MINNEAPOLIS — Cheryl Reeve continues to add to her remarkable WNBA legacy.
The Minnesota Lynx head coach and president of basketball operations has been named the 2026 WNBA Basketball Executive of the Year, earning the honor for the third time in her career. Reeve previously received the award in 2019 and 2024, tying Atlanta Dream executive vice president and general manager Dan Padover for the most selections in the award’s history.
The latest recognition comes just weeks after Reeve captured her record fifth WNBA Coach of the Year award. Her 2026 campaign has now delivered one of the most impressive individual award combinations in league history.
Cheryl Reeve’s Historic 2026 Season
Reeve guided Minnesota to a 33-11 regular-season record, the best mark in the WNBA, securing the No. 1 overall seed entering the playoffs.
Her impact extended beyond the sidelines. As president of basketball operations, Reeve helped shape the roster, bringing veteran forward Natasha Howard to Minnesota and selecting guard Olivia Miles with the No. 2 overall pick in the 2026 WNBA Draft.
Miles went on to earn unanimous WNBA Rookie of the Year honors, adding another major accomplishment to Minnesota’s season.
The Lynx also established a WNBA record with 18 road victories and put together a 10-game winning streak, demonstrating their ability to compete consistently throughout the regular season.
A Rare Double for Reeve
Reeve’s latest achievement carries additional significance because she also won Coach of the Year in 2026.
She is the first person in WNBA history to win both Coach of the Year and Executive of the Year in the same season twice, having previously accomplished the feat in 2024. Curt Miller, then with the Connecticut Sun, is the only other person to win both awards in one season, doing so in 2017.
Reeve received votes on 13 of the 14 eligible ballots for Executive of the Year. Padover appeared on 11 ballots, while Golden State Valkyries general manager Ohemaa Nyanin appeared on eight.
The Playoff Complication
Despite Minnesota’s outstanding regular season, the Lynx’s year ended with a first-round playoff exit after the New York Liberty swept them from the postseason.
That result adds a complicated layer to an otherwise historic campaign. Reeve’s executive award recognizes the roster construction and regular-season success that put Minnesota atop the league, even though the team’s championship pursuit ended earlier than expected.
For the Lynx, the challenge now becomes turning regular-season dominance into another championship run.
Reeve has established herself as one of the WNBA’s most accomplished leaders, with success in both coaching and basketball operations. Her third Executive of the Year award reinforces the value of her work in building and managing a competitive roster.
But after a 33-win season that ended abruptly in the playoffs, Minnesota will face important questions about how to take the next step.
The accolades are historic. The ultimate goal remains another championship.
Sneaker Shop Talk Take: Cheryl Reeve deserves recognition for building a team capable of finishing with the WNBA’s best record while developing young talent and making key personnel decisions. Still, the Lynx’s playoff exit is a reminder that regular-season excellence and postseason success are two different challenges.
Does Cheryl Reeve’s third Executive of the Year award prove she’s the WNBA’s best all-around leader, or should Minnesota’s first-round playoff exit carry more weight in evaluating her season?
Drop your take in the comments!
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