The popular StudBudz duo is officially split as Hiedeman heads to Seattle in free agency.
The StudBudz era in Minnesota is over. Natisha Hiedeman is leaving the Minnesota Lynx after two seasons and is expected to sign with the Seattle Storm in free agency. The popular backup guard posted a farewell to Minnesota on social media, closing out a chapter that became one of the most talked-about storylines in the WNBA over the past two years.
The duo that captured the WNBA’s biggest moment
Hiedeman’s bond with starting point guard Courtney Williams gave the Lynx something no one saw coming: a full-blown social media phenomenon. The two had been teammates with the Connecticut Sun in 2019 and 2022 before reuniting in Minnesota for the 2024 season. By 2025, they had earned the nickname StudBudz and built a massive following online, fueled largely by their presence on Twitch.
A three-day live stream during All-Star weekend became one of the most memorable moments of the season, and their matching pink hair made them instantly recognizable to fans well beyond the Lynx fanbase. Their rise came at exactly the right time, as the WNBA as a whole experienced one of its biggest surges in viewership and mainstream attention.
A productive two seasons on the court
Away from social media, Hiedeman delivered in real basketball terms. Coming off the bench behind Williams, she averaged 9.1 points and 2.8 assists last season, finishing third in Most Improved Player voting and second in Sixth Player of the Year voting. The Lynx were legitimate title contenders in 2025, closing the regular season with a 34-10 record before a semifinals defeat against the Mercury ended their run.
Hiedeman, now 29, was originally drafted by the Lynx in the second round of the 2019 WNBA Draft before having her rights traded immediately to the Connecticut Sun, where she spent five seasons, including two as a starter. Her two years in Minnesota placed her in a defined bench role, but her move to Seattle could bring a starting opportunity back, particularly with Skylar Diggins-Smith also expected to depart the Storm.
What Seattle gets with Hiedeman
The Storm are navigating a significant transition heading into 2026. Gabby Williams is not expected to return, and the team recently lost Nneka Ogwumike to the Los Angeles Sparks in free agency. Head coach Sonia Raman, hired in October 2025 after serving as an assistant with the New York Liberty and previously the Memphis Grizzlies, will be working to establish a new identity for the franchise.
Hiedeman brings proven playmaking, energy off the bench and the experience of competing on a winning team, all of which align with what Seattle needs right now. Second-year forward Dominique Malonga, one of the stronger rookies in the league last season, is expected to take a noticeable step forward and gives Hiedeman a capable young teammate to build with.
What the Lynx do next
Minnesota now faces its own reshaping. Hiedeman’s departure, combined with the expansion draft loss of Bridget Carleton to the Portland Fire and defensive standout Alanna Smith exploring other options, leaves the Lynx with real roster questions heading into the new season. The team holds the No. 2 pick in Monday’s WNBA Draft and could use it to address the point guard position directly. Notre Dame’s Olivia Miles and UConn’s Azzi Fudd are both expected to be available at that spot, alongside post prospects Lauren Betts and Awa Fam.
Courtney Williams and Kayla McBride are both expected back, keeping the Lynx in contention, but replacing both Hiedeman’s production and her irreplaceable energy will be a challenge no draft pick can fully solve.