The WNBA today announced that Lynx Head Coach and President of Basketball Operations Cheryl Reeve has been named the 2026 WNBA Basketball Executive of the Year. The honor marks the third of her career (2019, 2024) and the second time she has swept both Coach of the Year and Executive of the Year honors in the same season (2024).
Reeve wrapped up her 17th season as Minnesota’s head coach and fourth as president of basketball operations, guiding the Lynx to a league-best 33-11 record and the No. 1 overall seed in the WNBA Playoffs. Entering the 2026 season, Reeve re-signed WNBA Defensive Player of the Year, five-time All-Star and two-time Olympic gold medalist forward Napheesa Collier, along with All-Star guards Kayla McBride and Courtney Williams, while also signing free agent forward and three-time WNBA Champion Natasha Howard. In April, Reeve selected WNBA Rookie of the Year Olivia Miles with the No. 2 overall pick in the 2026 WNBA Draft.
Under Reeve, the Lynx ranked second in the league in net rating (9.1), third in offensive rating (115.0) and fourth in defensive rating (103.5). Minnesota also ranked second in steals (9.1) and third in assists (21.9) and opponent field goal percentage (43.5%). The Lynx recorded a WNBA-record 18 road wins and went on a 10-game winning streak from July 11-Aug. 12, the franchise’s longest since 2016. Reeve became the WNBA’s all-time winningest head coach on July 8 with her 380th career win and finished the season with 397 regular-season victories. She also earned WNBA Coach of the Month honors for June and served as an All-Star head coach for the fifth time in her career at the 2026 WNBA All-Star Game in Chicago in July.
(info and photo courtesy of Lynx)
