2003 Record 18-16, .529 (T-4th in West) Points Scored 2380 (5th overall, 3rd in West) Points Allowed 2370 (9th overall, 5th in West) Scoring Differential +0.3 (9th overall, 5th in West) Offensive Efficiency 100.6 (5th overall, 3rd in West) Defensive Efficiency 99.4 (9th overall, 6th in West) Possessions per 40 min. 69.1 (7th overall, 4th in West) What are these stats? Award Winners & Honorees All-Star Katie Smith All-WNBA, First Team Katie Smith 2003 Draft Recap Rd. 2 – 14, Teresa Edwards Rd. 2 – 18, Jordan Adams Rd. 3 – 29, Carla Bennett Playoff History Once in five years Last Appearance 2003, lost in first round

Under first-year head coach Suzie McConnell Serio, the Minnesota Lynx advanced to the postseason for the first time in the team’s five-year history, also posting the team’s first-ever winning season at 18-16.

Smith

Minnesota’s offense improved from the 15th best in the WNBA in 2002 (out of 16 teams) to the 6th best in 2003 (out of 14 teams). The Lynx raised its field goal percentage from 41.0 to 44.2, its three-point field goal percentage from 33.2 to 34.4 and its free throw percentage from 66.3 to 72.1. They also improved from the fifth best offensive rebounding team in the league in 2002 (30.9) to the second best (35.6%).

All-Star Katie Smith enjoyed what may have been her best year as a pro, upping her shooting percentages across the board from the previous year – FG%, 40.4 to 45.7; 3G%, 33.0 to 39.0; FT%, 82.4 to 88.1.

After taking a 1-0 series lead over the defending champion Los Angeles Sparks in the first round of the playoffs, Minnesota’s shooting took a nosedive in the final two games of the series. The Lynx connected on 38.9 percent of their field goal attempts in an 11-point Game 2 loss and on 35.4 percent of their shots in a 10-point decision in Game 3.

Offensively, the Lynx ranked second in the league in Turnover Percentage with 23.6 percent of their possessions ending in a turnover. Svetlana Abrosimova averaged at least three turnovers per game for the third straight season

Head Coach
Susie McConnell Serio
2003 Starting Line-up
G	Teresa Edwards
G	Katie Smith
C	Tamika Williams
F	Sheri Sam
F	Svetlana Abrosimova
Key 2003 Reserves
C	Michele van Gorp
G/F	Janell Burse
G	Kristi Harrower
Key Additions
G	Helen Darling

Minnesota still had difficulty stopping opposing offenses finishing ninth in the league in defensive efficiency and 11th in the league in opponent field goal percentage (42.5).

Harrower

Teresa Edwards and Kristi Harrower formed a relatively productive point guard tandem in 2003, and Edwards improved steadily as the season progressed. Still, Edwards turns 40 on July 19, and Harrower has yet to show that she can handle the point guard duties fill-time. Minnesota also added Helen Darling to the mix through the dispersal draft, which creates a bit of a log-jam at the point. Who gets the minutes at the “One” this season and how effective will that combination be?

In order for Minnesota to take another step towards becoming one of the elite teams in the West, it has to improve its defense. Will any of the team’s offseason additions provide a boost to the D, or will the Lynx have to continue winning with offense?