Cheryl Reeve Turned Adversity Into WNBA's Best Record
After losing key contributors, missing out on free agents and enduring injuries, Cheryl Reeve has Minnesota at the top of the WNBA.
The Minnesota Lynx are 10-2 and currently hold an eight-game win streak, owning the best record in the WNBA. Few would have predicted this start of the season for the team, between injuries and several key departures.
The Lynx entered the WNBA season facing significant adversity. Napheesa Collier and Dorka Juhász both missed the start of the campaign due to injuries, with Collier recovering from left ankle surgery conducted in March and Juhász out with a mid-foot sprain suffered in April.
Minnesota also lost key members from last season’s 34–10 squad. Bridget Carleton was selected first overall by Portland Fire in the expansion draft, Jessica Shepard signed with the Dallas Wings in free agency. Co-Defensive Player of the Year Alanna Smith also departed for Dallas and Natasha Hiedeman joined the Seattle Storm. In total, the Lynx lost four key rotation players in what proved to be one of the most impactful free-agent periods in recent WNBA history.
Lynx tried to recover by courting Nneka Ogwumike and then becoming a finalist for Gabby Williams, missing out on both free agents.
Reeve was able to re-sign Courtney Williams on a two-year deal, Kayla McBride on a two-year deal and Napheesa Collier on a one-year supermax deal. Bringing back three key members of their core. Reeve then signed players to surround them in veterans Natasha Howard and Nia Coffey. Howard is having one of her best seasons on both sides of the ball in her 13th year, while Coffey has been one of the top 3&D players this season.
Then came another injury in the third game of the season, Minnesota lost Emma Čechová for the season with a torn ACL.
What could have been a season of transition with these set backs, the four-time Coach of the Year Cheryl Reeve may be doing some of her best coaching job of her career.
One of Reeve’s most important decisions came before opening night when she moved Courtney Williams to shooting guard and handed the starting point guard job to No. 2 overall pick Olivia Miles. Rather than bringing Miles along slowly, Reeve immediately put the ball in her hands and trusted her to lead the team.
Miles was expected to be a great player in this league, but no one could have predicted the performances the rookie guard has produced this early in her career, leading the team to the top of the standings. Miles has emerged as an early MVP candidate through a quarter of the season played. She is one of the league’s brightest young stars while Williams has thrived in her natural shooting guard role, giving Minnesota a dynamic backcourt.
The Lynx currently rank first in the league in victory margin, plus-minus, offensive rating, defensive rating and net rating. Pure dominance on both sides of the court while having efficiency as well. Lynx rank first in field goal percentage, three-point percentage, true shooting percentage and points per game. Lynx are the only team with three players averaging at least 17 points a game in Miles, Howard and Williams. They also rank third in assists per game, Miles and Williams averaging 10.4 assists per game.
Minnesota has the most rebounds per game. Every starter this season averages at least four rebounds a game, Miles and Williams collect 10.8 rebounds between themselves. Minnesota’s defense holds opponents to the lowest points per game in the league, while ranking second in steals and opponent points in the paint.
As much of a difference maker that Miles is, this team isn’t a star carrying a roster, it’s a complete team and they dominate in all areas of the game. They will only get better when Collier and Juhász return to sustain the early success.
Behind the elite coaching, roster construction and putting players in positions to succeed, Reeve is the driving force who made it all work. You even look at the small moves as well like trading for Maya Caldwell, giving Anastasiia Olairi Kosu more minutes in her development, signing McCowan for league minimum at the end of May and having her adjust her game.
Despite the obstacles to start the year, Reeve has put together a veteran group with an emerging rookie star, creating a team that is at the top or near the top of every metric this season.
For a coach who has already won four WNBA Coach of the Year awards and four championships, this may end up being one of the finest coaching performances of Reeve’s career. The Lynx aren’t just the best team, they’re statistically off to one of the best starts in WNBA history.
e to injuries, with Collier recovering from left ankle surgery conducted in March and Juhász out with a mid-foot sprain suffered in April.
Minnesota also lost key members from last season’s 34–10 squad. Bridget Carleton was selected first overall by Portland Fire in the expansion draft, Jessica Shepard signed with the Dallas Wings in free agency. Co-Defensive Player of the Year Alanna Smith also departed for Dallas and Natasha Hiedeman joined the Seattle Storm. In total, the Lynx lost four key rotation players in what proved to be one of the most impactful free-agent periods in recent WNBA history.
Lynx tried to recover by courting Nneka Ogwumike and then becoming a finalist for Gabby Williams, missing out on both free agents.
Reeve was able to re-sign Courtney Williams on a two-year deal, Kayla McBride on a two-year deal and Napheesa Collier on a one-year supermax deal. Bringing back three key members of their core. Reeve then signed players to surround them in veterans Natasha Howard and Nia Coffey. Howard is having one of her best seasons on both sides of the ball in her 13th year, while Coffey has been one of the top 3&D players this season.
Then came another injury in the third game of the season, Minnesota lost Emma Čechová for the season with a torn ACL.
What could have been a season of transition with these set backs, the four-time Coach of the Year Cheryl Reeve may be doing some of her best coaching job of her career.
One of Reeve’s most important decisions came before opening night when she moved Courtney Williams to shooting guard and handed the starting point guard job to No. 2 overall pick Olivia Miles. Rather than bringing Miles along slowly, Reeve immediately put the ball in her hands and trusted her to lead the team.
Miles was expected to be a great player in this league, but no one could have predicted the performances the rookie guard has produced this early in her career, leading the team to the top of the standings. Miles has emerged as an early MVP candidate through a quarter of the season played. She is one of the league’s brightest young stars while Williams has thrived in her natural shooting guard role, giving Minnesota a dynamic backcourt.
The Lynx currently rank first in the league in victory margin, plus-minus, offensive rating, defensive rating and net rating. Pure dominance on both sides of the court while having efficiency as well. Lynx rank first in field goal percentage, three-point percentage, true shooting percentage and points per game. Lynx are the only team with three players averaging at least 17 points a game in Miles, Howard and Williams. They also rank third in assists per game, Miles and Williams averaging 10.4 assists per game.
Minnesota has the most rebounds per game. Every starter this season averages at least four rebounds a game, Miles and Williams collect 10.8 rebounds between themselves. Minnesota’s defense holds opponents to the lowest points per game in the league, while ranking second in steals and opponent points in the paint.
As much of a difference maker that Miles is, this team isn’t a star carrying a roster, it’s a complete team and they dominate in all areas of the game. They will only get better when Collier and Juhász return to sustain the early success.
Behind the elite coaching, roster construction and putting players in positions to succeed, Reeve is the driving force who made it all work. You even look at the small moves as well like trading for Maya Caldwell, giving Anastasiia Olairi Kosu more minutes in her development, signing McCowan for league minimum at the end of May and having her adjust her game.
Despite the obstacles to start the year, Reeve has put together a veteran group with an emerging rookie star, creating a team that is at the top or near the top of every metric this season.
For a coach who has already won four WNBA Coach of the Year awards and four championships, this may end up being one of the finest coaching performances of Reeve’s career. The Lynx aren’t just the best team, they’re statistically off to one of the best starts in WNBA history.
Enjoyed reading this! I watched a lot of Miles’ games at TCU last year and became fascinated by her ability. Glad to see her doing so well in the W.