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Minnesota Lynx

Cheryl Reeve Named 2019 WNBA Basketball Executive of the Year

September 18, 2019 - Women's National Basketball Association (WNBA)
Minnesota Lynx News Release


MINNEAPOLIS/ST. PAUL - The WNBA today announced that Minnesota Lynx Head Coach and General Manager Cheryl Reeve has been selected as the 2019 WNBA Basketball Executive of the Year after receiving four of 12 first-place votes and a total of 28 points (5-3-1 format) from the league's other basketball executives.

"I am honored to have been chosen as Executive of the Year," said Reeve. "This award is a testament to the hard work of our talented staff. I am proud of the way our staff and players came together despite much adversity. Many thanks to Glen and Becky Taylor for their unwavering commitment to our team."

Reeve completed her second season in the dual role as head coach and general manager, leading the Lynx to their ninth consecutive playoff berth. Reeve becomes the second person to receive both Coach of the Year (2011 and 2016) and Executive of the Year honors in their career. Connecticut's Curt Miller won both awards in 2017, the inaugural season for Executive of the Year voting.

In one of her most touted moves, Reeve selected forward Napheesa Collier with the 6th overall pick in the 2019 WNBA Draft. Collier went on to be named Rookie of the Year after tallying 13.1 ppg, 6.6 rpg, 2.6 apg, 1.91 spg and 0.94 bpg while leading the league in minutes (33.3 mpg). She shot 49.0% from the field and 36.1% from three-point range while becoming the only rookie chosen for the 2019 WNBA All-Star Game.

Reeve's other notable offseason acquisitions included guards Odyssey Sims and Lexie Brown via trade and forward Damiris Dantas via free agency. On Apr. 22, Minnesota acquired Sims from Los Angeles in exchange for guard Alexis Jones. Sims went on to lead the Lynx in scoring (14.5 ppg) and assists (a career-high 5.4 apg), ranking 14th and 4th in the WNBA, respectively. She started all 34 contests and earned the first All-Star Game nod of her career, tallying 10 points in the 2019 edition held July 27 in Las Vegas.

Brown was acquired from Connecticut on Apr. 10 in exchange for the rights to guard Natisha Hiedeman, who was selected by the Lynx in the 2nd round of the WNBA Draft earlier that evening. In 33 games off the bench, Brown averaged 7.6 ppg while ranking 9th in three-point accuracy (38.5%) and 11th in three-pointers made; her 52 treys equal the fifth-highest single-season total in a reserve role in WNBA history.

Dantas was signed as a restricted free agent from Atlanta on Feb. 8, returning to Minnesota for her second stint with the franchise that originally drafted her in 2012. Dantas posted a career-high 9.2 ppg, 4.5 rpg and 3.2 apg (leading all WNBA frontcourt players in the latter category) in 26 starts and was 7th in three-point accuracy (39.3%). She led Minnesota with 20 points in the Sept. 11 playoff game at Seattle.

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