Cheryl Reeve just became the winningest coach in WNBA history, and the locker room video is exactly what you’d expect from a team that plays as hard as she coaches. The Minnesota Lynx beat the Connecticut Sun 86-80 on Wednesday at Mohegan Sun Arena, giving Reeve her 380th regular-season win. That’s one more than Mike Thibault, who held the record before her.
The celebration that followed was loud. (And yes, she was barking with her players. That’s not a metaphor.) The team posted the clip and the caption pretty much says everything: “OUR COACH IS A DAWG. ENOUGH SAID.” It’s rare to see a coach get that kind of raw love from a locker room after a milestone midseason, but that’s the culture she’s built in Minnesota over the last 16 years.
Reeve has been with the Lynx since 2010 and won four championships along the way — tying the Comets and the Storm for the most in league history. She got inducted into the Women’s Basketball Hall of Fame just a few weeks ago, so yeah, it’s been a pretty good month.
What Reeve Said About the Record
The Associated Press caught up with her after the game, and she was characteristically blunt. “I am so glad this is over,” she said. That’s the kind of quote you get from someone who’s been dodging questions about the record for weeks.
She also tipped her cap to Thibault, whose son Eric is an assistant on her staff. “I learned a lot from Mike through the years. I know he’s happy for me. Somebody’s going to pass me, and I’ll be happy for them too.” Thibault won a title with Washington in 2019, so the mutual respect runs deep.
How the Game Played Out
This was also a revenge spot for the Lynx. Connecticut beat them on Monday, so getting the W in their building the same week Reeve set the mark made it sweeter. Minnesota moved to 16-6 on the season, and they’re 10-2 on the road, which is absurd.
Kayla McBride led everybody with 23 points, four boards, four assists, and two steals. Natasha Howard put up 12 points and 10 rebounds with three blocks. The Lynx were missing Olivia Miles, who sat with a calf injury.
Next up is a tough test: Saturday against the New York Liberty. But honestly, after a night like this, the locker room vibes alone might carry them through.
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