Cheryl Reeve. Image Credits: Bryan Lynn/Imago
Cheryl Reeve. Image Credits: Bryan Lynn/Imago
Taking down the Los Angeles Sparks to hit an 11-game win streak should’ve been an easy cake for the Minnesota Lynx. But Thursday had different plans for them, something that ticked off Lynx Coach Cheryl Reeve enough.
“Let’s talk about our offense, is that what we’re going to do? We lost our game because we didn’t play any defense,” the coach fumed during the postgame conference, talking about the Lynx’s 89-82 loss. “So, if you want to talk about offense, you sound like the players.”
Surely Lynx guard Olivia Miles poured in 23 points, 8 rebounds and 5 assists, and forward Napheesa Collier chipped in 21 points, 8 rebounds and 6 assists. In fact, the starters scored 79 of those 82 buckets. But the Sparks tightened the grip in ways Minnesota couldn’t match.
SAN FRANCISCO, CA - JUNE 19: Minnesota Lynx guard Courtney Williams 10 looks on from the baseline during a WNBA, Basketball Damen, USA game between the Minnesota Lynx and Golden State Valkyries on June 19, 2026 at the Chase Center in San Francisco, CA. Photo by Trinity Machan/Icon Sportswire WNBA: JUN 19 Minnesota Lynx at Golden State Valkyries EDITORIAL USE ONLY Icon2606192754
SAN FRANCISCO, CA - JUNE 19: Minnesota Lynx guard Courtney Williams 10 looks on from the baseline during a WNBA, Basketball Damen, USA game between the Minnesota Lynx and Golden State Valkyries on June 19, 2026 at the Chase Center in San Francisco, CA. Photo by Trinity Machan/Icon Sportswire WNBA: JUN 19 Minnesota Lynx at Golden State Valkyries EDITORIAL USE ONLY Icon2606192754
LA’s 50% FG and 38% 3PT shooting outplayed Lynx’s 42% FG and 31% 3PT. They blocked Reeve’s squad twice more and had 25 defensive rebounds, compared to Lynx’s 21. This justifies Reeve’s frustration, as well as what more she said about the players.
“Every player at every position was terrible. Every player that played in the game, at every position,” the coach retorted per an X clip posted by Underdog WNBA of the same postgame conference.
Getting the 10-game win streak snapped by the league’s arguably one of the most lackluster teams was probably not on Minnesota’s bingo card. But Reeve knew this was coming.
Cheryl Reeve Saw the Defensive Cracks Coming
The offensive surge hid the defensive cracks pretty well, and sometimes, it takes a loss (or few) to address those shortcomings. But it didn’t really escape the 4-time Coach of the Year’s eyes, who addressed the issue before the All-Star break.
“They probably could have played, today, a better defense than the group that was actually (out there),” Reeve said following the Lynx’s 105-102 win over the Seattle Storm on July 20, per The Minnesota Star Tribune’s Cassidy Hettesheimer.
“Right now, we’re not good enough defensively,” she added further. “We’re outscoring people, and we’ll take those wins when we can get them. But that’s not a recipe for long-term success.”
That was quite an awfully correct prediction, which tells you all you need to know about Reeve as a coach. But now, will she be able to ignite some fire in her team to make a defensive comeback?
Saturday will have an answer once the Lynx take on the Las Vegas Aces.
What’s your thought on this? Let us know in the comments.
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Written by
Deblina Roy