MINNEAPOLIS — Success during the earliest years of Minnesota Lynx basketball depended largely on the franchise’s first superstar, Katie Smith. Smith’s Hall-of-Fame career launched as the Lynx played their inaugural season in 1999, and she quickly established herself as one of the best players in the WNBA.
Minnesota’s biggest offensive weapon in those days was the former Ohio State Buckeye’s long-range shooting. Smith made early franchise history by drilling 88 shots from beyond the arc in 2000, which was a WNBA record at the time. It stood leaguewide until 2006, when Phoenix Mercury guard Diana Taurasi hit 121, but it would remain a Lynx record for a quarter century.
Smith’s franchise record was finally eclipsed by not one but two members of this Lynx team, which has been historically good at 3-point shooting. Guard Kayla McBride became the first Lynx and just the 13th WNBA player ever to make at least 100 threes in the regular season, finishing with 105. Forward Bridget Carleton finished No. 2 in franchise history with 91. Both also finished among the league’s best in 3-point percentage (Carleton at 44.4%, McBride at 40.7%).
And both, of course, have developed under Smith’s tutelage, as the Lynx legend is now the team’s associate head coach.
“It’s awesome,” Smith told The Next before the regular-season finale about the duo breaking records. “You don’t think about it, but it’s fun when they do it and our names pop up. … I’m so proud of them. Their whole approach this year, yes, knocking down threes because that’s what they do, but it’s just so much fun to coach them. Because they are workers and they obviously have a skill set that’s pretty special and they’ve had amazing years.”
Launching from deep without hesitation has been a key component of the Lynx’s identity all season. For example, look no further than a small piece of poetry in the Lynx’s last road game of the season on Tuesday. Carleton hit a game-winning three from 33 feet out with four seconds on the clock. It was her 89th make of the season, moving her past Smith and next to McBride on the franchise’s 3-point podium.
“Oh my gosh! I was so happy she didn’t hesitate,” Smith said when asked what went through her mind as Carleton released the game-winning attempt. “Yeah, ‘Shoot it.’ Another thing for us as coaches is to keep them confident. Even when they’re missing, I think every shot is going in that K-Mac and BC take. It’s like, ‘That’s a great shot, keep shooting, don’t hang your head.’
“I was pumped that she did not hesitate, caught it and shot it. I like that mindset of, ‘Clock’s going down, I’m locked and loaded.’”
BC and K-Mac have been ready all season for Minnesota. Together, they shot 196-for-453 for a combined percentage of 43.2%. Indiana guards Caitlin Clark and Kelsey Mitchell were the only pair of teammates to hit more, but they did so on considerably more attempts (231-for-626, or 36.9%).
Lynx head coach and president of basketball operations Cheryl Reeve made it clear from Day 1 of training camp that one of the team’s goals was to be among the league leaders in threes. She didn’t mean necessarily in attempts, but in the quality of the attempts the offense could generate for its sharpshooters. Minnesota’s league-leading 38.0% 3-point shooting doesn’t happen without its league-leading 23.0 assists per game and vice versa.
“The way the ball moves,” McBride said when asked how she was able to match a WNBA record of 15 made threes over two games earlier this season. “As a shooter, especially someone who likes to catch and shoot threes, you love that. You’re kind of chomping at the bit. It’s like when a team calls zone, me and BC are just salivating. We’re sharing the ball and we make the right play.”
Constant ball movement and passing up a good shot for a better one have been trademarks for the Lynx and massive parts of why they enter the playoffs as the No. 2 seed. The better shot this season has often been Carleton or McBride open beyond the arc. During Minnesota’s statement-making final road trip of the season, McBride buried the final dagger in an 88-79 win against the New York Liberty on Sunday, and Carleton’s game-winner from deeper than deep sunk the Connecticut Sun two days later.
The confidence Minnesota’s snipers have in themselves and in each other is clear when the lights are brightest. A trust and a bond have been built between the two from the time spent as shooting partners, putting in the work together when no one else is watching.
“Every time she shoots the ball, I think it’s going in,” Carleton said of McBride earlier this season. “We obviously know what she’s capable of. … It adds such a different dynamic to our team, and it’s been incredible to witness this stretch.”
Minnesota’s two most prolific deep threats shooting together every day over the past couple seasons has helped lay the foundation for the success they’re enjoying now. Smith has helped facilitate some of those workouts in the past, and this year’s sessions have been with player development coach and video coordinator Damon Jones.
“Obviously, Bridget’s really had a breakout year,” McBride said. “I think it’s a testament to the work that she’s put in every day before practice. We’re there an hour early in our slot with Dame getting our shots up. There’s some parts that are competitive, some parts that are just consistent. If one of us shot bad in the game before, [we] just encourage one another to be the best.”
Subpar shooting nights have been few and far between for both snipers this season, and the likelihood of one catching fire during a moment of need has been a dramatic advantage for the Lynx.
“They’ve been [shooting partners] for a couple years. It’s not uncommon for the same position to do that,” Reeve said. “But I think those two in particular, I think of K-Mac’s leadership in that area and obviously BC’s evolution and confidence. I suspect that it’s contagious when you’re shooting with K-Mac, so it’s a perfect pairing for sure and they bring out the best in each other.”
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Carleton’s emergence has unlocked another level of Minnesota’s offense, which has at times made the team virtually unguardable.
“It’s really cool,” McBride said of the duo setting a franchise record together. “… When everybody knows you’re a shooter and you still get your shots off, that’s when you know you’re doing something right.”
Carleton has always been trusted to hit the open three, but she reached new heights in 2024, even with opposing defenses doing everything they could to take those opportunities away. That was another goal Reeve prioritized for Carleton and the team before the season started.
“She had a great season overseas and obviously too with Canada. I think she’s stepped into that new role and I think that’s translated here,” McBride said. “She’s more confident in her game and in herself, and that’s really all it is. She’s always been somebody who works really hard. She’s kind of been that person that would do everything, do it all on defense, and now being able to add that layer to her game offensively has really taken it to the next level.”
It’s helpful for the Lynx, and maybe even a little unfair to the opposition, that both players have also been elite defensive pieces.
“She’s been incredible all season on both ends of the court,” Carleton said of McBride. “She’s able to put up numbers on offense, obviously the 3-point shooting, but also getting into the paint and facilitating. Defensively, she’s guarding the best perimeter offensive player every single game. She’s been a great leader for us and I think she deserves all the things, including All-WNBA.
“She’s physical. She’s quick. She knows the game so well she can see the play happening before it happens. And she’s annoying to play against. I felt it in practice before, so I know what it’s like for the opposing teams.”
While a historically prolific regular season is a nice accomplishment, Carleton, McBride and the rest of the Lynx hope the daily routine of being shooting partners continues well into October.
“They really do pull each other along and make it fun for each other,” Smith said. “It’s a long year, stressful, it gets grindy at times, but they bring the joy. They bring the energy and are positive every single day, and that’s key to being consistent. Just showing up locked in on everything, because that’s just made our team that much better.”
