Olivia Miles of the Minnesota Lynx was unanimously chosen as the WNBA Rookie of the Year, while Cheryl Reeve earned Coach of the Year honors on Monday. This marks Reeve’s fifth time winning the coaching award, the highest number for any coach in a major American professional sport. Meanwhile, Miles became the sixth rookie from the Lynx to receive this accolade, setting the franchise record.
Natalie Nakase, coach of the Golden State Valkyries, finished second in the voting, followed by Washington Mystics coach Sydney Johnson in third place.
Miles broke several league rookie records this season, including total rookie points scored (790), the most games scoring over 20 points by a rookie (22), and the most three-pointers made by a rookie in a single game (eight). She was pleasantly surprised at a team dinner when her parents showed up to celebrate her achievement.
WNBA commissioner Cathy Engelbert presented the awards to Miles and Reeve at the Target Center. Engelbert shared that she felt confident from the moment Miles was selected second overall in the draft that she would be honoring her with the Rookie of the Year trophy by season’s end. “When I called your name on draft night, I knew I’d be standing here,” Engelbert said.
While many anticipated Miles claiming the Rookie of the Year title, few predicted Reeve would be named Coach of the Year. Despite challenges like an unusual free agency period, the addition of two expansion teams through the draft, and the temporary loss of star player Napheesa Collier to ankle surgery, Reeve guided the Lynx to an impressive 33-11 regular-season record, securing the top seed for the playoffs.
Reeve reflected on the journey, saying, “The joy comes from not knowing the outcome when we started. We never set out aiming to be the best team or win all these awards. We just focus on winning every day. I’m grateful to the players for trusting the process and their belief in what we do together.”
Reeve was also surprised when her son Oliver shared the Coach of the Year news with her after practice.
This story was originally published by The Athletic.
Fan Take: This recognition of both Olivia Miles and Cheryl Reeve highlights the strength and resilience of the Minnesota Lynx, reminding WNBA fans that teamwork and determination can overcome even the toughest challenges. Their achievements not only set a high bar for individual excellence but also signal a promising future for the league’s competitiveness and visibility.
Source: sports.yahoo.com
