They say all roads lead home, and that is certainly the case for two new Minnesota Lynx players.
Nia Coffey and Amaya Battle have a lot in common. Yes, they are both new to the Lynx, signing with the team this offseason to join the squad as training camp continues ahead of the 2026 WNBA season.
But their commonalities don’t stop there. They both have traveled similar paths, and in fact have had a relationship spanning back years before they officially became teammates with the Lynx.
And ultimately, their roads led home for a unique reunion with their home town WNBA team.
Growing Up Together
Coffey and Battle both grew up in Hopkins, Minnesota, shining for the Royals and each winning multiple state championships roughly a decade apart.
After stellar high school careers, both went onto play collegiately at the Division I level as top-40 recruits, with Coffey taking her talents to Northwestern and Battle staying home to play for the Gophers.
And fast forward to 2026, that ultimately landed both of them opportunities to playing in the WNBA with the Lynx.
They have lived similar paths, and those paths began together years ago when it was still just a dream to reach where they are now.
“It’s kind of crazy. She’s old,” the rookie Battle joked about Coffey, who is entering her 10th season in the WNBA in 2026. “I can’t believe we made it here at the same time.”
Coffey and Battle knew each other when they were at a young age, Coffey serving as somewhat of a big sister to Battle. With their parents being friends who went to college together, Coffey used to babysit Battle when Battle was young. Coffey ended up taking her “little sister” to basketball camps and Summer Breakfast Club workouts in Hopkins.
“I was around her when she probably first picked up a basketball,” Coffey said. “I was in high school when I was babysitting her. … Since she was a toddler.”
The relationship between Coffey and Battle is a unique one that you don’t often see in the WNBA. And now it’s presenting them with the opportunity to reunite with the same Lynx team they looked up to growing up.
“It’s cool. I remember when babysitting her, we would be playing basketball,” Coffey said. “I didn’t think it would turn into an opportunity like this. It’s cool to see how basketball is such a small world and can bring us opportunities.”
Journey to the Lynx
Though they are on the same team for at least the next few weeks, Coffey and Battle are at two very different points in their careers, with one still attempting to carve out a spot on the roster and another on the back end of her career.
Coffey broke into the WNBA as a fifth overall pick to the then San Antonio Stars in the 2017 WNBA Draft, playing for San Antonio/Las Vegas for two seasons, before bouncing from Atlanta to Phoenix to Los Angeles and then back to Atlanta where she concluded the 2025 season. Coffey has established herself as a contributing, veteran presence off the bench throughout her career, which ultimately led her to signing with Minnesota as a free agent this offseason.
“I always felt like I could be a really good piece for this team,” Coffey said. “I really appreciation the communication, the leadership, the direction and the team play. I just thought it was a good fit. … I was really excited for this opportunity.”
Battle, on the other hand, is fresh out of college at the University of Minnesota and is trying to fight her way onto the Lynx roster as undrafted free agent. When she got the call from the Lynx with an invite to training camp, Battle couldn’t pass up the opportunity to stay home and try to live out her dream.
Though she would be staying home and be reunited with Coffey, Battle was also familiar with the Lynx personnel, notably Minnesota assistant coach Lindsay Whalen. Whalen recruited Battle to the Gophers, spending Battle’s freshman year together before Whalen’s departure as head coach of the program.
“It is really cool, I’m excited to work out with her again. I’m learning a lot from her,” Battle said of Whalen. “She’s the GOAT, so I just want to pick her brain and learn everything I can. … I only got a year with her and she is one of the greatest players. You can only learn so much in a year, but now I’m just trying to pick her brain.”
Regardless of what happens and if they are both on the roster when the WNBA regular season tips off on May 8, Coffey and Battle are living out their dreams they once envisioned together at a young age. And their doing it right at home in Minnesota.
“I always wanted to make sure it was clear where I was supposed to go. It was a no-brainer coming here,” Coffey said. “They have a foundation of excellence, it’s a great organization and it’s an opportunity to play at home. … I think everyone is excited, I’m looking forward to it.”