More than just about anybody, Seimone Augustus knows how it used to be.
The Lynx star has scored in droves for a team that lost in bunches, fought through a knee injury that all but wiped out one season and abdominal surgery that limited her in the next. She has seen the Lynx go from losing too much to winning it all and, in the process, became the face of the franchise.
So there was no question about her wanting to stick around.
"No-brainer," she joked Friday, shortly after the team's flight from Los Angeles landed, right after she signed a multiyear contract extension. "Being here as long as I have, I've seen player changes, coaching changes. But to see how this team has come together, with a great coach, great team — you can see the chemistry here. I didn't want that to change. The biggest thing for me is I would like to finish where I started. And I started here."
The length and terms of the deal were not disclosed.
But Lynx Executive Vice President Roger Griffith is doing his best to keep this band together. A week ago the Lynx re-signed point guard Lindsay Whalen. And now Augustus, ensuring the core of a very successful team will stay together.
This season Augustus, 29, is averaging 16.3 points — 10th best in the WNBA — and making a career-best 51.6 percent of her shots entering Saturday's regular season finale against Chicago at Target Center. That scoring average has kicked up to 17.8 since the All Star break, an indication Augustus is peaking for the playoffs.
This season the Lynx had four All-Stars in Augustus, Whalen, Maya Moore and Rebekkah Brunson. Whalen is having a career year, Moore is a strong contender for MVP honors, and Brunson remains one of the league's most consistent frontcourt playersBut, as coach Cheryl Reeve said just over a week ago, the Lynx are still Augustus' team.