Minnesota Lynx re-sign Kayla McBride, Courtney Williams for 2026 season

Name: Lynx roster shakeup includes signing Minnesota native Nia Coffey
Uploaded: 2026-04-12T15:29:17-05:00
Description: The Minnesota Lynx made several roster moves Sunday, including bringing back stars Kayla McBride and Courtney Williams. The Lynx also signed former Hopkins star Nia Coffey. FOX 9's Leon Purvis has more, including reaction from her father, former Gophers' legend Richard Coffey.

Lynx roster shakeup includes signing Minnesota native Nia Coffey

The Minnesota Lynx made several roster moves Sunday, including bringing back stars Kayla McBride and Courtney Williams. The Lynx also signed former Hopkins star Nia Coffey. FOX 9's Leon Purvis has more, including reaction from her father, former Gophers' legend Richard Coffey.

MINNEAPOLIS (FOX 9) - After losing a slew of players to WNBA free agency and the expansion draft, the Minnesota Lynx are bringing back two key pieces for the 2026 season.

Lynx re-sign Kayla McBride, Courtney Williams

What we know:

The Lynx announced Sunday they’ve re-signed All-Star guards Kayla McBride, and Courtney Williams.

A five-time All-Star, McBride is returning for her sixth season with the Lynx. She started 39 games last season and averaged 14.2 points per game while shooting 41.6% from the floor, and 39.5% from the perimeter. McBride finished last season second in the WNBA with 103 made 3-pointers, and was fourth in free-throw percentage at 90.5%.

McBride helped lead the Lynx to the WNBA Finals in 2024, and a Commissioner’s Cup title.

Williams is a two-time All-Star and is entering her third season with the Lynx. She started all 44 games last season and averaged 13.6 points per game while shooting 42.8% from the floor. She also averaged 6.2 assists, 4.9 rebounds and 1.2 steals per game. Her 271 assists last season were second in the league.

Nia Coffey coming home

The backstory:

Minneapolis native Nia Coffey is coming home. The Lynx announced Sunday they’ve signed the former Hopkins standout after she spent the last four seasons with the Atlanta Dream.

Coffey, a 6-1 forward, appeared in all 44 games for the Dream last year and averaged 3.4 points, 2.3 rebounds and 1.1 assists. Coffey was the No. 5 overall pick by the San Antonio Stars in 2017.

Coffey spent this past WNBA offseason playing with Valencia Basket in Spain’s LF Endesa and EuroLeague. She averaged 7.9 points and 3.6 rebounds per game while shooting 53.8% from the field. FOX 9 spoke with her father, Richard Coffey, about her coming home to play for the Lynx this season.

"I Think she's excited. We all are excited. You know when, when you play high school basketball here and so much success, and just looking at her journey that has now led her back home, I think everybody in our family is super excited," Richard said. "We're just trying to take it all in. I know Nia has to come here from Atlanta and get settled in, so I'm looking forward to that she's been gone for a long time, so the family is excited for her to come back and just get re-integrated, back with the with the community here. So I think everybody is really happy right now for her."

Lynx departures

Why you should care:

The Lynx lost four players in the offseason between WNBA free agency, and the league’s expansion draft. Alanna Smith, Jessica Sheppard and Natisha Hiedeman left for other teams, and Bridget Carleton signed with Portland after being selected in the expansion draft.

Signing Napheesa Collier

Dig deeper:

The biggest task for the Lynx will be bringing back star Napheesa Collier, who has spent most of the offseason recovering from having surgery on both ankles. It caused her to miss her own offseason 3-on-3 league, Unrivaled, which gives WNBA players the chance to remain in the country after the season to play, rather than go overseas.