If you’re not a WNBA fan, then you might not know who Cheryl Reeve is but get ready to learn about one of the greatest basketball minds. At age 50, she is one of the best WNBA coaches and has made a huge impact on the game. She’s also not afraid to speak her mind, especially during this year’s Finals.
Reeve attended La Salle University in Philadelphia; graduating in 1988 with a degree in computer sciences and MIS. She would go back and get her MBA, graduating in 1990. Some might not know about her college basketball career because Reeve played for the La Salle Explorers. Reeve was a point guard, winning 89 of 110 games she played in and took the team to the NCAA tournament twice. Her love for basketball would help her decide on her career choice.
She started off coaching during her time in graduate school at La Salle. She began as a graduate assistant coach before getting an assistant coaching job at George Washington University. She spent five seasons there and then became the head coach at Indiana State.
In 2001, she made the jump to the WNBA. She started as an assistant coach for the Charlotte Sting for a year. She then moved to Cleveland Rockers for a year and then back to the Sting for another year. From 2006-2009, Reeve was an assistant for the Detriot Shock. Finally, in 2010, she would get her big break and become the head coach for the Minnesota Lynx.
Her first year as the Lynx coach didn’t go great. The team finished the season with a 13-21 record but that didn’t hamper Reeve; instead, it motivated her. In 2011, the team finished with a record of 27-7 while Reeve won the WNBA Coach Of The Year and they won the WNBA Championship that year. She took the team to the playoffs in 2012-2016 with the team winning the championship again in 2013 and 2015. She was the WNBA All-Star game coach in 2013 and 2014 and she is also the winningest coach in the WNBA ever including overall victories and winning percentage.
Reeves has never been afraid to speak her mind. In an interview with ESPN reporter Holly Rowe, who is currently battling cancer,  she decided to turn the interview around. Instead of answering her basketball questions, she talked about Reeve and how unbelievable strong she is being. She’s also been pretty vocal during this year’s finals especially about last week’s spotlight, Nneka Ogwumike. Referring to Ogwumike as the “biggest flopper in the league,” Reeve is one of the few coaches who isn’t afraid to stir the pot instead of praising the competition.
