Courtney Williams Shines in 10th WNBA Season
Typically, basketball players hit their peak in their 30s, but Courtney Williams, a 32-year-old Minnesota Lynx guard, seems to be defying that trend in her 10th season in the WNBA. Remarkably, she’s playing some of the best basketball of her career.
In her third year with the Lynx under head coach Cheryl Reeve, Williams is achieving impressive averages—17.8 points, 5.2 rebounds, 4.1 assists, and 1.3 steals per game. Her shooting stats are noteworthy too: she’s hitting 50 percent from the field and an impressive 44.4 percent from three-point range. What’s more, she’s managing to minimize turnovers, averaging just 1.8 per game, which is her lowest since 2022.
Highlighting her season, Williams scored a season-high of 30 points in a dominant victory against the Phoenix Mercury. In that game, she made 13 of 20 field goal attempts within just 29 minutes of play, marking the fewest minutes logged in a 30-point game in franchise history.
The Lynx are thriving alongside her efforts, currently on a five-game winning streak with a league-leading record of 7 wins and 2 losses. They hold a commanding average of 12 points in scoring margins over their opponents—the best in the WNBA. For comparison, the Dallas Wings and Golden State Valkyries have the next best differential at +6.2 points, so the Lynx’s performance feels particularly standout.
Key Contributions from Teammates
While Williams is the leading scorer for both the team and the WNBA, she isn’t the sole reason for the Lynx’s success. Natasha Howard, at 34, is having a remarkable comeback. Averaging 16.6 points, 7.7 rebounds, 3.8 assists, and 1.4 steals per game, she’s providing valuable support on the defensive end. Kayla McBride is contributing with 13.2 points, though her three-point shooting sits unusually low at 28.6 percent. Nia Coffey, meanwhile, is enjoying a breakout season, averaging a career-high of 9.9 points.
The impact player may well be Olivia Miles, the No. 2 overall draft pick. Averaging 15.8 points, 6.2 assists, 5 rebounds, and 1.7 steals while shooting 49.5 percent from the field, she’s taken over the point guard duties, effectively allowing Williams to step into a scoring role, which is more suited to her strengths as opposed to her usual playmaking position.
The chemistry between Miles and Williams in the backcourt appears seamless. “The moment I stepped on the court, I was like, ‘Come on, run, I’m going to be your running mate,’” Miles expressed last week, emphasizing how natural it feels to play alongside Williams. “She’s in a natural position and in a place where she can grow. I think she’s playing the best basketball I’ve ever seen.”
Remarkably, despite losing several key rotation players during the offseason, including Alana Smith, Jessica Shepard, Natisha Heideman, and Bridget Carleton, the Lynx have managed to reach the top of the standings.
