Lynx Offseason Update: McBride Drops 30; Shepard, Allen Near Double-Doubles

Happy New Year to all of you!

With 2023 gone and 2024 officially here, the WNBA offseason is about to heat up with WNBA Free Agency kicking off in mid-January with players officially being able to sign with teams starting Feb. 1.

Before that takes place, Minnesota Lynx players and other players throughout the league have been taking the court overseas in preparation for the 2024 WNBA campaign. The Lynx have a total of eight players who are playing overseas, not counting Napheesa Collier, who played in Turkey earlier this offseason, and Diamond MIller, who returned home after playing in Hungary at the start of the offseason. Minnesota’s Kayla McBride, Nina Milić, Tiffany Mitchell, Lindsay Allen, Jessica Shepard, Dorka Juhász, Diamond Miller, Maia Hirsch and Bridget Carleton are playing overseas in Turkey, Italy, Hungary, France and Rwanda this offseason.

In last week’s update, Shepard and Carleton continued to thrive overseas, Mitchell wrapped up her time with REG and more. Let’s look at how the Lynx have performed over the past week around the globe.

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Kayla McBride and Nina Milić

Istanbul, Turkey

The Lynx duo of McBride and Milić have put together strong offseasons with global powerhouse Fenerbahçe and continued that once again over the past week with a pair of games on the schedule.

In a 103-83 win over Galatasaray in Turkey-KBSL action on Dec. 27, McBride led all scorers with 30 points on eight threes, seven assists, three rebounds, one steal and one block over 36 minutes. Milić didn’t appear in that game for Fenerbahçe.

To cap off the week on Dec. 30, Fenerbahçe topped Emlak 96-58 in a Turkey-KBSL contest, with McBride tallying 19 points, five assists, four rebounds and one steal over 26 minutes and Milić posting 17 points, six rebounds, two steals and one block over 29 minutes.

Fenerbahçe will have a stretch off to begin the new year before returning to action on Jan. 11 against Dorka Juhász and Famila Schio in a EuroLeague battle.

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Jessica Shepard

Venice, Italy

Shepard has had an impressive offseason for Umana Reyer Venezia, posting nearly a double-double on a nightly basis. Over the past week, she nearly recorded another double-double in one game.

In a 70-55 win over San Martino in Italy-Serie A1 action on Dec. 30, Shepard tallied 10 points, eight rebounds and two assists over 25 minutes per game.

Umana Reyer Venezia will have a stretch off before returning to action in the EuroCup playoffs on Jan. 11 against Gdynia.

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Lindsay Allen

Ankara, Turkey

Allen has been consistent with Botas SK this offseason, leading…