Lynx Coach Cheryl Reeve Changes Tune on Caitlin Clark
Minnesota Lynx (and Team USA women's basketball) head coach Cheryl Reeve has been notoriously terse when it comes to discussing Indiana Fever rookie Caitlin Clark.
While Reeve was not part of Team USA's Paris Olympics roster selection committee, the coach made it clear multiple times that she wasn't interested in revisiting whether Clark was deserving of a roster spot. And Reeve's staunch stance on Clark over the past few months has attracted a lot of criticism from the women's basketball community.
But the Paris Olympics are now in the rearview mirror.
Perhaps this is why Reeve has changed her tune regarding the 22-year-old rookie sensation before her Lynx team takes on the Fever on Saturday.
Reeve said many kinds things about Clark when asked about her pregame.
"What I have seen, and coming into the season and watching her in college, I said the single best thing that she does (that young players don't do) is she plays with an incredible pace," Reeve said of Clark, per Chloe Peterson. "And pace can get you really, really far. And there's great value in that.
"Pace and passing I think are her two greatest things," Reeve continued of Clark. “I know the sexier part is the logo 3, but pace and passing is what makes her exceptional in my mind.”
Reeve then went on to discuss Clark's impact on attendance of games, both at home and on the road, in college and the WNBA.
Cheryl Reeve on CC pregame: “I know the sexier part is the logo 3, but pace and passing is what makes her exceptional.”
— Chloe Peterson (@chloepeterson67) August 24, 2024
On CC and Maya Moore, whose jersey is being retired tonight, both being in the building: “I wish one was playing for us — either one.” pic.twitter.com/xj672YuVAb
Saturday's contest is a special one because Minnesota is retiring the legendary Maya Moore's No. 23 jersey.
When asked about Clark and Moore (who Clark has stated was her basketball idol growing up), Reeve said, "I wish one was playing for us — either one.”
Given all the flak that Reeve has taken over the past few months regarding her Clark comments, hearing her change her tune and praise the rookie is extremely refreshing; even heartwarming.
Although that won't stop Clark from showing out against Reeve's Lynx team this evening.
GRANT YOUNG
Grant Young covers Women’s Basketball, the New York Yankees, and the New York Mets for Sports Illustrated’s ‘On SI’ sites. He holds an MFA degree in creative writing from the University of San Francisco (USF), where he also graduated with a Bachelor’s Degree in Marketing and played on USF’s Division I baseball team for five years. However, he now prefers Angel Reese to Angels in the Outfield.