Chicago, IL—-After weeks of training camp and anticipation, the Minnesota Lynx officially tipped off their 2025 WNBA preseason with a matchup against the Chicago Sky on Tuesday in the Windy City.
The game marked the first of two preseason meetings between the two teams, with the rematch scheduled for Saturday in Minneapolis.
Short-handed without Kayla McBride, Dorka Juhász, Diamond Miller, and Jessica Shepard, Minnesota used a rotation of 11 players in the opener. Despite a strong second-half push, the Lynx ultimately fell 74-69 to the Sky in a tightly contested battle.
Early Struggles, Late Push:
Minnesota’s offense sputtered out of the gate, connecting on just 16.7% of its shots in the first quarter and quickly falling behind by double digits. The Sky took advantage, building a lead as large as 13 in the opening period.
Things began to click in the second quarter. The Lynx sparked an 11-0 run to climb back into the game, trimming the deficit while still struggling to find their rhythm from beyond the arc — they hit only one of 12 threes in the first half.
In the second half, Minnesota surged ahead briefly, even holding a three-point lead in the fourth quarter. But Chicago responded with a late run that sealed the win and held off a potential Lynx comeback.
Standout Performers:
While starters Courtney Williams, Natisha Hiedeman, Bridget Carleton, Napheesa Collier, and Alanna Smith had an uneven night shooting, Smith led the way with 10 points, nine rebounds, and four assists in 21 minutes.
It was the Lynx bench that made the biggest impression. Alissa Pili tallied nine points and two steals in a team-high 18 minutes off the bench. Marième Badiane contributed seven points and a pair of blocks in 14 minutes, while Grace Berger added seven points in 15 minutes of action.
Notable Debuts:
Two rookies made their official WNBA debuts in the contest. Marième Badiane, a 30-year-old first-year player from France, entered in the second quarter and made an immediate impact with her poise and fit in the team’s offensive flow.
Anastasiia Olairi Kosu, the 15th overall pick in the 2025 WNBA Draft, saw her first minutes in the fourth quarter. The 20-year-old Russian forward added four points and four rebounds in just six minutes on the floor.
What’s Next:
The Lynx and Sky will meet again on Saturday, May 10, to close out preseason play at Target Center in Minneapolis. Tipoff is set for 7 p.m. CT, with the game airing locally on FanDuel Sports Network North.
