The WNBA has seen its fair share of involvement in social issues throughout its existence. And while the league has experienced historic growth, marked by record-breaking television viewership, soaring franchise valuations, and a landmark $3.1 billion media rights deal in recent years, conversations around social issues have not decreased. In fact, some might say all the attention has signified the W’s stance on off-court issues.
Watch What’s Trending Now! For Minnesota Lynx head coach Cheryl Reeve, the 59-year-old does not believe that the massive influx of viewership and the WNBA’s growing mainstream status will hinder the league’s history of being outspoken on social issues. “I’m not worried in the business side of it. I’m not worried, I mean if we were able to do it when the business was harder… we have always been successful, I’ve always said this.”
“When I go down I want you to write this, despite the lack of media coverage, despite the ways men’s sports have subsidized, we didn’t have any of that for much of 25 years, and despite all that we succeeded anyway… being our authentic selves is why this business is where it is.”
Reeve told Lynx reporter and beat writer Andrew Dukowitz. Reeve, who has been the Lynx head coach since 2010 and president of basketball operations since 2022, has been a huge advocate for issues beyond the hardwood herself throughout the years.
Most famously, the Lynx were one of the first WNBA teams in 2016 to publicly wear “Black Lives Matter” gear and call for police reform. This immediately sparked national attention, and the protest also prompted four off-duty Minneapolis police officers working security at the Target Center to walk off their shifts. In 2021, Reeve also reflected this as a “very bold step of being the first team to vocalize the need for police reform.”
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Throughout this time, Reeve also combated the notion of women’s sports being treated as less important than men’s sports.
And Reeve’s stance was not limited to something like the difference in salaries. She argued that the media and business communities should treat women’s sports as significant in their own right. And a decade later, Reeve continues to shed light on off-court matters.
A clear example is Indiana Fever star Sophie Cunningham’s comments on trans athletes, which became a nationwide controversy. The issue first came to light when Cunningham said in an ESPN interview that it is “common sense” to bar transgender athletes from competing in women’s sports.
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However, Reeve was seen standing by her own morals. During the game between the Lynx and the Fever on August 2, Reeve wore a light blue “Trans Kids Belong” T-shirt expressing her stance on inclusion. The Lynx head coach’s wardrobe choice in the midst of all the drama saw ESPN broadcasters express their thoughts on air. “Well, we see Cheryl Reeve wearing a shirt today in support of trans kids… in the aftermath of Sophie Cunningham’s recent comments.
We actually saw Cheryl and Sophie speaking at center court pregame, and yesterday Cheryl Reeve spent a lot of time talking at length with the media about this topic. I would encourage anyone to go and listen to Cheryl Reeve’s comments.
Incredibly thoughtful.”
The comments the ESPN commentator referred to were from Reeve’s pregame interview, where she said she didn’t agree with how the discussion was being framed. In fact, Reeve revealed that she had urged the WNBA to clarify their stance on the broader issues years ago. “I’ve encouraged the WNBA leadership years ago.
‘What’s our stance? Are we gonna be ready?’ It would make sense for our league to be leaders in this,” Cheryl Reeve told reporters. As the ESPN commentator mentioned, Reeve also met up with Cunningham ahead of the game. While the details of the conversation are private, Reeve said she would not like to share the details of her discussion with Cunningham with the media, but appreciated that they had an in-person discussion. Cunningham later told the media that while she and Reeve had different points of view regarding this matter, she appreciated Reeve directly talking to her, as a lot of people tend to “hide behind the screen”. Interestingly, while the likes of Reeve, Cunningham, and others in the WNBA have chosen to take a stance on the issue, the WNBA itself has been quite silent. This was one of the reasons WNBA commissioner Cathy Engelbert was under scrutiny this season and likely the last straw for her retirement announcement.
Now that NBA commissioner Adam Silver is searching for candidates to fill Engelbert’s role by the end of this year, Reeve’s name also came up in recent weeks as a potential option. However, the Lynx head coach’s answer suggests more than enough that she is absolutely fine in her current role.
Cheryl Reeve not interested in WNBA commissioner role To say Cheryl Reeve is the ideal candidate Adam Silver is looking for would be an understatement. The NBA commissioner recently revealed that he is looking for a person who can help “unify” the league.
Several WNBA players, including Sophie Cunningham, have also pitched in for a players-first commissioner. This is something Cathy Engelbert was scrutinized for time and again, as a league executive told Sports Business Journal that the commissioner’s role needed to have a base with people. Reeve’s 17-year-long coaching career suggests she has excelled in this matter. Legendary players like Sylvia Fowles, Maya Moore, Seimone Augustus, and Lindsay Whalen have revealed they maintain lifelong connections and deep respect for her leadership. Moreover, Reeve now possesses front-office experience thanks to her role as president of basketball operations at the Lynx.
While she clearly has the qualities for the role, the Lynx head coach has made it clear she does not want the job. “Absolutely not,” Reeve said when asked whether she would consider becoming the WNBA’s next commissioner, MPR News’ Anika Besst reported. While Reeve has no interest in the role, she did reveal some key points on what she expects from the person who takes up the mantle of commissioner after Engelbert.
“You have to have the ability to collaborate and connect with people, and to do your job and to sort of steward the path of the WNBA,” Reeve told reporters. “Most people don’t know the full scope of a commissioner’s job, and I think that there’s a lot of boxes maybe the person, an ideal person, could check,” she added.
For now, it is certain that Cheryl Reeve has her full focus on the WNBA playoffs. The Minnesota Lynx are in the driving seat, one win away in the regular season to seal the top seed. With the addition of rookie sensation Olivia Miles and the return of veteran Napheesa Collier from injury, the Lynx’s current record stands at 31-9 for the season.
Reeve will hope for the best to win her and the franchise’s fifth WNBA championship this season. As for the commissioner role, with the likes of Reeve and fan-favorite option Nneka Ogwumike passing on it, the search continues to get tighter as we head towards the business end of the season.
