Lynx Offseason Update: Kalya McBride, Fenerbahçe Win Turkish Cup

As we prepare for the start of WNBA Free Agency this week, with teams able to start offering qualifying offers to players starting Jan. 11, Minnesota Lynx players and other players throughout the league are continuing their offseasons across the globe while preparing 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 and France this offseason.

In last week’s update, McBride led Fenerbahçe with a 30-point outing, Allen and Shepard put forth near double-double outings and more. Let’s look at how the Lynx have performed over the past week around the globe.

Photo by ALTAN GOCHER/Middle East Images/AFP via Getty Images

Kayla McBride and Nina Milić

Istanbul, Turkey

The Lynx duo of McBride and Milić have led global powerhouse Fenerbahçe this offseason, adding to the team’s rapidly growing trophy case over the past week in the Turkish Cup.

Fenerbahçe topped CBK Mersin 79-76 in overtime on Jan. 5 in the Turkish Cup Championship Game to claim their third title over the last four Turkish Cup tournaments.

In that outing, McBride led the way with a team-high 17 points, six assists, four rebounds and two steals in 39 minutes, while Milić didn’t appear in the contest. Earlier in the week, Fenerbahçe topped Nesibe Aydin 96-57 and Ormanspor 93-86 to reach the title game.

Fenerbahçe will return to action this week with a matchup against Dorka Juhász and Famila Schio in a EuroLeague battle on Jan. 11.

Photo by Jordan Johnson/NBAE via Getty Images

Lindsay Allen

Ankara, Turkey

Allen has been consistent with Botas SK this offseason, and she turned that up a notch this week with her best outing of the offseason thus far.

Allen and Botas SK topped CBK Mersin 83-79 on Jan. 7 with Allen putting forth an impressive outing with 17 points, 15 assists and five rebounds over 40 minutes.

Botas SK and Allen return to the court on Jan. 14 when they face Galatasaray in a Turkey-KBSL contest.

Photo by Jordan Johnson/NBAE via Getty Images

Bridget Carleton

Györ, Hungary

Carleton has put together a strong offseason with UNI Györ, leading the team offensively again over the past week with one game on the schedule.

In a 90-65 blowout win over Vasas Akemedia on Jan. 6, Carleton led the team with a trio of threes to conclude with a team-high-tying 15 points, team-high marks of six steals…