Minnesota Lynx - MinnesotaSportsFan https://www.minnesotasportsfan.com/category/minnesota-lynx/ Minnesota sports, but different Mon, 24 Nov 2025 19:28:55 +0000 en-US hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=6.8.3 https://www.minnesotasportsfan.com/cdn-cgi/image/width=32,height=32,fit=crop,quality=80,format=auto,onerror=redirect,metadata=none/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/cropped-cropped-MSF-favicon-1.jpg Minnesota Lynx - MinnesotaSportsFan https://www.minnesotasportsfan.com/category/minnesota-lynx/ 32 32 New Team USA Coach Looking to Right Cheryl Reeve’s Wrongs https://www.minnesotasportsfan.com/minnesota-lynx/kara-lawson-caitlin-clark-addition-team-usa-roster-cheryl-reeve-out/ Mon, 24 Nov 2025 18:31:03 +0000 https://www.minnesotasportsfan.com/?p=72995 Cheryl Reeve, Minnesota Lynx
Jesse Johnson-Imagn ImagesJesse Johnson-Imagn Images

There are few people connected to modern day women’s basketball who have been more influential on the sport than than Minnesota Lynx coach Cheryl Reeve. However, she may have overstayed her welcome as coach of Team USA last year, when she left Caitlin Clark off the Olympic roster.

The next competition of note for Team USA women’s basketball is the 2026 FIBA World Cup, which is set to tip-off place 10 months from now, in September 2026.

Kara Lawson invites Caitlin Clark to Team USA

Fortunately for Team USA fans, Reeve is no longer coaching the women’s national team, and her successor — Duke head coach Kara Lawson — who she was named to lead Team USA a couple of months ago. And one of her first acts as new head coach, is to right Reeve’s most egregious wrong.

Because when camp opens for Team USA in Durham next month, Caitlin Clark will be in the house, along with fellow rising young superstars Paige Bueckers, Angel Reese and JuJu Watkins..

Caitlin Clark, Paige Bueckers, Angel Reese and JuJu Watkins will be among the 10 players making their USA Basketball senior national team camp debuts next month, when the storied basketball program hosts a training camp at Duke University from Dec. 12-14.

ESPN

Last WNBA season, Clark — who won Rookie of the year in 2024 — watched as her Indiana Fever lost in the WNBA Finals, despite her being injured for much of the season and all of the postseason. Caitlin Year played in just 13 games in 2025.

Minnesota native, 2025 1st overall pick, and reigning Rookie of the Year winner Paige Bueckers will get her first shot at the Team USA roster, as well, as will Angel Reese and Juju Watkins.

MN Lynx building towards 2026

The Minnesota Lynx finished 2025 with a 34-10 record, which was the best record in the WNBA. They have won the Western Conference each of the past two seasons, but have not claimed a Finals trophy to show for it.

Thankfully for Minnesota, the Lynx landed the second overall pick in the upcoming 2026 NBA Draft. Azzi Fudd (Iowa State), Awa Fam (Spain), Olivia Miles (TCU), Lauren Betts (UCLA), and Flau’jae Johnson (LSU) are among the top prospects.

In 2026, the MN Lynx will look to rebound from an unceremonious playoff exit in 202, which ended with Reeve being suspended after attacking officials in on of the final games of the year, after superstar Napheesa Collier was dropped to the ground on a late game steal that sent the HOF PoBO off her rocker.

In the days that followed, Minnesota’s MVP-contender spoke out against the league and their guidance for referees. Unfortunately, it did not result in another chance to win playoff games.

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]]> Mon, 24 Nov 2025 13:28:55 +0000 Minnesota Lynx Minnesota Lynx PoBO is a Hall of Famer https://www.minnesotasportsfan.com/minnesota-lynx/cheryl-reeve-womens-basketball-hall-of-fame-2026-class/ Thu, 30 Oct 2025 18:30:59 +0000 https://www.minnesotasportsfan.com/?p=70588 Cheryl Reeve, Minnesota Lynx
Jesse Johnson-Imagn ImagesJesse Johnson-Imagn Images

Although the Minnesota Lynx were bounced from the playoffs prior to reaching the WNBA finals this season, they put together another strong year. Napheesa Collier proved to be among the best players in the sport, and Cheryl Reeve continues to get high-level results out of her team.

While the Lynx have been a consistent force to be reckoned with over the years, so to has their President of Basketball Operations (and head coach) Cheryl Reeve. Beyond just leading the Lynx, she holds the same distinction for Team USA.

Now her efforts have landed her a spot of immortality in the Women’s Basketball Hall of Fame.

Cheryl Reeve inducted into Women’s Basketball Hall of Fame

Although the WNBA season recently wrapped up, and the awards have all been handed out, Minnesota Lynx coach Cheryl Reeve just picked up a pretty big offseason accolade. Named as a member of the 2026 Women’s Basketball Hall of Fame class, he list of accolades continues to grow.

The Women’s Basketball Hall of Fame today announced that Minnesota Lynx Head Coach and President of Basketball Operations Cheryl Reeve has been named to the Class of 2026, recognizing her outstanding contributions to the game.  

Reeve recently completed her 16th season as head coach of the Lynx and her third as president of basketball operations. A four-time WNBA Coach of the Year (2011, 2016, 2020, 2024) and two-time WNBA Basketball Executive of the Year (2019, 2024), she has captured six WNBA championships, including four as head coach in Minnesota (2011, 2013, 2015, 2017) and two as an assistant coach with the Detroit Shock (2006, 2008). Under Reeve’s leadership, Minnesota’s four titles are tied for the most in WNBA history, establishing the Lynx as one of the league’s most successful and storied franchises. 

Minnesota Lynx

The 59-year-old Reeve began her head coaching career with the Minnesota Lynx during the 2010 season. She guided her first team to a 13-21 record before following up with a 27-7 season that led the franchise to its first WNBA title.

Reeve won a total of four championships with Minnesota in just seven seasons. Last year she nearly guided her team to another despite it being stolen by the New York Liberty. In 2025 the Lynx came up just short after bowing out against the Phoenix Mercury.

While her style can be aggressive at times, it’s hard to question the effectiveness that Reeve has brought to the table. Still with plenty of years ahead of her, Reeve adding more to the trophy case is a pretty good bet.

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]]> Thu, 30 Oct 2025 13:31:03 +0000 Minnesota Lynx MN Lynx Star Napheesa Collier Challenges WNBA Accountability in Stunning Statement https://www.minnesotasportsfan.com/minnesota-lynx/napheesa-collier-stunning-statement-targets-wnba-commissioner-cathy-engelbert/ Tue, 30 Sep 2025 19:15:09 +0000 https://www.minnesotasportsfan.com/?p=69090 Napheesa Collier, Minnesota Lynx
Trevor Ruszkowski-Imagn ImagesTrevor Ruszkowski-Imagn Images

The Minnesota Lynx were bounced from the WNBA playoffs against the Phoenix Mercury in Game 4 of the league semifinals. Despite being the top seed after finishing with a 34-10 record, a home collapse in Game 2 set the wheels in motion.

It was Game 3 where headlines were made after head coach Cheryl Reeve lost it on the officials. Controversial contact on a final play put superstar Napheesa Collier in a boot after needing to be helped off the floor. Reeve went on to let officiating and the league office have it in her postgame press conference.

WNBA commissioner Cathy Engelbert responded by suspending Minnesota’s head coach for the pivotal Game 4 matchup. While Collier was injured and unable to play in that contest, she prepared a statement and had her own thoughts to share with the league office.

Cathy Engelbert
Credit: Andrew Dolph / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images

Napheesa Collier calls for accountability from WNBA

It is rare that players will offer comments or statements outside of the immediate emotions following a game. While Minnesota Lynx star Napheesa Collier was dealing with the fallout of her injury, she had time to reflect. On Tuesday, at a season-ending press conference, she came correct and direct right at the league office.

“The real threat to our league isn’t money, it isn’t ratings, or even missed calls, or even physical play. It’s the lack of accountability from the league office. Since I’ve been in the league, you’ve heard the constant concerns about officiating. It has now reached levels of inconsistency that plague our sport and undermine the integrity in which it operates. Whether the league cares about the health of the players is one thing, but to also not care about the product we put on the floor is truly self-sabotage. Year-after-year, the only thing that remains consistent, is the lack of accountability from our leaders.

The league has a buzzword that they’ve rolled out as talking points for the CBA as to why they can’t pay the players what we’re worth. That word is sustainability. What’s truly unsustainable is keeping a good product on the floor while allowing officials to lose control of games. Fans see it every night. Coaches, both winning and losing, point it out every night in pregame and postgame media. Yet leadership just issues fines and looks the other way. They ignore the issues that everyone inside the game is begging to be fixed. That is negligence.

At Unrivaled this past February, I sat across from Cathy [Engelbert] and asked how she planned to address the officiating issues in our league. Her response was, ‘only the losers complain about the refs.’ I also asked how she planned to fix the fact that players like Caitlin [Clark], Angel [Reese], and Paige [Bueckers], who are clearly driving massive revenue for the league, are making so little for their first four years. Her response was, ‘Caitlin should be grateful she makes $16 million off the court, because without the platform that the WNBA gives her, she wouldn’t make anything.’ In that same conversation she told me, ‘players should be on their knees thanking their lucky stars for the media rights deal that I got them.’

That’s the mentality driving our league from the top. We got to battle every day to protect a shield that doesn’t value us. The league believes it succeeds despite its players, not because of them. I have the privilege of watching my husband run a league where he has to balance 100 different things at once. I won’t pretend the job is easy, but even with all of that on his plate, he always takes the time to reach out to players when he sees an injury whether it’s Unrivaled or even during the WNBA season. That is what leadership looks like. It’s the human element. It’s basic integrity. It’s the bare minimum and leader should embody.

This year alone I’ve gotten calls, texts, and so many well-wishes from players across the league. Those moments remind me that sometimes there are things bigger than the results in this game we play. You know who I haven’t heard from? Cathy. Not one call, not one text. Instead, the only outreach has come from her number two telling my agent that she doesn’t believe physical play is contributing to injuries. That is infuriating. It’s the perfect example of a tone-deaf, dismissive approach, that our leaders always seem to take.

I’ve finally grown tired. For too long, I have tried to have these conversations in private. It’s clear there is no intention of accepting there’s a problem. The league has made it clear, it isn’t about innovation, it isn’t about collaboration, it’s about control and power. I’ve earned this platform and I paid the price to get here. Now I have a responsibility to speak on behalf of the fans, and everyone in this league that deserves better.

Our leadership’s answer to being held accountable is to suppress everyone’s voices by handing out fines. I’m not concerned about a fine. I’m concerned about the future of our sport. At some point, everyone deserves to hear the truth from someone, who I hope, has earned the benefit of doubt to fight for what is right and fair for our athletes and our fans. We have the best players in the world. We have the best fans in the world. Right now, we have the worst leadership in the world. If I didn’t know exactly what the job entailed, maybe I wouldn’t feel this way. Unfortunately for them, I do.

We serve a league that thinks championship coaches and Hall of Fame players are dispensable. That’s fine, it’s professional sports. I will not stand quietly by and allow different standards to be applied at the league level. Thank you.”

Napheesa Collier

A superstar platform who’s not alone

That level of transparency is not something you ever see from an individual player, in any league. Collier went out on a limb, was honest, heartfelt, and reasoned. Her absolute takedown of Engelbert and WNBA leadership could not have hit harder. She’s also not alone.

Becky Hammon and Stephanie White both agreed with Minnesota Lynx coach Reeve’s comments following Collier’s injury. Maybe she came too harshly or allowed emotions to spark the words. This has been going on for long enough in the league though, and it’s been problematic all year. Caitlin Clark has consistently been a target of physical play, and multiple superstars are on the sidelines due to injury.

Then again, for Engelbert to actually take accountability of the mess she has created, there would have to be a level of self awareness. The league’s officiating cost the Lynx a title just a season ago, and she was there in a dress supporting an opponent while sitting courtside.

The league’s best player just took aim at the top executive. If that’s not enough to make changes then nothing will be.

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]]> Tue, 30 Sep 2025 14:15:19 +0000 Minnesota Lynx Cheryl Reeve Gets Put on Time Out by WNBA https://www.minnesotasportsfan.com/minnesota-lynx/cheryl-reeve-suspended-game-4-phoenix-mercury/ Sat, 27 Sep 2025 21:33:05 +0000 https://www.minnesotasportsfan.com/?p=68975 Cheryl Reeve, Minnesota Lynx
Rick Scuteri-Imagn ImagesRick Scuteri-Imagn Images

Two things happened to the Minnesota Lynx on Friday night. They dropped their semifinals Game 3 against the Phoenix Mercury, and Cheryl Reeve went scored earth. She was ejected from the game, and had more to say after.

The news Lynx fans have been waiting for on Saturday is an update to the condition of superstar Napheesa Collier after she had to be helped off the court. The news they got was regarding the status of Reeve for Game 4.

WNBA suspends Minnesota Lynx coach Cheryl Reeve

After a colossal collapse at home in Game 2, the stakes could not have been higher for the MN Lynx on Friday night. As they closed in on a Game 3 loss, Cheryl Reeve had enough after watching Napheesa Collier go down in a heap. She let the referees have it, and then let them have it more in her postgame press conference.

The WNBA said enough.

After the foul, Reeve was handed her second technical and she didn’t leave in any sort of a hurry. She then called out the league and its leadership postgame. Apparently the WNBA didn’t like that too much. Reeve is now barred from coaching the Minnesota Lynx in an elimination game, on the road, Sunday.

Beyond the suspension, Reeve and assistant coaches Eric Thibault and Rebekkah Brunson were all fined for their actions.

It’s understandable that Reeve would be upset given how the game was officiated as a whole. Her star shot zero free throws, and Minnesota had just 11 as a team. The Mercury took 22 free throws on the night.

WNBA gets support while being called out for MN Lynx

On Saturday the official X (formerly Twitter) account of NBA referees offered support of the crew that Reeve berated. They stated, “the leg to leg contact is incidental once the ball is clearly loose.”

The Ringer’s Bill Simmons called it the opposite way, and he brought receipts.

Even if that no-call against Collier was correct, the refereeing was questionable at best all night. That goes back to a sequence in last year’s WNBA Finals against the New York Liberty in which Minnesota was absolutely screwed over.

The league’s commission, Cathy Engelbert, showed up in a dress supporting the Liberty to sit courtside. On X, the WNBA’s official account also put out a shady tweet following the Liberty’s win.

Reeve has some serious flaws. She dislikes Caitlin Clark way too much, even if she was right about Angel Reese. Certainly though, she’s not afraid to speak her mind, and now that cost her what could be the final game of the season.

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]]> Sat, 27 Sep 2025 16:41:57 +0000 Minnesota Lynx Cheryl Reeve Completely Crashes Out on Refs and Opposing Fans… Then Calls for Change https://www.minnesotasportsfan.com/minnesota-lynx/cheryl-reeve-loses-cool-tossed-lynx-mercury-postgame-rant/ Sat, 27 Sep 2025 14:05:37 +0000 https://www.minnesotasportsfan.com/?p=68925 Cheryl Reeve - Playoffs-Minnesota Lynx at Phoenix Mercury
Rick Scuteri-Imagn Images

The Minnesota Lynx went down 2-1 in their best of five semifinal playoff series against the Phoenix Mercury on Friday night, falling to Alyssa Thomas & Co., 84-76. On Sunday in game four, the Lynx’ playoff lives will be on the line.

But Minnesota’s loss last night took a backseat to Cheryl Reeve’s meltdown late in the fourth quarter, after Alyssa Thomas stole the ball from Napheesa Collier at the top of the key with 26 seconds left and took it in for a layup on the other end, putting the Mercury up 82-76 and icing the game.

Cheryl Reeve tossed from playoff game after insane blow up

Reeve thought Collier was fouled on the steal, which she may have been, but it’s not totally clear. Don’t tell that to Cheryl, though. It’s one thing for a basketball coach to get upset, yell at a ref, and even get tossed.

But few do it like the Lynx’ head coach/president of basketball operations did Friday in Phoenix, completely crashing out from the moment she lost her cool until she was physically dragged to the locker room SCREAMING at Mercury fans.

Related: MN Lynx PoBO Cheryl Reeve was 100% Right About Angel Reese

I’m not sure I have seen a basketball coach interfere with the inbound play on the court, especially late in a playoff game, in order to get into the refs face and scream about a recent call. Most at least take a timeout or make sure play is stopped before completely losing their shit.

Cheryl didn’t have time for any of that professionalism, however. And if you thought you’d get an apology during Reeve’s postgame press conference… then you do not know Minnesota’s head lady. Instead, Cheryl Reeve doubled down and tripled down postgame, calling out not just the officials, but the league too.

Minnesota Lynx coach doubles down after game

To Reeve, it wasn’t just about the non-call above. Her aforementioned superstar shot ZERO free throws in Friday’s contest and the Mercury shot double the free throws (22) as the Lynx (11). Clearly, Phee being “taken out” was her final straw.

Most notably, the head of Minnesota Lynx basketball went after the league for assigning a reffing crew she believes was unfit for the moment. But then, Cheryl took it a giant step further than anyone expected, literally calling for whoever is in charge of how WNBA games are officiated to be fired.

“When you let the physicality happen, people get hurt. There’s fights. And this is the look that our league wants for some reason. We were trying to play through it. We tried [not] to make excuses.

One of the best players in the league shot zero free throws. Zero. And she had five fouls. Zero free throws. Got her shoulder pulled out and finished the game with her leg being taken out and probably has a fracture.

And so if this is what our league wants, okay. But I wanna call for a change of leadership at the league level when it comes to officiating. It’s bad for the game. The officiating crew that we had tonight for the leadership to deem those three people semifinals playoff worthy is malpractice.

I can take an L with the best of them. I don’t think we should have to play through more than what they did. We got players, moshes on the glass, and gets cracked. And there’s no call. And all of them said, it wasn’t my call. I don’t know. I didn’t see it that way. They’re f***ing awful.”

Cheryl Reeve after Lynx loss vs Mercury

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]]> Sat, 27 Sep 2025 09:05:40 +0000 Minnesota Lynx Latest Angel Reese Tirade Proves MN Lynx Cheryl Reeve Right https://www.minnesotasportsfan.com/minnesota-lynx/angel-reese-chicago-sky-gm-comments-prove-cheryl-reeve-right/ Sat, 13 Sep 2025 14:07:05 +0000 https://www.minnesotasportsfan.com/?p=68340 Angel Reese
Kamil Krzaczynski-Imagn ImagesKamil Krzaczynski-Imagn Images

The Minnesota Lynx had Angel Reese right in front of them. They owned the seventh overall pick in the 2024 WNBA Draft. That wasn’t going to land them Caitlin Clark, but Reese — arguably the most headline-worthy name in women’s basketball outside of the Fever phenom — was in play.

Instead of choosing to stick and pick, Lynx president of basketball operations Cheryl Reeve completed a trade with the Chicago Sky that moved Minnesota back a single spot. The Sky selected Reese at No. 7, before the Lynx drafted Alissa Pili at No. 8.

In the time since, Minnesota has moved on from Pili, due to a lack of production and effectiveness. In hindsight, they essentially got nothing out of that draft pick. Meanwhile, Reese has led the league in rebounds each of the past two seasons. And yet, it appears Reeve was still right to avoid the controversial star out of LSU.

Angel Reese continues to be problem Cheryl Reeve expected

There have certainly been times where Cheryl Reeve’s pettiness seems misguided. Virtually any chance she has to ignore Caitlin Clark, she will. There have been other times where she is absolutely right. And as it turns out, Angel is proving to be a nightmare in Chicago.

Last week, Reese was suspended by the Chicago Sky for comments she made publicly to the Chicago Tribune.

I’m not settling for the same s−−− we did this year. We have to get good players. We have to get great players. That’s a non-negotiable for me. I’m willing and wanting to play with the best. And however I can help to get the best here, that’s what I’m going to do this offseason. So it’s going to be very, very important this offseason to make sure we attract the best of the best because we can’t settle for what we have this year.

Angel Reese – Chicago Tribune

She went on to name teammates by name, trash Sky practice facilities and point fingers at different members of the front office/coaching staff. Then, when her suspension ended, Reese refused to take the court, sitting out the final three games of the season.

Chicago Sky planning to keep Reese around?

Despite the sideshow, general manager Jeff Pagliocca told reporters Friday that “until I hear differently, that’s the direction we’re going to move, is that she’s on the roster.”

Angel is an ascending young talent in this league who’s had two very, very good seasons here in Chicago. Obviously we went through what we did. I feel like we closed the chapter on it. She spoke to her teammates, she spoke publicly. We moved on as a team. She’s a special player. And I have good conversations with Angel daily, with her team daily. They’re constant, and they’re productive.

Jeff Pagliocca – ESPN

Related: MN Lynx Star Joins Rarefied Air With Latest Ranking

Despite Reese’s presence on the team, Chicago was again not good this season. Tyler Marsh’s team finished 10-34, tied for the worst record in the league. Reese was named an All-Star and played in 30 games.

She averaged 14.7 points and 12.6 rebounds per game. Her 45.8% from the field was a significant step up, but she turned the ball over 3.9 times per game.

When, after just two seasons, your general manager needs to make public comments surrounding whether or not you’ll remain on the team, that’s problematic. It also reveals why Cheryl Reeve wanted nothing to do with Angel Reese two years ago.

Angel Reese Fit with MN Lynx never made

It’s not as though Minnesota Lynx head coach is averse to talent. Of course she would have preferred to have a player like Reese as opposed to Pili in a vacuum. The problem is that Reese brings all of the other antics with her.

The Lynx were a direct opposite reflection of Chicago this year. They finished with a 34-10 record to lead the WNBA. Superstar Napheesa Collier should be in line for her first MVP award after winning Defensive Player of the Year honors last season.

Teammates Natisha Hiedeman and Courtney Williams have drawn a fan following with their StudBudz excitement. Reeve has the complete embodiment of a team working in Minnesota. They are looking to avenge an ugly outcome in the WNBA Finals this season, and will hopefully win their first WNBA Championship since 2017.

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]]> Sat, 13 Sep 2025 09:54:36 +0000 Minnesota Lynx One of Us WNBA Star Goes Off in Historic Fashion https://www.minnesotasportsfan.com/minnesota-lynx/paige-bueckers-wnba-scoring-record-rookie/ Thu, 21 Aug 2025 13:57:47 +0000 https://www.minnesotasportsfan.com/?p=67065 Paige Bueckers
Kirby Lee-Imagn ImagesKirby Lee-Imagn Images

The WNBA has never been a more exciting product than it is right now. Caitlin Clark hasn’t even been on the floor for the Indiana Fever and yet their tickets are selling like hotcakes.

Cheryl Reeve has the Minnesota Lynx playing good basketball. They currently own the best record in the sport, and they are doing it without superstar Napheesa Collier as she recovers from an ankle sprain.

Despite all that is happening on the court for the Lynx, it was Minnesota-native Paige Bueckers that is now taking the league by storm.

Paige Bueckers sets new WNBA rookie record

Hopkins, Minnesota native Paige Bueckers was the first overall pick by the Dallas Wings in this year’s WNBA draft. The Connecticut National Champion has played in 29 games this season, but none has been better than Wednesday night.

Not only had a WNBA player not scored 40 points in a game this year, but Bueckers surpassed that plateau and then some. She also did it as a rookie. The scoring outburst came against the Los Angeles Sparks, but resulted in a loss. Star veteran Kelsey Plum had some thoughts postgame after watching the rookie guard have her way with them.

She is averaging 34 minutes per game and 19.7 points this year. Her 47.4% field goal rate is solid, and she’s shooting 33.7% from deep.

Bueckers was dominant in college for UConn and averaged 19.8 points per game as an amateur. Only a season-ending knee injury kept her off the court, and she returned to be an immediate All-American the final two years of her collegiate career.

Related: MN Lynx Star Joins Rarefied Air With Latest Ranking

Across 123 collegiate games, Bueckers scored 40 points just once. She had 12 games with 30-or-more points as well. With Bueckers and Clark as young stars capable of filling up the stat sheet, the WNBA continues to be in a good place.

Of course, both of them will need to go battle tested veterans like Collier and teams such as the Lynx if they intend to win anything beyond individual awards.

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]]> Thu, 21 Aug 2025 08:57:50 +0000 Minnesota Lynx MN Lynx Star Joins Rarefied Air With Latest Ranking https://www.minnesotasportsfan.com/minnesota-lynx/napheesa-collier-best-nba-2k-studbudz-slam-magazine/ Fri, 15 Aug 2025 21:32:22 +0000 https://www.minnesotasportsfan.com/?p=66720 Napheesa Collier, Minnesota Lynx
Candice Ward-Imagn ImagesCandice Ward-Imagn Images

The Minnesota Lynx currently own the best record in the WNBA. Cheryl Reeve’s squad has a 27-5 record and the second place Atlanta Dream sit behind them at 21-11.

A season after having a WNBA Championship stolen from them, they are right back in contention to win their fifth in franchise history. Alex Rodriguez and Marc Lore took over ownership from Glen Taylor a couple months ago, and a ring would certainly be a way to usher in their tenure.

Napheesa Collier is the star stirring the drink for the Lynx. She has now been recognized as the best in the sport, at least on a virtual level.

NBA 2K puts Napheesa Collier at the top for Minnesota Lynx

First there was Maya Moore and Sylvia Fowles. Both of those superstars were recently inducted into the Hall of Fame. Napheesa Collier is on her way there, but is still active and building her legacy. The latest update for the NBA 2K video game ranks her as the best player in the sport.

With a 98 overall rating, Collier is just shy of video game perfection. EA Sports handed that designation to Minnesota Vikings wide receiver Justin Jefferson earlier this summer. Collier is just ahead of Las Vegas star A’ja Wilson, and New York Liberty big Breanna Stewart. It is a bit odd to see the ever popular Caitlin Clark so high given the injuries and ineffectiveness this season.

Collier was the 6th overall pick by Minnesota in the 2019 WNBA Draft. The UConn product quickly established herself by winning Rookie of the Year honors. She has since earned MVP votes in three-of-seven professional seasons and finished runner-up last year.

While Collier took home Defensive Player of the Year honors in 2024, the five-time All-Star is positioned to win her first MVP award this season. In 26 games she is averaging a career-best 23.5 points per game while shooting a ridiculous 53.7% from the field. She remains every bit the same lockdown defender, and has the Lynx thinking title run once again.

With Minnesota having recently added guard DiJonai Carrington in a trade, the roster was supplemented in a big way. Collier remains sidelined with an ankle sprain, but she is expected back for the stretch run and playoffs.

Minnesota Lynx taking all the spotlight

Quite possibly the only good thing about the Minnesota Twins(z) right now, is the StudBudz. While the Pohlad family attempts to tear down the franchise they won’t be selling next to Target Center, Courtney Williams and Natisha Hiedeman are tearing up the basketball court.

Williams and Hiedeman have grown in popularity through their StudBudz Twitch channel. The pairing got a full-blown feature in Slam Magazine after taking the W by storm, and they have continued to make the most of the relationship on the court too. For the first time in history, players from the same WNBA team have graced a Slam Magazine cover in the same year.

Minnesota has relied upon Williams’ scoring as her 13.8 points per game trail only Collier and Kayla McBride. Hiedeman comes off the bench as a rotational player and has averaged 7.8 points per game while averaging 17.8 minutes.

Related: Minnesota Lynx Roster Changes Amidst Title Run

Having a legitimate superstar along with a viral tandem of talent behind her has been a solid recipe for success in Minnesota. Collier, Williams, and Hiedeman will look to finish the job that the league all but took from them last season.

This time around, they’re having a ton of fun doing it as well.

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]]> Fri, 15 Aug 2025 17:01:30 +0000 Minnesota Lynx Lynx PoBO Cheryl Reeve Goes Off on WNBA’s Green Sex Toy Problem https://www.minnesotasportsfan.com/minnesota-lynx/cheryl-reeve-comments-wnba-green-sex-toy-problem/ Fri, 08 Aug 2025 03:14:17 +0000 https://www.minnesotasportsfan.com/?p=66248 Cheryl Reeve - Minnesota Lynx
Kevin Ng-Imagn Images

In case you haven’t heard, the WNBA has been making the news lately for reasons that you can’t really make up. Over the last couple weeks, the league’s No. 1 enemy has been… green sex toys.

It all started on July 29, in a game between the Atlanta Dream and Golden State Valkyries. As could have been predicted, the displaced green dildo went viral.

A few days later, on August 1, a nearly identical dildo landed on the court in Chicago. To date, according to USA Today, there have been “as many” as six green dildos thrown on WNBA courts.

Cheryl Reeve upset over green sex toys being thrown onto WNBA courts

While we are yet to see the Minnesota Lynx directly impacted by flying green sausage-shaped objects, their president of basketball operations Cheryl Reeve felt a need to speak on this growing problem within her league. Whether it’s happening in crypto protest, WNBA protest or for laughs… the head coach of Team USA is not amused.

Reeve told reporters gathered at Lynx practice on Thursday that these flying green dildos aren’t just a safety hazard, but more importantly, it’s an attack on women via “sexualization” that has been holding the female race down for centuries…

“Obviously, you guys know what the object is. I just want to comment on [how] this has been going on for centuries. The sexualization of women. This is the latest version of that. It is not funny. It should not be the butt of jokes on any radio shows or in print, or in any comments.

The sexualization of women is what’s used to hold women down, and this is no different. This is just the latest version, and you should write about it in that way. These people should be held accountable. We are not the butt of the joke, they’re the problem and we need to take action.”

Cheryl Reeve – video via Shelby Swanson (Star Tribune intern)

I’m not here to convey my political beliefs on others, just like I’m not here to analyze the Minnesota Lynx’ opinions on the sexualization of women and how it has hurt or helped them. I’m just here to bring the most interesting pieces of news to Minnesota Sports Fan readers.

Some mansplaining for Minnesota Lynx PoBO and WNBA

With that being said… let me offer Cheryl some free mansplaining, since I know she would appreciate it. No matter how many WNBA championships she wins, Reeve does not get to decide what I or anyone else on the internet can or cannot find funny. That’s just not the way internet America works.

This article you are reading is a great example. I had no intention on writing about sex toys tonight or mansplaining on anything. Yet here I am, giving the dildo situation more attention, and only because of Reeve’s rant.

Related: Cheryl Reeve’s KFAN Absence Stems From Refusal to Discuss Caitlin Clark Snub

No matter how she or others feel about the toy tossing competition going on between WNBA arena patrons, this is not the way to handle it. In my non-female opinion, Reeve and those at the top of the WNBA need to stop trying to control all the uncontrollables that come with major professional sports.

If they want the big money TV contracts and higher salaries, then telling reporters how to cover the sport, or how fans how they’re allowed to watch and comment on it is a bad idea..

I don’t know how the league is going to fix its green dildo problem. Personally, I thought it was funny the first five times… but I’ve always drawn the line at six sex toys being too many. But again, that’s just me.

Everyone else is free to their own rubber/plastic object throwing opinions, just like most storylines that randomly grab national attention. Even if I agreed with Cheryl, I’d recommend against angry rants into microphones where you tell people how they should feel and what they can or cannot find funny. It never goes well.

More must-reads:

]]> Thu, 07 Aug 2025 22:14:20 +0000 Minnesota Lynx Cheryl Reeve’s KFAN Absence Stems From Refusal to Discuss Caitlin Clark Snub https://www.minnesotasportsfan.com/minnesota-lynx/cheryl-reeve-kfan-absence-caitlin-clark/ Tue, 05 Aug 2025 18:12:55 +0000 https://www.minnesotasportsfan.com/?p=66084 WNBA All Star Game - Caitlin Clark and coach Cheryl Reeve - USA Women
Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images

At 24-5, the Minnesota Lynx are one of the best teams in the WNBA this season, under 15-year head coach Cheryl Reeve. But the long tenured and highly decorated Reeve is much more than just a head coach for the Lynx.

The 58-year-old has also been Minnesota’s president of basketball operations since 2024 and head coach of the USA National Women’s Basketball Team since 2021.

MN Lynx PoBO no fan of new-era female basketball stars

Her accomplishments, both at the WNBA and international levels (more on those below), haven’t shielded her from recent criticisms, however, specifically surrounding her unwillingness to accept and help prop up the younger generation of female basketball stars, Caitlin Clark and Angel Reese, in order to help grow the game.

In 2024, Reeve intentionally (and obviously) avoided drafting Angel Reese with the No. 7 overall pick in the WNBA Draft. Reese has since made two-straight All-Star game appearances and currently leads the WNBA in rebounds. The “big” Minnesota chose over Reese, Alissa Pili, was recently cut from the Lynx’ roster.

WNBA: Minnesota Lynx head coach and president of basketball operations, Cheryl Reeve
Credit: Bruce Kluckhohn-Imagn Images

Reeve’s more egregious decision last summer, though, came when she helped conspire with the most influential voices in women’s basketball to keep young phenom Caitlin Clark off the 2024 Team USA Olympic roster.

Both before and after the Olympics, Reeve has made it painfully obvious how much she dislikes fielding questions surrounding Clark’s absence last summer… or really, talking about Caitlin at all.

Of course, if you snubbed the most popular female basketball player of all-time for no good reason, undoubtedly stunting the growth of a sport ready to blow up at levels unimaginable prior to Clark’s arrival, I doubt you’d enjoy talking publicly about it either.

Cheryl Reeve’s absence from KFAN due to her refusal to talk about Caitlin Clark

But this week, radio host Dan Barreiro (KFAN) confirmed that Caitlin Clark is indeed the reason Minnesota’s PoBO has been absent from hands down the most popular drivetime sports radio show in Minnesota.

According to what Barreiro told listeners Monday, that Reeve’s year-long break from KFAN stems back to her refusal to talk about Clark’s Team USA snub, prior to the Paris Games. From the sounds of it, Dan and Cheryl — who chatted semi-regularly leading up to that point — haven’t communicated since.

“605 Guy writes, [are you too hard on Cheryl] Reeve that she’ll no longer come on your show?’

Well, it’s a little more complicated than that, but it is true that the, I’d say ‘battle’ but that’s the wrong word. The challenge goes back to the last time we were trying to get Reeve on.

[It] was before the Olympics and I said, “Look, um, this doesn’t have to be the the the the meat of our conversation, but I’m going to have to ask you about that whole [Caitlin Clark] deal.’

This was via DMing or texting, whatever. And she said, ‘I can’t talk about that.’ So then, I don’t even know if I answered her, but at that point I can’t in my right mind [do the interview].

I think I even said ‘you’re pretty good at deflecting, I’m not going to like spend 20 minutes on it, but you’ve got to understand I can’t ignore it. It’s too big a story at this point.’ And so this whole thing gets kind of silly.”

Dan Barreiro – KFAN Radio

After serving as the Minnesota Lynx’ general manager from 2018-2022, she was named president of basketball operations last offseason, giving her full control of the four-time champion organization that she helped build from the ground up, starting in 2010.

Cheryl Reeve has been running from Caitlin Clark discussions since beginning

In 2021, Cheryl’s success in Minnesota landed her the head coaching job with Team USA, which has continued its complete and utter domination of international women’s basketball during her Team USA head coaching tenure (23-0), which includes a Gold Medal during the 2024 Olympic Games in Paris.

Related: Minnesota Lynx Roster Changes Amidst Title Run

When Clark was first snubbed by Team USA, some (including Reeve) tried to defend the decision as “basketball-related”. But even if you submit to the idea that Caitlin wasn’t one of the best 15 female basketball players in the world when rosters were finalized, it’s impossible to argue against the fact that having her on the team would have done wonders for fan interest during the games.

But instead of being one of the summer’s most popular and followed events, which it undoubtedly would have had Caitlin Clark been invited to Paris, women’s basketball was left on the 2024 Olympic backburner, Gold Medal and all… just like it always has been.

More must-reads:

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