The Lynx begin preseason play with a game against the Chicago Sky on Friday at Target Center, and for head coach/president of basketball operations Cheryl Reeve, there’s no time like now to get a look at how some key offseason acquisitions are going to pay off.

The Lynx lost their first six games last season but rebounded to finish 19-21 and qualify for the playoffs. Expectations are considerably higher this season. Reeve wants to win — expects to win — and that will be a focus with the first preseason game and beyond.

Along with a strong returning group that includes leading scorer Napheesa Collier ( 21.5 points, 8.5 rebounds per game) at forward, shooting guard Kayla McBride (14.3 points) and 2023 No. 1 pick Diamond Miller, the Lynx will feature Courtney Williams as the new starting point guard after signing the eight-year veteran as an unrestricted free agent.

“Courtney Williams is a really good basketball player,” Reeve said. “She’s a bucket. So when you watch her play, and you’re Phee or you’re K Mac, you’re, ‘Oh, this is nice to have.’

“And Courtney’s a communicator. She carved out that spot last year immediately as a Tier-1 point guard after, for years, being off-ball. It’s fun to watch. She’s a sponge; she wants it. I think it keeps things fresh.”

Collier expects Williams to pay big dividends for the Lynx.

“When you have more of a true point guard, it helps everyone on the court,” Collier said.

The Lynx also traded for Natisha Hiedeman to provide backcourt depth and drafted All-American forward Alissa Pili in the first round.

“I think we’re deeper,” Reeve said when asked how this team differs from the one a year ago. “We’ve added a little more firepower. Every position has great balance and have multiple
options.”

Collier said she has high expectations for what this team can deliver.

“I think we already had a great base here,” she said, “And then adding these players just brings us up to a whole new level; having a true point guard, having some depth at the shooting position.”

Collier said Reeve got the players’ attention from the first day of practice, with a not-so-subtle message of what is going to be expected of them.

“We started the first day with defense,” Collier said. “It’s an emphasis every year, but I don’t think we’ve ever started the first day with that before. It’s something she’s really honing in on this year.”

Reeve is confident that a Lynx fan base that has grown accustomed to winning is going to like what it sees in the 2024 version.

“More than anything, what we are excited about as we turned the page, so to speak, on a new era of Lynx basketball last season, I don’t think many people could see a vision forward or know the way forward,” Reeve said. “So, by season’s end, I think we found that; that footing, that vision that everyone could feel — and we built on that. We had a lot of successes last season, especially after starting the way we did. What we did last season didn’t necessarily come easy. It’s not a guarantee.

“That’s not necessarily a starting point. This team has to find its way. We want to grow. We ultimately want to be better than we were last season, and that means in the standings. That’s how we’ll measure ourselves.”

Briefly

McBride did not take part in Thursday’s workout as she is fighting a case of food poisoning. She is doubtful for the game.

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