By now, we all have seen the phenomenon sweeping the WNBA and the sports world—StudBudz—spearheaded by Minnesota Lynx guards Courtney Williams and Natisha Hiedeman.
What started off as an idea at the beginning of the season has turned into much more than the two veteran guards could have imagined. From live streams to SLAM Magazine covers to 8,800+ fans wearing pink wigs in Minnesota’s regular season finale, the StudBudz have won over the hearts of many by giving a behind-the-scenes look at their lives off the court and their unique personalities.
“It’s really cool. It’s cool, not only for Courtney and T [Natisha] who are bringing a lot of joy to people, but it’s fun for our fans,” Lynx head coach Cheryl Reeve said. “This is a personality-filled team. It’s a team [fans]really connect with and identify with in many ways. I’m happy to see the support and Courtney and T feeling that level of love. That’s been one of the best parts of our season, that those things are happening.”
Though they bring entertainment off the court, they are also doing so on the court, playing huge roles in leading the Lynx as floor generals throughout the regular season and again in the postseason.
Williams has taken her game to the next level in her second season with the Lynx, while the other half of StudBudz—Hiedeman—has not only brought the energy off of Minnesota’s bench all season long, but is also playing her best basketball of the season at the best possible time.
Spark off the Bench
After somewhat of a “down” year in her first season with Minnesota in 2024—which resulted in her second-lowest scoring (4.9 points per game) and field goal percentage (38 percent) marks along with a career-low 28 percent mark from three—Hiedeman used this offseason and familiarity in the Lynx’s system to bounce back in 2025.
All season long, Hiedeman has provided a much-needed lift to Minnesota’s second unit, oftentimes stepping into the lead guard role if Williams is struggling or just taking a breather. Whatever the reason behind the success is, the Lynx have needed every bit of it this season.
“I appreciate that T has been there for us, because we’ve needed it. The confidence that she is playing with, it’s really important,” Reeve said. “I’m really happy for T. … Whatever the game calls for, that’s what we’re going to go with. Having a bench is crucial for us.”
As a result, Hiedeman’s 2025 campaign has been one of her best, even though she came off the bench in all 44 games. Hiedeman concluded the regular season averaging 9.1 PPG, 2.8 assists per game (APG) and 1.9 rebounds per game (RPG) over 18.9 minutes per game (MPG) while shooting 49.2 percent from the field and 37.1 percent from deep.
Hiedeman tied a career-high in scoring (she averaged 9.1 PPG with Connecticut in 2022 while starting 31 of 36 games), shot a career-best mark from the field and recorded the second-best assist average of her seven-year career.
“I’ve been putting in a lot of work, especially with coach [Lindsay Whalen] and [Eric Thibault] on making shots,” Hiedeman said. “I started off the season a little rough, so taking that extra pride in getting up more shots [is something I’ve focused on].”
Stepping Up
Though she has been a steady presence off the bench all season long, Hiedeman has taken her game to another level heading into the postseason and is playing her best basketball of the season—if not of her career.
“I’ve been approaching the whole end of the season just being playoff ready,” Hiedeman said of her season. “Just continuing to put in the work and staying confident, really that’s it.”
In the final five games of the regular season, Hiedeman caught fire while averaging 18.6 PPG, 4.4 APG, 2.8 RPG and 2.0 steals per game (SPG) over 27.2 MPG, also shooting an impressive 59.3 percent from the field and 57.7 percent from beyond the arc. She scored north of 20 points in four of the final five games and ranked seventh among all WNBA players in scoring over that five-game span to conclude the regular season.
“She’s on a heater right now. … That’s just who T is,” Kayla McBride said of Hiedeman. “She’s a player who has been with Finals contending teams. She knows who she is — a pro. Throughout the season, you’ve just seen her kind of evolve. Now, when we need her the most, she’s showing up and showing out. She’s having a lot of fun and having a lot of confidence in that second group.”
The play of Hiedeman the entirety of the season, especially down the stretch of the year, put her into Sixth Player of the Year conversations, finishing second behind Atlanta’s Naz Hillmon for the award given to a player that makes the biggest impact off the bench. And her play on the court isn’t the only thing being recognized, with Hiedeman receiving the franchise’s Sylvia Fowles 2025 Altruism Award, which annually recognizes a team member who best embodies altruistic traits and giving back to the community.
There are multiple players you could point to as being key pieces to the success of the Lynx, and Hiedeman is one of them. Her ability to take over the game when the starters are on the bench, her ability to fill in whenever and wherever needed, and her energy that she brings—both on and off the court—is vital for Minnesota.
“T is on an absolute tear right now. When she’s aggressive, it’s so hard to stop her. She’s so quick, she’s a super dynamic player, she can get to the rim and if not she’s shooting threes,” Napheesa Collier said of Hiedeman. “Who else is doing the things she is doing? Especially as a point guard leading different kinds of groups and working with different players. Being able to do that … it’s not an easy job. … It’s been crazy to watch.”
As the postseason continues and the Lynx hope to carry the momentum into the WNBA Finals to compete for a championship after coming up short in 2024, Hiedeman is playing her best basketball at the best time. And that could end up being the difference maker for Minnesota when things are all said and done.
“I appreciate that T has been there for us, because we’ve needed it. The confidence that she is playing with, it’s really important,” Reeve said. “T has just gotten to a different space and is playing at a different level. She’s just playing her best basketball of the season. … Her play is vital for us.”
