The Minnesota Lynx are the best team in the WNBA today. With rookie guard Olivia Miles leading the way, averaging 19.7 points, 4.6 rebounds, 6.1 assists and 1.3 steals per game, the franchise has compiled a 31-8 record.
Napheesa Collier’s midseason return after recovering from two ankle surgeries has only bolstered the team. So far, the Lynx are the only team in the WNBA to be in the top three in both offensive and defensive ratings.
However, before the WNBA break for the FIBA Women’s Basketball World Cup, two Lynx players left the team early.
On Tuesday, the Lynx confirmed that the contracts of forward Dorka Juhasz and guard Antonia Delaere have been “temporarily suspended,” via the WNBA’s transactions page.
Matt Krohn-Imagn Images via Reuters Connect
Both players have left the Lynx in order to join their respective national teams in preparation for the FIBA Women’s Basketball World Cup, which is scheduled to take place in Berlin, Germany, from Sept. 4 to 13.
Juhasz has been named to the Hungarian national team, while Delaere has been selected for the Belgian national team.
By temporarily suspending the two players’ contracts, their salaries remain on the cap, but they don’t count toward a roster spot until they return and are activated again.
WNBA teams often use a temporary contract suspension whenever a player cannot join the squad during a specific period, due to overseas or national team commitments or personal reasons.
Both Juhasz and Delaere are expected to re-join the Lynx after the FIBA Women’s Basketball World Cup. Minnesota has one more game against the Atlanta Dream on Sunday before the break. The Lynx will then return to action on Sept. 18.
