Courtney Williams Shares Emotional Reaction After Lynx Captain Nod

The reaction told the full story, as Williams has been a cornerstone of the Lynx’s recent run, averaging 13.6 points, 6.2 assists and 4.9 rebounds across all 44 games last season. She ended up finishing second in the WNBA in total assists at 271.

Courtney Williams also set a new franchise single-season assist record, surpassing the mark she had set in 2024.

That body of work earned her a two-year deal, reported by ESPN’s Alexa Philippou at $2.4 million, and now a captaincy to go with it.

Cheryl Reeve’s statement at the re-signing made the decision feel like a mere formality.

“Courtney has been such a special part of the Lynx for the last two seasons,” Reeve said. “The passion and joy she plays with elevates our team to great heights.”

But what went unsaid was the consistency that statement implied, as Courtney Williams started every game, played through a ruptured thumb ligament in 2024, and delivered a 15.7-point, 6.0-assist, 2.7-steal playoff average last postseason before Minnesota’s run ended against Phoenix.

That being said, her captaincy lands at a moment of genuine transition.

Courtney Williams Steps Into Leadership as Lynx Rebuild Backcourt

Six of the Lynx’s top nine rotation players departed this offseason either through free agency or the expansion draft, and the list includes Natisha Hiedeman, Williams’ “StudBudz” partner and closest teammate, who signed with the Seattle Storm.

Williams’ reaction to that move, per Dukowitz, was characteristically raw.

“It’s like seeing your baby fly away,” Courtney Williams said. “I was so sick.”

However, what Minnesota added to compensate is notable, as the Lynx selected TCU point guard Olivia Miles with the No. 2 overall pick in the 2026 WNBA Draft, a pass-first playmaker with elite vision and size at the position.