United States Basketball has appointed Minnesota Lynx coach and CEO, Cheryl Reeve, as the next coach of the women’s team, was announced on Wednesday.
Reeve, 55, was an assistant to the USA team that won gold medals in the last two Olympic Games (2016, 2020) and the FIBA Women’s Basketball World Cups (2014, 2018), working with the trainers. Geno Auriemma and later Dawn Staley during that time.
“I am extremely humbled and excited to be named the head coach of the US Women’s National Basketball Team, one of the great dynasties of the sport,” Reeve said. “I have had an incredible journey with USA Basketball since I joined in 2014 and I look forward to what remains as we search for more gold for the United States.
“I am indebted to the USA Basketball Board of Directors, Dawn Staley, Geno Auriemma and, of course, to my Lynx family, who have positioned me for this prestigious opportunity.”
Reeve will now guide Team USA in the next Olympic cycle towards the Paris 2024 Olympic Games. That cycle includes the 2022 FIBA World Cup from September 22 to September 1. October in Sydney.
Team USA, which won its seventh consecutive gold medal at the Tokyo 2020 Olympics last summer, will also host a four-team qualifying tournament heading into the World Cup in February that includes Russia, Belgium and Puerto Rico. .
USA Basketball President Jim Tooley and Women’s National Team Director Briana Weiss were present at the announcement. Weiss replaced Carol Callan in October, who left that position after 26 years at the end of the 2020 Tokyo Olympics, but remains president of FIBA Americas.
“What I’ve learned from working with Cheryl and getting to know her over the years is that when you include Cheryl, you have her in full,” Tooley said. “She is dedicated. She is committed and her passion and enthusiasm are contagious ”.
Reeve has been with Lynx since 2010, winning four WNBA titles (2011, 2013, 2015, 2017) and reaching the WNBA Finals two more times (2012, 2016). Reeve also served on the Detroit Shock championship teams in 2006 and 2008 as an assistant. He joined the league in 2001 with Charlotte Sting, who reached the WNBA Finals that season.
Reeve follows two college coaches in UConn’s Auriemma and South Carolina’s Staley (who played eight seasons in the WNBA) leading the national team. Other United States women’s national team coaches who have trained in the WNBA include current Georgia Tech coach Nell Fortner, Van Chancellor and the late Anne Donovan.
“I think what we have done for many years has been very successful. It would be helpful for me to hear what has worked, ”Reeve said. “From a coaches point of view, what I witnessed is that the coaches have to come and be themselves. I’ve been lucky enough to be surrounded by that and see what works and what doesn’t. “
The United States is in something of a transition when five-time Olympic gold medalist Sue Bird retires from international basketball. His defensive partner from all those gold medals, Diana Taurasi, has not decided whether to continue playing in USA Basketball or to retire as well.
Four-time Olympic gold medalist Sylvia Fowles, who plays for Reeve in Minnesota, also said she is retiring from USA Basketball. The Americans will continue to have a dominant inside presence with Brittney Griner, A’ja Wilson and Breanna Stewart.
Reeve knows that there is great wealth in the talent pool of the American team.
“I think with the start of a new four-year term, it means a fresh look at the source for the committee,” Reeve said. “I will have a list of people from my experiences with USA Basketball and the WNBA. Every time you do this, the fountain starts over. That will be interesting. There are a lot of good players in the WNBA, regardless of position. “
Associated Press contributed to this report.
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