Cheryl Reeve: The Coach Who Won More Games Than Anyone in WNBA History

A Night to Remember in Connecticut

On Wednesday evening, something special happened at the Mohegan Sun Arena in Uncasville, Connecticut. The Minnesota Lynx, a team led by coach Cheryl Reeve, played against the Connecticut Sun (the team in last place).

Here’s what went down in simple terms:

• The Lynx won the game 86-80.
• They didn’t play great at first—they needed a super strong final quarter (the last 10 minutes of the game) to pull ahead.
• This win stopped a small slump where they had lost two games in a row.
• After the game, instead of being grumpy about the rough play, Coach Reeve got a happy surprise: gold confetti fell in the locker room, she danced with players to the song "Yeah!" by Usher, and fans chanted "Cher-yl, Cher-yl!"

Important Point: This was not just any win. It was Coach Reeve’s 380th regular-season victory (that means wins in the normal schedule, not counting special playoff games). This made her the coach with the most regular-season wins in the history of the WNBA (the Women’s National Basketball Association).

The Record Broken

Before this game, the record for most regular-season wins by a head coach was held by Mike Thibault, who used to coach the Connecticut Sun and the Washington Mystics. Reeve passed him with win number 380.

After the game, Reeve held a glass of champagne and said:

"I appreciate it immensely. I just wanted to win the game. I just don’t think this way. I appreciate how much it meant to the players to celebrate the moment. … So many people that have been on this journey with me for so long, even the new ones, to share it with them was incredibly meaningful."

Who Is Cheryl Reeve? (Explained Like You’re 5)

Imagine a teacher who has stayed at the same school for a very long time and keeps helping her students win contests. That’s Cheryl Reeve for the Minnesota Lynx.

• She was hired in 2010 – that makes her the longest continuously tenured coach in WNBA history (fancy words meaning she has been the main coach of the same team longer than anyone else without taking a break).
• Before Minnesota, she was an assistant coach (like a helper teacher) in Charlotte, Cleveland, and Detroit. In Detroit, she was part of two teams that won championships.
• Her legacy isn’t just about staying long; she wins a lot!
  • She guided the Lynx to WNBA titles (the big trophy) in 2011, 2013, 2015, and 2017.
  • They also made it to the Finals (the final match) in 2012, 2016, and 2024.
  • Counting playoff games too, she already had 430 total wins before Wednesday, the most of any coach ever.
  • Her win percentage (like a score of how often she wins) is .660, which is second only to Becky Hammon’s .729 (coach of Las Vegas Aces).

A Quick Numbered List of Her Championship Finals

1. Won titles: 2011, 2013, 2015, 2017
2. Reached Finals but didn’t win those years: 2012, 2016, 2024
3. Future goal: If she wins again, it would be a league-record fifth title.

What Other Stars Say About Her

Even the best players respect her a lot:

• Kayla McBride (Lynx guard): Said it’s "surreal" and praised the "standard of excellence." She said being one of the few coaches in one franchise for so long is a lost art.
• Elena Delle Donne (two-time MVP): At their Hall of Fame induction last month, she said Reeve would "bring out the worst of my game" and make her work on weaknesses.
• Candace Parker (MVP): Called it "chess" and said Reeve made opposing players better by raising their level.
• Lindsay Whalen (former player, now assistant coach): Said Reeve is great at goal setting and makes every day fun, pushing players outside comfort zones.

Important: Respect from famous players shows Reeve isn’t just about wins; she helps everyone improve.

The Bumpy Road Before the Record

The past week wasn’t all smooth:

• The Lynx lost two games in a row (to New York and Connecticut). Their usually strong defense let the other teams score 90 points each time.
• Reeve said the attention about the record and her recent Women’s Basketball Hall of Fame induction was "a bit overwhelming."
• She joked on TV: "I’m so glad this is over," but also said it gave her a chance to look back on her career.

She reflected: "It feels like yesterday it was 2010… You never dream it’s going to happen. I set out to just try to take it day by day and win games."

Coaching with Hidden Heroes

Here’s a cool part: Reeve earned the record without two key players:

• Napheesa Collier (star, expected back from injury)
• Olivia Miles (rookie sensation, out with calf issue)

But lesser-known players stepped up big time in the final quarter (which the Lynx won 26-15):

• Antonia Delaere scored 10 points.
• Dorka Juhasz scored 12 points.
• Anastasiia Olairi Kosu had a team-best plus-11 in plus/minus (that’s a simple score: when she was on the court, her team outscored the other team by 11 points).

This shows Reeve’s magic: she gets the most out of whoever is playing.

What’s Next for Reeve and the Lynx?

The article mentions that 2026 might be one of Reeve’s most impressive coaching jobs. Few expected much from Minnesota after they didn’t sign big-name free agents and lost key players. But the team is 16-6 (16 wins, 6 losses) atop the league standings. Rookie Olivia Miles is exceeding expectations, and Collier is coming back.

Reeve says the team doesn’t have a "chip on its shoulder" (that means they aren’t angry or out to prove others wrong). Instead, they have "tremendous belief." She wants to help players see strengths they don’t see yet.

She also led USA Basketball to an Olympic gold medal in 2024 and coached legends like Maya Moore, Sylvia Fowles, Seimone Augustus, Lindsay Whalen, and Rebekkah Brunson.

Important: The Lynx have missed the playoffs only once since their first title (in 2022, when Collier sat out for pregnancy/childbirth). Reeve never stops trying to win.

Summary

Let’s recap the big points:

• Cheryl Reeve became the WNBA’s all-time winningest regular-season coach with 380 wins.
• She coaches the Minnesota Lynx since 2010, the longest streak in league history.
• She has 4 championships and aims for a record 5th.
• The record win came against Connecticut Sun (86-80) with help from bench players.
• Players and peers praise her for making everyone better.
• Despite a tough week before, she celebrated with confetti and dance.

FAQ (Frequently Asked Questions)

1. What is the WNBA?
The WNBA stands for Women’s National Basketball Association. It’s a league where the best women basketball players in the world compete in the USA. Think of it as the women’s version of the NBA.

2. What does "winningest coach" mean?
It’s a simple way to say the coach who has won the most games. In this case, Reeve has the most regular-season wins ever.

3. How many total wins does Reeve have including playoffs?
Before the record night, she already had 430 total wins (regular season + playoffs), the most in history. After this 380th regular-season win, her total becomes 431.

4. Who are some famous players Reeve coached?
She coached a legendary group: Maya Moore, Sylvia Fowles, Seimone Augustus, Lindsay Whalen, Rebekkah Brunson, plus current stars like Napheesa Collier and Kayla McBride.

5. What is "plus/minus" in basketball?
It’s a number that shows how many points your team outscores the opponent while you are on the court. If it’s +11, your team scored 11 more points than the other team when you played.

ESPN’s Michael Voepel contributed to this report.