On draft day, the Minnesota Lynx made waves beyond the 2025 season. They made a bold trade, aiming for a WNBA championship next year while securing future success. On Sunday, the Lynx traded their No. 11 pick in this year’s WNBA Draft to the Chicago Sky. In return, they got a first-round pick next year. With one move, they balanced the present and the future, showing they’re all in for 2025 while planning for the years ahead.
But it wasn’t just the trade that had everyone talking. With their second-round pick, No. 15 overall, the Lynx made another intriguing move, selecting 19-year-old Russian forward Anastasiia Olairi Kosu. As soon as her name was called, the excitement around the young prospect began to build, but the reality of getting her on the court for the Lynx is more complicated than just drafting a player.
Getting an international player like Kosu into the U.S. involves more than paperwork. When asked about her arrival, Lynx head coach Cheryl Reeve joked that a call from the president might speed things up. “Perhaps it will be expedited if the president calls Putin(laughs)… we expect her to be here. I don’t know how long the immigration part will take, but the expectation is that she will be reporting.”
Reeve quickly shifted focus, emphasizing what makes Kosu such a special talent.
Cheryl Reeve on Anastasiia Kosu’s timeline to the WNBA
“Perhaps it will be expedited if the president calls Putin(laughs)… we expect her to be here, I don’t know how long the immigration part of it will take… the expectation is that she will be reporting” pic.twitter.com/kLSaGEoTAW
— Andrew Dukowitz (@adukeMN) April 15, 2025
Kosu, already an experienced professional at just 19, has been playing for top-tier Russian teams for years. She’s not just another young prospect—she’s someone who’s already proven herself on the international stage. Having starred in both the FIBA U16 and U21 tournaments for Russia, Kosu’s credentials speak for themselves. Just last season, she was named EuroBasket.com’s Player of the Year for 2023-24—a major accolade that caught the attention of scouts across the world.
What does she bring to the Lynx? Defensively, Kosu stands out. At 6-1 with a 6-5 wingspan, she’s an athletic defender. She can switch onto different positions, handle ball screens, and act as a secondary rim protector. Her defensive versatility will be a huge asset for the Lynx, allowing them to cover many matchups. “Each coach has their own defensive principles, but it’s easy for me to adapt,” Kosu said. “I can guard players big and small. It helps me get easy points in transition after a good play on defense.”
On the offensive end, Kosu is just as dangerous. Known for her ability to cut to the basket and finish with impressive mid-air agility, she’s a player who can make an impact on both ends of the floor. With a 55.2% shooting percentage from two-point range, she’s proven herself as a reliable scoring threat inside. Plus, she has a knack for drawing fouls, making her an even more dangerous player when attacking the rim. But what really stands out is her rebounding—Kosu averages 4.3 offensive rebounds per 40 minutes, a number that showcases her relentless drive and ability to outwork opponents.
Despite her promising offensive tools, Kosu is still refining her game, particularly on the perimeter. She rarely takes shots outside the paint, and her three-point shooting is still developing. However, her free-throw percentage has seen a noticeable improvement, jumping from 62.9% to 75.0% over the last year—an encouraging sign for her overall growth.
There are still questions about how Kosu’s game will translate to the WNBA. The competition she faced in Russia hasn’t been at the WNBA level. However, she’s held her own against WNBA-caliber athletes. In a March 2024 game against Dynamo Kursk, Kosu posted 23 points, 16 rebounds, and even blocked a shot from former WNBA player Kalya Thornton.
Reeve is confident that Kosu will make the transition, though she acknowledges that it may take some time. “We expect her to be here,” Reeve said, noting that while there’s no certainty about when exactly Kosu will join the team, the expectation is that she’ll be part of the Lynx camp. “We have an idea of what these could be a little bit later in camp, but I don’t think we can expect by the start of camp. But the expectation is that she will be reporting.”
With Kosu’s combination of defensive potential and growing offensive game, the Lynx are betting on her being a key piece for years to come. She might not be in Minnesota tomorrow, but the excitement surrounding her arrival is palpable.
And she’s not alone. Along with Kosu, the Lynx also made a great pick in selecting Karlie Samuelson—another player who adds skill, depth, and versatility to their roster for 2026 already.
Lynx Make Key Moves in WNBA Draft
The Minnesota Lynx are making moves for a successful 2025 season. But their prior plan is set. They added veteran guard Karlie Samuelson to their roster in a trade with the Washington Mystics. In exchange for a first-round pick in the 2026 WNBA Draft, the Lynx gained a player who brings both experience and shooting power to their already strong lineup.
Samuelson, who turns 30 next month, enters her seventh season in the WNBA, joining her sixth team. In 2024, she posted a career-high 8.4 points, 2.6 rebounds, and 2.1 assists in 29 games, despite just 19 starts for the Mystics. Known for her sharpshooting, she has a career 39.7% shooting percentage from beyond the arc.
Lynx head coach and President of Basketball Operations Cheryl Reeve expressed excitement about adding Samuelson’s experience to a roster that already returns all five starters, two top reserves, and the recently signed French center Marième Badiane. “For 2025, the team we want on the floor is one putting our best foot forward to get back to the Finals,” Reeve said. “It provides us depth. It was a piece we pursued through a fair amount of the offseason. And then, there finally was an opening.”
Samuelson’s versatility will complement Lynx’s already solid roster, which includes plenty of young talent as well. Together, they represent a mix of youth, talent, and promise, setting the stage for a bright future in Minnesota.
Just over two hours after the Lynx announced the trade, Samuelson shared her reaction on X (formerly Twitter). She revealed that she received the news while stepping off a ten-hour flight with no Wi-Fi. “Traded mid 10-hour flight with no wifi is crazyyyyyyyy,” she wrote, capturing the whirlwind nature of the trade.
With Samuelson’s addition, the Lynx are now in a prime position to make a deep run in the 2025 season, balancing immediate championship contention with long-term growth.
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