New Team USA Coach Looking to Right Cheryl Reeve’s Wrongs

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.

picking SECOND. ✌️ pic.twitter.com/ipSioYDbbh

— Minnesota Lynx (@minnesotalynx) November 24, 2025

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.