When it was announced that Seimone Augustus, who had previously spent her entire WNBA career in Minnesota with the Lynx, it was a shock to many in the W community – including Augustus herself.
In fact, ask Augustus how she would have envisioned those talks playing out at the starting point, and she would have expected to be back with the Lynx for the 2020 season.
It did not play out that way – and Augustus will be joining a Los Angeles Sparks team already plentiful in veteran talent when considering it also fields Candace Parker, Nneka Ogwumike, Chiney Ogwumike, Chelsea Gray and a returning Kristi Toliver.
Augustus went to her Instagram to share her take on what happened, and even mentioned that the Lynx offered more money than the Sparks.
I was hoping to go back to the Lynx, but things happen. It really shocked me and confused me.
–Seimone Augustus (Instagram)
We came together, we tried to negotiate a deal, and both parties, we just basically didn’t come to an agreement on anything. And it was just unfortunate.
–Seimone Augustus (Instagram)
According to Augustus, she only talked with Los Angeles on a few occasions and that her primary plan was to re-up in Minnesota. Those negotiations could have been emblematic of a Lynx organization transitioning out of the core that had brought it four championships in the 2010s, establishing the WNBA’s second dynasty next to the 1997-2000 Houston Comets.
It was never about the money. It was just about the way you engage with people, especially someone you spent so much time with. It wasn’t about that. So I took less money to go to LA. I just couldn’t shake that feeling.
–Seimone Augustus (Instagram)
When things happen, they happen for a reason. When things happen, there’s always something good on the other side.
–Seimone Augustus (Instagram)
Augustus will make her return to Minnesota with the Sparks on June 7 when Los Angeles faces off against the Lynx in a nationally-televised matchup on ABC. The two teams will get together a few days later again at Staples Center on June 11 and once more at Target Center on Aug. 19.
