The Minnesota Lynx have reason to celebrate! Head coach Cheryl Reeve has etched her name in WNBA history by winning not one but two prestigious awards: Coach of the Year and Executive of the Year. This remarkable feat makes her the first individual to win Coach of the Year four times, adding to her previous wins in 2011, 2016, and 2020. This is also her second Executive of the Year title, following her 2019 victory.
Reeve’s exceptional leadership guided the Lynx to a dominant 30-10 regular season, culminating in a clean sweep of the Phoenix Mercury in the first round of the playoffs. Her unwavering commitment and strategic brilliance earned her 62 out of 67 votes from a national media panel for the coaching award.
Adding to the Lynx’s triumph, forward Napheesa Collier was crowned Defensive Player of the Year. This is Collier’s first time receiving this honor, showcasing her exceptional defensive prowess. She secured 36 out of 67 votes, narrowly edging out A’ja Wilson of the Las Vegas Aces, who came in second with 26 votes.
Collier, now in her sixth WNBA season, started every one of her 34 games. Her relentless defensive pressure is evident in her statistics: she ranked second in the league for steals per game (1.91), third in rebounds (9.7), fourth in defensive rebounds (7.5), and seventh in blocked shots (1.41). This defensive powerhouse also demonstrated her tenacity by achieving 10 or more defensive rebounds in seven games and an impressive eight steals in a single game against the Los Angeles Sparks on June 14th.
The Lynx’s strong defensive foundation is reflected in their performance throughout the regular season, where they finished second in the league with the fewest points allowed (75.6). As they embark on their quest for a fifth league title, the Lynx are poised to face the Connecticut Sun in the semifinal round of the WNBA playoffs, starting on Sunday night. With Reeve’s strategic brilliance and Collier’s defensive dominance, the Lynx are undoubtedly a force to be reckoned with.
