Minnesota Lynx Team History
Lynx Team Creation
On April 22, 1998, the WNBA announced they would add two expansion teams (Minnesota and the Orlando Miracle) for the 1999 season. The team was officially named the Minnesota Lynx on December 5, 1998. The Lynx started their inaugural season in 1999 with 12,122 fans in attendance to watch the first regular-season game against the Detroit Shock at Target Center. The Lynx defeated Detroit 68–51 in the franchise’s first game. They finished their first season 15–17 overall and held the same record in 2000.
2011 WNBA Champs
The 2011 WNBA season is the 15th season of the Women’s National Basketball Association. The regular season began on June 3 with the Los Angeles Sparks hosting the Minnesota Lynx, featuring 2011 WNBA Draft top pick Maya Moore, in a game televised on NBA TV. Four games followed the next day, with the marquee matchup, televised on ABC, featuring the defending champion Seattle Storm and the Phoenix Mercury in Seattle.
The Minnesota Lynx finished the regular season with the best record in the league at 27-7, and were the top seed in the Western Conference. The Indiana Fever were the top seed in the Eastern Conference. The Lynx ultimately advanced to face the Atlanta Dream in the 2011 WNBA Finals.
2013 WNBA Champs
The 2013 WNBA season was the 17th season of the Women’s National Basketball Association. The regular season began on May 24, and playoffs concluded on October 10. The Minnesota Lynx won their second league championship, defeating the Atlanta Dream three games to none in the 2013 WNBA Finals. The year represented a positive turning point for the long-struggling league. Both attendance and television viewership were up, driven by an influx of talented rookies, multiple teams reported that they were near a break-even point, and at least one franchise announced that it was profitable.
2015 WNBA Champs
The 2015 WNBA season was the 19th season of the Women’s National Basketball Association (WNBA). The regular season started on June 5 and playoffs concluded on October 14.
The Minnesota Lynx beat the Indiana Fever 69–52 in game five of the Finals on October 14 to clinch a third WNBA title in five years.
2017 WNBA Champions
The 2017 WNBA season was the 21st season of the Women’s National Basketball Association (WNBA). Its regular season began on May 13 with three games, highlighted by the defending WNBA champion Los Angeles Sparks hosting the Seattle Storm. It concluded on September 3. The playoffs began on September 6, and concluded on October 4, with the Minnesota Lynx defeating the Sparks in five games to win their fourth WNBA title.
The Minnesota Lynx are a professional basketball team based in Minneapolis, Minnesota, playing in the Western Conference in the Women’s National Basketball Association (WNBA). The team won the WNBA title in 2011, 2013, 2015, and 2017.
Founded prior to the 1999 season, the team is owned by Glen Taylor, who is also the majority owner of the Lynx’ NBA counterpart, the Minnesota Timberwolves.
Established
1999
City
Minneapolis
League History
1999 – Present / Women’s National Basketball Association
Team History
1999 – Present / Minnesota Lynx
Nickname
Lynx – The Lynx is the wild animal like their partner the Timberwolves, the name and logo has its relation to the NBA Minnesota Timberwolves.
Championship
WNBA Championships 4
2011, 2013, 2015, 2017
Arena
1999 – Present / Target Center
2016 – 2017 / Xcel Energy Center
Owner
1999 – Present / Glen Taylor
Retired Number
*Blue is this team’s history