Cheryl Reeve of the Minnesota Lynx was named WNBA Coach of the Year

MINNEAPOLIS – Cheryl Reeve of the Minnesota Lynx was named the WNBA Coach of the Year on Sunday. The defensive player of the year was Napheesa Collier from Minnesota.

Reeve, a former La Salle player, also won WNBA Basketball Executive of the Year honors for the second time. Second place went to Talisa Rhea of ​​the Seattle Storm.

Reeve broke a tie with Van Chancellor of the Houston Comets (1997-99) and Mike Thibault of the Connecticut Sun and Washington Mystics (2006, 2008 and 2013), each of whom won coach of the year honors three times. Reeve has previously been honored in 2011, 2016 and 2020.

Collier won the defensive award for the first time, receiving 36 votes from a 67-member national media panel. A’ja Wilson finished second with 26 votes.

The Lynx star finished second in the league in steals per game (1.91), was fourth in defensive rebounds per game (7.5) and seventh in blocks per game (1.41), posting highs in both categories career records.

She helped Minnesota finish second in the league in defense (94.8) and allow the fewest points (75.6).

Collier led the Lynx to the league’s second-best record (30-10) under Reeve, who won the coaching award for the fourth time. Reeve received 62 of 67 votes for Coach of the Year. Sandy Brondello of New York had four votes and Christie Sides of Indiana got one.