Latest news with #CherylReeve
Yahoo
2 days ago
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
WNBA Head Coach Feels 'Weird' Playing Mercury Without Diana Taurasi
WNBA Head Coach Feels 'Weird' Playing Mercury Without Diana Taurasi originally appeared on Athlon Sports. There's a new era of Phoenix Mercury basketball with the retirement of WNBA star Diana Taurasi. The one-time Most Valuable Player decided in February to retire from the game of basketball after 20 years. Taurasi spent the entirety of her career with the Mercury. Advertisement On Friday, the Mercury are scheduled to play against the Minnesota Lynx. The team has been coached by Cheryl Reeve since 2009, the same year Taurasi was crowned the best player in the league. However, this is the first season that Reeve will coach against a Phoenix team without Taurasi. Before the game, she revealed her thoughts about the Mercury not having the basketball legend on their roster. Phoenix Mercury guard Diana Taurasi drives around Minnesota Lynx guard Bridget Matay-Imagn Images The media asked the head coach ahead of the game about her thoughts on the first WNBA season without the iconic player. "It is weird, being here in Phoenix," Reeve said about facing the Mercury without Taurasi via Hayden Cilley on X. "It'd be weird to walk out there and some of the teams that they've had... Maybe not weird, but different, for sure." According to StatHead, Taurasi played 61 games against the Lynx during the regular season in her career. She had a record of 26-35 with averages of 17.8 points, 4.2 rebounds and four assists. In the playoffs, the 11-time All-Star played 13 games against Minnesota and finished with a record of 2-11. In the postseason, the Mercury legend averaged 21.4 points, 4.3 rebounds and 4.1 assists. Advertisement Her last game against the Lynx was in the 2024 playoffs. Taurasi had 10 points, four rebounds and three assists in Game 2 of the first round. Related: Mercury Make Important Brittney Griner Announcement Before Sun Clash This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on May 31, 2025, where it first appeared.
Yahoo
2 days ago
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Alanna Smith Finds Her 'Home and 'Family' with Minnesota Lynx
Alanna Smith Finds Her 'Home and 'Family' with Minnesota Lynx originally appeared on Athlon Sports. Alanna Smith has worn many hats throughout her WNBA career—spot starter, stretch forward, defensive specialist. But in Minnesota, she's found something more: a clearly defined role on a championship contender, anchored by trust from the coaching staff and a genuine sense of belonging. Advertisement 'It just felt like coming back home to family,' Smith told RG. 'Playing with people that care about you as a player on and off the court. And that you genuinely get along with, too. Every single person involved with the Lynx is great. I've had no issues, and I genuinely enjoy being around the team and staff. And it's great basketball as well—you can't really ask for much more.' Smith joined the Lynx on a two-year, fully guaranteed deal before the 2024 season. Since then, she's emerged as one of the league's most versatile and reliable two-way forwards, earning All-Defensive Second Team honors in 2024 while helping Minnesota reach the WNBA Finals. Now, in her second season, she's taken another leap. Beginning the 2025 season, Smith is averaging 13.6 points, 4.0 rebounds, 2.0 assists, 1.2 steals, and 2.0 blocks per game while shooting 59.6% from the field and 47.8% from beyond the arc. Notably, she's taking 4.6 threes per game—up from 3.0 last season—and converting them at an elite rate. 'Cheryl told me at the start of the year she wanted me to shoot more threes,' Smith said. 'And a player never doesn't want to hear that.' Advertisement Smith's ability to stretch the floor has complemented All-WNBA forward Napheesa Collier, who's averaging 26.8 points, 7.8 rebounds, 3.0 assists, and 2.4 steals, solidifying herself as a serious MVP candidate once again. 'When you're playing with someone like Phee, she's the reason you're able to get open shots,' Smith said. 'Everyone's so focused on her… But she's unselfish too. She'll give it up and pitch it out, which is what we need as a team.' Defensively, Smith remains a foundational piece of the Lynx's identity. Whether switching onto guards, protecting the paint, or rotating from the weak side, she's become one of the league's most consistent help defenders. 'There's a couple of us that are the anchors of our defense, especially in help-side,' she explained. 'That's usually me. We're a team that helps a lot, and being able to provide that every single game without fail is what's most important.' Bruce Kluckhohn-Imagn Images Following a 30–10 campaign and a Finals appearance in 2024, Minnesota appears poised for another deep postseason push. Smith, who averaged 10.1 points, 5.6 rebounds, and shot nearly 40% from deep last season, is now playing the most efficient basketball of her career. Advertisement She'll be an unrestricted free agent in 2026, but her role and connection to the Lynx suggest there's little desire to part ways. 'As a player, you always want to be in a position where your game speaks for itself,' she said. 'That's all I've tried to do.' And it's speaking loudly. From rim protection to timely three-point shooting to veteran leadership, Smith is doing everything the Lynx need—consistently and quietly—while reinforcing her value as a core piece of a team built on trust. Related: WNBA Head Coach Feels 'Weird' Playing Mercury Without Diana Taurasi This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Jun 1, 2025, where it first appeared.
Yahoo
4 days ago
- Health
- Yahoo
Lynx star Napheesa Collier ruled out of game vs. Mercury with lingering knee injury
On Friday, the Minnesota Lynx will be playing without their biggest star. Lynx forward Napheesa Collier has been ruled out of Friday's matchup against the Phoenix Mercury with a knee injury. Collier, the Lynx's leading scorer by a significant margin, was ruled as a "game-time decision" prior to Friday. The team announced the news shortly before tipoff, with Alanna Smith replacing Collier in the starting lineup in Phoenix. Ahead of the game, Lynx head coach Cheryl Reeve told reporters that sitting Collier was "more precautionary," and that Collier had been dealing with the knee injury since 2023. Advertisement Collier, 28, is one of the top scorers in the league, and an early frontrunner for WNBA MVP. She currently leads the league in points per game with 26.5. This story will be updated.
CBS News
7 days ago
- General
- CBS News
Newcomer Karlie Samuelson thriving with the Minnesota Lynx this season
One of the off season additions that is paying dividends for the Minnesota Lynx is Karlie Samuelson. She's a 7-year WNBA veteran that joined the Lynx this season hoping to be part of something special. "I couldn't be happier, and I get to play for a legend like Cheryl [Reeve]," said Samuelson. The Lynx acquired Samuleson on draft day in April. She says she was mid-flight at the time of the trade. "My phone start blowing up with 'Congrats, Oh my gosh…' and my heart starts pounding. I kind of figured I was traded or something happened, but I didn't where. No one was saying where," said Samuleson. "Then I had a text from Eric Thibault who was my coach in D.C. that said 'Let's go!' I'm like 'I'm traded to Minnesota?' I called my sister [Katie Lou Samuelson] when I finally got service, and she's like, 'yeah it's been public for 5 hours now.' I just didn't know." said Samuelson. Samuelson's not alone as a newbie. Her former head coach for the Washington Mystics, Thibault, joined the Lynx this season as the associate head coach under Reeve. "Last year we saw something in Karlie, maybe before some other teams did, and knowing we had a chance to get her here to compliment the players we already had, I thought it would be a great fit," said Thibault. Samuelson is fitting in seamlessly with 27 points after 4 games, scoring 41% from the arc. "I know that [Thibault] has my best interests at heart, and he'll tell me things as they happen, like, 'Hey, you missed that tag over there, and I'm like thanks yeah you're right," said Samuelson. "I'm new, but I feel super comfortable in the system and all the girls are lovely."
New York Times
16-05-2025
- Sport
- New York Times
How to watch Lynx at Wings: Paige Bueckers' WNBA debut vs. mighty Minnesota
Welcome to the main stage, Paige Bueckers. Her first WNBA game with the Dallas Wings is a particularly tough one — last year's Minnesota Lynx were a bounce or two away from claiming the WNBA Finals, and this year's group should be just as formidable, especially on defense. Still, one of the brightest stars in all of sports pens an opening verse for her professional career. The Friday night hype is absolutely justified. Advertisement There are no weak links for these Lynx. Napheesa Collier is the reigning Defensive Player of the Year and finished second in MVP voting. Perennial perimeter threat Kayla McBride shot better than 40 percent on 3s at a career-high volume. Courtney Williams is still in her bag and still happy to be a dog. Cheryl Reeve has coached four title teams and three additional conference champs. Minnesota will be the comfortable favorite in this game. Two of our three women's hoops experts have them winning it all this fall. With that acknowledged, a lot of folks will fixate on the Wings for this one. Bueckers carries supernova, landscape-altering potential. She may need time to adjust to WNBA pace and physicality, but her recent NCAA Tournament transcendence garnered fans across the world. That first buttery crossover into successful jumper will be a dopamine rush for the whole viewing public, Lynx loyalists included. Dallas has put Bueckers' rookie year in good care. Arike Ogunbowale has earned MVP votes in each of her six seasons. Two new acquisitions should ameliorate 2024's worst-ranked defense — NaLyssa Smith brings rebounding from Indiana, and DiJonai Carrington is a switchable wing that came on strong in Connecticut. Best player to wear both jerseys: Katie Smith, a Hall-of-Famer with four All-WNBA seasons in Minnesota. Sabreena Merchant's power rankings: Minnesota (No. 2) — 'Diamond Miller began last season as the Lynx's starting two guard. Three games in, the 2023 No. 2 pick got injured, and she was supplanted in the starting lineup by Bridget Carleton for the rest of the season. Miller appeared in only six of Minnesota's 12 playoff games, exclusively in garbage time and failing to exceed one minute of playing time in any contest. As the Lynx attempt to avenge their Game 5 loss in the 2024 finals, Miller is one of their best hopes for improvement. She applies more rim pressure than any other Minnesota guard as her drives add a different element to the Lynx's jumper-heavy offense.' Advertisement Dallas (No. 10) — 'The Wings have a glut of quality backcourt options, and their main perimeter concern will be what combinations to use among Paige Bueckers, DiJonai Carrington, Ty Harris, Aziaha James and Arike Ogunbowale. Within that grouping is all of the creation, shooting and defense Dallas needs. The frontcourt, on the other hand, is less certain. NaLyssa Smith and Teaira McCowan started Dallas' lone preseason game against a WNBA opponent, and that defensive tandem simply isn't good enough in this league. Although Myisha Hines-Allen is small for a center, she reads the floor well and knows how to position herself. If she can provide defensive integrity, Dallas will shoot up the rankings. However, players currently being prioritized limit the Wings' upside.' Streaming, betting and ticketing links in this article are provided by partners of The Athletic. Restrictions may apply. The Athletic maintains full editorial independence. Partners have no control over or input into the reporting or editing process and do not review stories before publication. (Photo of Paige Bueckers: Sam Hodde / Getty Images)
