Cheryl Reeve wins record fifth WNBA Coach of the Year

sportsSep 28, 202616502

The WNBA announced Monday that Minnesota Lynx head coach Cheryl Reeve has been named Coach of the Year for a record fifth time after guiding the Lynx to a league-best 33-11 regular-season record and the No. 1 overall seed. Reeve is in her 17th season with Minnesota and has a 397-201 record as Lynx head coach, including four WNBA titles and only two losing seasons. She reached this milestone despite the team missing Napheesa Collier for the first half of the season, and the 33 wins are the second-most in a season of Reeve’s career. The announcement comes as the Lynx opened the playoffs with a 91-75 loss at the New York Liberty, leaving Minnesota down in the best-of-three opening-round series. The Lynx face a quick turnaround with Game 2 in New York on Tuesday, a must-win if they are to avoid an early exit and preserve Reeve’s championship hopes for this season.

Cassidy Hettesheimer

@cassidyhett.bsky.social

WNBA AP Awards are out this morning: Olivia Miles — Rookie of the Year, All-WNBA 1st team, All-Rookie Team Cheryl Reeve — Coach of the Year

126Yesterday

Cassidy Hettesheimer25

Perfect year for there to be an All-Rookie team tie, bc this class is awesome: Miles, Azzi Fudd, Flau’jae Johnson, Sydney Taylor, Pauline Astier, Kiki Rice

Sober Tile Guy2

Now win today. New York makes me seriously nervous!

Meghan L. Hall

@itsmeghanlhall.bsky.social

The Associated Press (AP) has released their WNBA awards*. Player of the Year: A’ja Wilson DPOY: Angel Reese Rookie of the Year: Olivia Miles COTY: Cheryl Reeve 6POTY: Janelle Salaün MIP: Jessica Shepard *Note: These are not the league’s awards. Those haven’t been released.

94Yesterday

Meghan L. Hall35

First Team: A'ja Wilson, Breanna Stewart, Olivia Miles, Caitlin Clark, Kelsey Mitchell Second Team: Angel Reese, Paige Bueckers, Jackie Young, Rhyne Howard, Gabby Williams Comeback Player of the Year: Caitlin Clark

J-Nice3

Feels like they were desperate to give CC at least 1 award for the clicks.

Quoting this

J. Samuels5

So the best defensive player in the league isn't one of the 5 best players in the league...the nba-fication of the league is almost complete. Chuck threes, score points, nothing else matters

Y - David2

I am #noticing that 6 award. Is it 6 woman of the year or 6th player? Whats the correct way we say this so I do not misgender. Should MNBA change too?

WNBA

@wnba.com

Leading the way in Minnesota ✨ Cheryl Reeve is the 2026 State Street Investment Management SPY WNBA Coach of the Year! Reeve led the Minnesota Lynx to a 33-11 regular season record and the No. 1 overall seed for the second straight season. #WNBASeason30

914h ago

Quoting this

Along Came Poly-4-The-W5

MY 2026 COY IS NATALIE NAKASE. ENJOY THAT 1 SEED THO!

[insert something witty]3

I want to say I can’t argue, but I really feel that Nakase should have gotten this one. Show us the voting breakdown!

mattvielkind2

Congrats Coach Reeve!!! There were 3 really strong candidates and this doesn't negate the seasons Natalie Nakase and Sydney Johnson had. The Lynx were projected to finish 8th in the preseason. Obviously they smashed those expectations and a big reason is Coach Reeve. So congrats coach!!

Meg Linehan

@meglinehan.com

"Minnesota Lynx head coach Cheryl Reeve has been named the 2026 State Street Investment Management SPY WNBA Coach of the Year, the WNBA announced today." Ah yes, the SSIMSPYWNBACOTY award.

783h ago

becky hammon’s crucifix

@real-point-god.bsky.social

Every evil of theirs began in 2024 Game 5; there I came to hate them. Because of the wickedness of their deeds I will drive them out of Target Center. All their officials are rebels. -Cheryl Reeve and Lynx players and fans during a live in-game interview that was not aired, quoted Hosea 9:15. #WNBA

1922h ago

Pat Borzi

@borzmn.bsky.social

Unlike their fans, neither #Lynx Coach Cheryl Reeve nor her players blamed the Game 1 loss on the officiating. Instead, they cited the obvious: Lack of flow on offense, and inability to move Breanna Stewart off the spots where she dominates. #Liberty @wnba.com

1819h ago

Iain Campbell Downie4

Two things can be true at the same time: poor officiating with phantom & very soft calls (even by regular season standards) going against the Lynx, plus the Lynx playing badly and not coming close to earning a win in the second half.

Pat Borzi4

FWIW, #Lynx were 18-4 on the road, breaking the @WNBA record for road victories. And #Liberty remain mindful of last year's 1st round, where they won Game 1 in Phoenix in OT, got blown out at home in Game 2, then lost the decider in Phx thanks to Alyssa Thomas's triple double.

Quoting this

Nate Pentz21

Agree with this. Refs weren't great but weren't the issue.

Jeff Fecke

@jkfecke.bsky.social

Have i mentioned that I love Cheryl Reeve? Because I do.

15Yesterday

functional moron

@fiveburger.bsky.social

i know how adaptable liv and phee are and i know that cheryl reeve is the greatest basketball mind but i just don’t see how they can adjust for this. if it were just a couple things going wrong id feel better but every single dam is breaking at once

1421h ago

Jackie Powell

@classicjpow.bsky.social

Seven of the Liberty's 15 points have come off Lynx turnovers and in transition. The Liberty have three steals to the Lynx's 0. Cheryl Reeve takes a timeout as NYL leads 15-6.

623h ago

Deadria

@deadria101.bsky.social

Cheryl Reeve is officially the WNBA Coach of the Year. The voting break down is as follows. Now what Cheryl did was impressive, she rebuilt her team, drafted a generational rookie and still retained the number 1 seed.

74h ago

Finish Through Contact

@finishthrucontact.bsky.social

i can't imagine cheryl reeve not beating chris demarco... #wnba

821h ago

Pitch Mr. Perfect

@michaelwaterloo.bsky.social

First and second team All-WNBA and All-Defense were extremely hard. I also have hard thresholds for games played if you see players excluded (Azzi Fudd alll rookie). Here are my picks for each of the 10 awards:

MVP voting: A’ja Wilson, Kelsey Mitchell, Olivia miles, angel Reese, Breanna Stewart

623h ago

Mitchell Hansen

@hansen13.bsky.social

Minnesota Lynx head coach Cheryl Reeve has officially been named the 2026 #WNBA Coach of the Year, her league record fifth time claiming the award.

64h ago

sportsbuff.bsky.social

@sportsbuff.bsky.social

"They Don't Want Transgender People to Exist": Cheryl Reeve Reignites Sophie Cunningham Controversy as She Addresses Trans Issues for 4th Time www.sportskeeda.com/us/wnba/news...

42d ago

maya goldberg-safir

@roughnotes.bsky.social

cheryl reeve coach of the year that natalie nakase rocked her like a baby

514h ago

3 sources

heavy.comWNBA Made Cheryl Reeve Announcement After Lynx Blowout Playoff Loss startribune.comLynx’s Cheryl Reeve wins record fifth WNBA Coach of the Year award kstp.comCheryl Reeve wins 5th WNBA Coach of the Year with Lynx

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Cheryl Reeve wins record fifth WNBA Coach of the Year

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