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How Cheryl Reeve became WNBA Executive of the Year: A play in four acts

By Caissa Casarez

MINNEAPOLIS, MN- JULY 17: Cheryl Reeve of the Minnesota Lynx high-fives teammates before the game against the Seattle Storm on July 17, 2019 at the Target Center in Minneapolis, Minnesota NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2019 NBAE (Photo by David Sherman/NBAE via Getty Images)
MINNEAPOLIS, MN- JULY 17: Cheryl Reeve of the Minnesota Lynx high-fives teammates before the game against the Seattle Storm on July 17, 2019 at the Target Center in Minneapolis, Minnesota NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2019 NBAE (Photo by David Sherman/NBAE via Getty Images) /
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Free Agency February

The Lynx started the 2019 free agency period in a big way by signing small forward Karima Christmas-Kelly. Even though she saw limited playing time because of an injury, it’s clear that Reeve’s move will pay off in the future, as Christmas-Kelly should be back on the court in 2020. A week later, Minnesota brought back forward Damiris Dantas, who started all 26 games she played in this year (plus the Lynx’s sole playoff game). She saw her numbers jump this year, including averaging a career-best 9.2 points per game, and they will only improve in the future. The Lynx also signed Erlana Larkins and Jillian Alleyne, and while their times in Minnesota were brief, they still helped to reshape the team.

Reeve signed another unofficial free agent in the offseason – former Lynx star Plenette Pierson – to complete her coaching staff after Coach of the Year James Wade took over the Chicago Sky. The Lynx also promoted Walt Hopkins to full-time assistant coach. Reeve credits him and assistant GM Clare Duwelius for their help in what she called a “daunting” off-season.

“It consumed us,” she told the Minneapolis Star Tribune. “We were not going to let this thing fall off a cliff. We were very aware of the people lining up to cheer the demise of the Minnesota Lynx.”

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