Cheryl Reeve Wins WNBA Executive of the Year Award Again
The WNBA has given another accolade to Cheryl Reeve, the head coach and president of basketball operations for the Minnesota Lynx. The announcement made on Monday revealed that she has been named Basketball Executive of the Year for the third time, now tying her with Dan Padover from the Atlanta Dream for the most wins in the award’s history.
This recognition comes just shy of two weeks after the top-seeded Lynx were eliminated in the first round of the playoffs by the eighth-seeded New York Liberty, who themselves were later swept in the semifinals. Notably, Reeve garnered votes on 13 ballots, outperforming Padover’s 11 and Golden State’s Ohemaa Nyanin’s eight. Each of the 15 teams in the WNBA had an executive involved in the voting, and they were not allowed to vote for themselves.
This substantial support from her peers is significant, especially given Reeve’s outspoken nature concerning her franchise’s representation and her political views. She’s known for leveraging her position in the WNBA to voice her opinions on contentious issues, including the debate about the inclusion of transgender athletes in women’s sports.
Highlighting Key Decisions
The WNBA spotlighted Reeve’s choice of Olivia Miles as the No. 2 pick in the 2026 WNBA Draft, a decision that proved fruitful as Miles went on to win Rookie of the Year and set a scoring record for newcomers with 790 points. Granted, it’s important to consider how Miles ended up being available— the Dallas Wings opted to draft Azzi Fudd, girlfriend of star Paige Bueckers, instead of Miles. This choice is often viewed as more influenced by personal connections than pure athletic ability.
Miles’ performance was impressive; she averaged nearly 20 points per game, along with decent rebounds and assists, while Fudd averaged less despite being the first overall pick. Perhaps Reeve should be quite thankful to the Wings for taking that route.
Additionally, Reeve made strategic trades that benefited her team, such as acquiring players who contributed to a successful season leading to the No. 1 playoff seed, with a finished record of 33-11.
Playoff Performance Raises Questions
However, despite these advantages, the Lynx fell short in the playoffs. They made history by becoming the first No. 1 seed to be ousted by an eighth seed, losing in a sweep to New York. With a rookie star and one of the league’s top players, Napheesa Collier, the team suffered significant defeats in both playoff games.
Reeve has celebrated past successes, including four championships, but the last one dates back to 2017. In her tenure since then, she’s picked up numerous individual accolades but has not secured a title. This raises a valid point: if an executive is responsible for both constructing the team and coaching it, the playoff results inevitably reflect back on her leadership.
A Controversial Leadership Style
Reeve has not shied away from discussing politically charged topics, wearing apparel that advocates for transgender inclusion during games and commenting on the broader implications of discussions surrounding gender in sports. While her assertions can be polarizing, they reflect her commitment to her views, which may not sit well with everyone.
By honoring Reeve as the year’s standout basketball executive, her peers seem to endorse not only her on-court decisions but also her approach to addressing political issues. This empowers a narrative that reverberates through the league, highlighting what values the WNBA chooses to celebrate.
