Full Breakdown
Cheryl Reeve Becomes Winningest Coach in WNBA Regular-Season History
7/10/2026, 4:17:28 PM
Record-Setting Victory
On Wednesday night at Mohegan Sun Arena, the Minnesota Lynx defeated the Connecticut Sun 86-80. The win gave head coach Cheryl Reeve her 380th regular-season victory, surpassing former Sun and Washington Mystics coach Mike Thibault (379 wins). The milestone was celebrated in the locker room with gold confetti and a champagne toast.
Background & Coaching Legacy
Reeve was hired by Minnesota in 2010 after assistant stints in Charlotte, Cleveland and Detroit, where she helped the Shock win two titles. She has guided the Lynx to four championships (2011, 2013, 2015, 2017) and three additional Finals (2012, 2016, 2024). Prior to this game she already held the league’s playoff-wins record (430) and possessed a career winning percentage of .660, second only to Las Vegas Aces coach Becky Hammon (.729). In 2022 she added the roles of general manager and president of Lynx basketball operations, becoming the league’s last dual coach-GM.
Key Figures & Groups
- Cheryl Reeve – Lynx head coach, now the winningest in regular-season history.
- Mike Thibault – former record holder, former Sun and Washington Mystics coach; his son Eric Thibault serves as Minnesota’s associate head coach.
- Kayla McBride – scored a game-high 23 points.
- Natasha Howard – contributed 12 points and 10 rebounds.
- Dorka Juhász – added 12 off the bench.
- Olivia Miles – No. 2 overall 2026 draft pick, sidelined with a calf strain.
- Napheesa Collier – MVP-caliber forward, still recovering from offseason ankle surgery.
Data & Statistics
- Regular-season wins: 380 (record)
- Total wins (incl. playoffs): 430
- 2026 season record (as of game): 16-6, league-leading
- Net rating: 11.8 (best in the league)
- Fourth-quarter run: 26-15 to seal the win
- Key contributions: McBride 23 pts; Howard 12 pts/10 reb; Juhász 12 pts; Antonia Delaere 10 pts; Dorka Juhász 12 pts; Anastasiia Olairi Kosu +11 plus/minus
Official Statements & Responses
Reeve emphasized the collective nature of the achievement, noting that the celebration “meant a lot to the players” and that “so many people that have been on this journey with me for so long, even the new ones, to share it with them was incredibly meaningful.” She described the record as “overwhelming” but also an opportunity to reflect on a career that began in 2010. Reeve added that the season’s success “shows the belief this group has” and that the team “will try to bring them along and help them believe in themselves.”
Criticism & Opposition
Pre-season analysts predicted a down year after Minnesota lost free agents Alanna Smith and Jessica Shepard and faced the absence of Collier. Critics also questioned the impact of rookie Olivia Miles after a calf injury. Reeve’s roster moves—re-signing Courtney Williams and Kayla McBride, adding Natasha Howard, Nia Coffey, and drafting Miles—have been cited as the factors that defied those expectations.
On-the-Ground Report
The Lynx’s defense held the Sun to 80 points despite earlier games in which they allowed 90. McBride’s 23 points anchored the offense, while Howard’s double-double and Juhász’s bench surge provided the fourth-quarter spark.
Conflicting Reports & Gaps
All sources agree on the win total and game outcome; no contradictory figures were identified.
Verbatim Quotes
- “I appreciate it immensely,” — Cheryl Reeve, Lynx head coach
- “Cheryl was someone I thought a lot about in my offseason, because she would bring out the worst of my game and the things that I was not good at," two-time MVP Elena Delle Donne said of Reeve at their Women's Basketball Hall of Fame induction last month.” — Elena Delle Donne, two-time MVP
- “We try to bring them along and help them believe in themselves and see things in them that maybe they don't see just yet," Reeve said.” — Cheryl Reeve
- “If anybody was going to break it, I’m happy it’s her,” — Mike Thibault, former Sun and Mystics coach
What’s Next
The Lynx will open a four-game homestand against the New York Liberty on Saturday at Target Center.
