Minnesota Lynx First Basket Stats 2026: Who Scores First
Natasha Howard scored the Lynx’s first basket more than anyone in 2026: 11 times in 45 starts, or 24% of the games they started. Courtney Williams was next with 11. The Lynx made the game’s first field goal in 39% of their 46 games and won 19% of their opening tipoffs. Everything below is counted from the play-by-play of every 2026 game (330 regular season, 16 playoffs, 1 play-in).
Who scored the first basket for the Lynx in 2026
First basket for team is the first field goal by any MIN player; first basket of game is the game’s first field goal by anyone. Rates are per game started.
| Player | Starts | First basket for MIN | Rate | First basket of game | Rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Natasha Howard | 45 | 11 | 24% | 6 | 13% |
| Courtney Williams | 44 | 11 | 25% | 5 | 11% |
| Olivia Miles | 41 | 10 | 24% | 2 | 5% |
| Kayla McBride | 45 | 6 | 13% | 1 | 2% |
| Nia Coffey | 27 | 5 | 19% | 2 | 7% |
| Napheesa Collier | 18 | 2 | 11% | 1 | 6% |
| Maya Caldwell | 5 | 1 | 20% | 1 | 20% |
How often the Lynx scored first
| Split | Games | Scored first | Rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| All games | 46 | 18 | 39% |
| Home | 23 | 11 | 48% |
| Away | 23 | 7 | 30% |
| Regular season | 44 | 17 | 39% |
| Playoffs | 2 | 1 | 50% |
Opening tipoff
| Jumper | Tipoffs | Won | Rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| Natasha Howard | 43 | 8 | 19% |
| Team | 43 | 8 | 19% |
How the Lynx’s first baskets were scored
| Method | First baskets | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Layup | 22 | 48% |
| 3-pointer | 12 | 26% |
| Other 2-pointer (jumper, hook, tip) | 12 | 26% |
2025
| Player | Starts | First basket for MIN | Rate | First basket of game | Rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kayla McBride | 0 | 12 | – | 6 | – |
| Courtney Williams | 0 | 10 | – | 5 | – |
| Napheesa Collier | 0 | 9 | – | 4 | – |
| Alanna Smith | 0 | 9 | – | 3 | – |
| Jessica Shepard | 0 | 4 | – | 3 | – |
| Bridget Carleton | 0 | 4 | – | 2 | – |
| Karlie Samuelson | 0 | 1 | – | 0 | – |
| Player 1628926 | 0 | 1 | – | 0 | – |
Who scores the first basket most often for the Lynx?
Natasha Howard, with 11 of the Lynx’s first baskets in 2026 (24% of their 45 starts), ahead of Courtney Williams with 11.
How often do the Lynx score first?
The Lynx made the first field goal in 18 of 46 games in 2026 (39%): 48% at home and 30% on the road.
Who takes the opening tipoff for the Lynx?
Natasha Howard took 43 of the Lynx’s 43 opening tips in 2026 and won 19% of them.
Is Natasha Howard a good first basket bet?
That depends on the price. A player who scores first for their team in 24% of starts is worth a bet only when a book prices them below that, after adjusting for tonight’s lineup and opponent. Our models make that comparison every 30 minutes for every WNBA game; see WNBA first basket picks.
Source: WNBA play-by-play and box scores, 2026. Updated October 13, 2026. See the WNBA first basket leaders for every team, or all stats.