ‘Special Season’ going as second half begins Category:Minnesota Lynx seasons Minnesota Category:WNBA championship seasons Category:Western Conference (WNBA) championship seasons Minnesota Lynx