The 2023-2024 Minnesota basketball season refuses to come to an end, which is another way of saying that the Minnesota Lynx refuse to lose. I don’t have to tell you that they tied a WNBA record with their 18-point comeback at the New York Liberty the other night, or that their road win makes them a slight favorite to win their 5th (officially, but you and I both know it will really be their 6th) WNBA title. Not that it’s a done deal. The Liberty are going to be a tough out even with that 0-1 deficit now staring them in the face.
But what I do want to talk about is the incredible season that the Lynx most valuable person has had, and that is of course coach and general manager Cheryl Reeve. The Lynx won 33 games and lost 43 the past 2 years. OK, in 2022, Napheesa Collier took maternity leave so there was not much that could be done. But last year, with Collier back and rookies Diamond Miller and Dorka Juhazs playing big minutes, the Lynx were 19-21. Cheryl decided that she was going to do the opposite of standing pat.
And, so 7 of the 10 players who played 10 minutes per game or more last year are not in the top rotation this year.
C- At the center spot, newcomers Alana Smith and Myisha Hines-Allen replaced Jessica Shepard and Dorka Juhasz (who remains on the roster in a diminished role) and raised the output from 14 ppg-13 reb-6 asts and 1 steal to 17 ppg-10 reb-5 ast-3 stl-1 blk. Ok, numerically, that’s not such a big deal, but in addition to a little added scoring punch, the Lynx also got an all-WNBA defender in Smith, and the Lynx’ interior defense has been very widely praised. The finished the year #2 in opponent’s FG percentage and #2 in steals, and Smith was very instrumental in that. Smith was signed as a free agent from the Chicago Sky while Hines-Allen was acquired in a trade for almost nothing. Score one (or two) for Cheryl Reeve.
F- At one forward spot of course you’ve got Napheesa Collier. ‘Nuf sed. But at the other forward, Reeve elevated Bridget Carleton who had had a miserable 2023, scoring 3 ppg on 34 percent shooting in 15 minutes. It was her 5th season with the Lynx and everything was going backward. So in 2024 she upped her numbers to 10 ppg-4 reb-2 ast and a steal, and shot 44 percent. Her minutes doubled from 15 to 30. As we said, she got some votes for most improved. The loser in this exchange was Diamond Miller, who was better than Carleton in every way last year, well, except for her defense and a few turnovers. By the way, the Lynx traded away the backup Tiffany Mitchell at this position, too, and brought back Cecelia Zandalasini. She played for the Lynx way back in 2017 and 2018, then did not appear in the WNBA for a full 5 years. Now, she played just 12 minutes per game but scored 6 points on 46 percent shooting, a huge upgrade over Mitchell. Score another one (or two) for coach Reeve.
PG- But, the real coup de grace came at the point, where Reeve let Lindsay Allen, Rachel Banham and Aerial Powers all leave via free agency, then signed Courtney Williams as a free agent and traded for Natisha Heidemann. Last year the 3 point guards totalled 13 ppg-5 reb-7 asts. This year Williams and Heideman averaged 16 ppg-7 reb-7 ast and 3 stls. Again, the numbers are just a little better. But, I don’t need to tell you how dynamic Courtney Williams is, and how much trouble the Lynx would be in without her ball handling and playmaking. Score another one (or two) for coach Reeve.
In other words, Reeve made 5 or even 6 major personnel changes and every single one of them came up roses. And, somehow, the new cast of characters even gave holdover Kayla McBride a lift. McBride has been criticized here for her 3 point shooting and, well, her shooting overall. Well, Reeve stuck with McBride and her 3 point shooting improved from 34 percent last year to 42 percent this year.
So, no wonder Reeve was named both WNBA coach of the year and executive of the year though, between the 2, her work as GM far outpaces even her stellar work as coach. And that’s saying a lot. You saw her pulling the strings the other night with her team 18 down. There is no way in God’s green earth that Lynx could possibly win that game. But, they did. But, back in the day, Reeve and her Lynx had one of the WNBA’s top two or maybe three players at 4 positions. This year, Collier is the only Lynx who is so regarded though both Alana Smith and Courtney Williams have been a revelation. Still, the Lynx’ not-so-secret weapon is obviously Cheryl Reeve, and right now in 2024 you’d have to say that the best coach and GM in the WNBA is absolutely right at the top of her game.