MINNEAPOLIS – (Staff Report from Official News Release) – Minnesota Lynx head coach and general manager Cheryl Reeve, who as an assistant coach for the USA Basketball Women’s National Team helped the U.S. claim gold medals at the 2016 and 2020 Olympic Games and 2014 and 2018 FIBA World Cups, will take the reins of the program as USA National Team head coach through 2024.
In addition to USA National Team training camps and exhibition games, Reeve will lead the USA at the 2022 FIBA World Cup Qualifying Tournament in Washington, D.C.; the 2022 FIBA World Cup in Sydney, Australia; and, if the USA qualifies, the 2024 Olympic Games in Paris, France.
“I am incredibly humbled and excited to be named head coach of the USA Basketball Women’s National Team, one of the greatest dynasties in sports,” said Reeve. “I have enjoyed an incredible journey with USA Basketball since joining in 2014 and look forward to what lies ahead as we seek more gold for the USA. I am indebted to the USA Basketball Board of Directors, Dawn Staley, Geno Auriemma, and of course, my Lynx family who have positioned me for this prestigious opportunity.”
“Cheryl Reeve is a coach who has been successful on multiple levels of the game,” said retired Gen. Martin Dempsey , USA Basketball chairperson. “With five international gold medals as an assistant on the coaching staff of our USA National Teams and a combined six WNBA championships as a head coach and an assistant, USA Basketball believes there is no one more qualified than Cheryl to follow Dawn Staley and continue the legacy of success that defines this program. I am confident that she will continue the USA Basketball Women’s National Team’s tradition of developing teams that make all Americans proud both on and off the court.”
In addition to the combined four gold medals in the Olympics and FIBA World Cups, Reeve was on the bench as an assistant when the USA claimed the 2019 FIBA AmeriCup and, in all, has assisted USA teams to a 57-4 overall record, including a spotless 38-0 slate in official FIBA competitions. During the 2019-20 USA National Team’s expanded training, Reeve stepped in for then-USA head coach Staley, who was unable to coach due to her collegiate coaching commitments and acted as the team’s lead coach during the 2019-20 college tour (4-1), 2019 FIBA Pre-Olympic Qualifying Tournament (3-0) and 2020 FIBA Olympic Qualifying Tournament (3-0).
A three-time WNBA Coach of the Year (2011, 2016 and 2020), Reeve was the 2019 WNBA Basketball Executive of the Year and has earned six WNBA titles, four as a head coach (2011, 2013, 2015 and 2017) and two as an assistant coach (2006 and 2008).
Having completed in 2021 her 12th season at the helm of the Lynx (2010 to present), Reeve, who in 2017 took on the role of Lynx general manager, has compiled a 267-127 (.678 winning percentage) record and a 41-21 (.661 winning percentage) playoff slate.
Prior to being named head coach at the Lynx, Reeve spent nine years as an assistant in the league at Charlotte (2001-02, 2004-05), Cleveland (2003) and Detroit (2006-09), where she aided the Shock to a pair of WNBA titles.