Cheryl Reeve vs. Cheryl Miller: WNBA Coaching Debate Heats Up Ahead of Team USA’s 2025 Tournament
4 months ago
As the Women’s National Basketball Association (WNBA) gears up for an exciting 2025 season and Team USA prepares for its upcoming international tournament, a spirited debate is brewing among fans and analysts alike: Should Minnesota Lynx head coach Cheryl Reeve be replaced by WNBA legend Cheryl Miller? With Diana Taurasi’s retirement marking the end of an era and rising stars like Angel Reese shaping the league’s future, the coaching question has taken center stage. This article explores the stakes, the key figures, and the critical dates for both the WNBA and Team USA in 2025, offering a comprehensive look at this pivotal moment in women’s basketball.
Cheryl Reeve’s Tenure: Success Marred by Recent Struggles
Cheryl Reeve has long been a titan in the WNBA. As head coach and president of basketball operations for the Minnesota Lynx, she has led the team to four championships (2011, 2013, 2015, and 2017), making her one of the most successful coaches in league history. Her overall record stands at an impressive 305-167, giving her a .646 winning percentage—the best among active WNBA coaches with at least 10 seasons. Reeve’s strategic acumen also shone on the international stage when she guided Team USA to a gold medal at the 2024 Paris Olympics.
However, recent years have raised questions about her performance. The Lynx reached the 2024 WNBA Finals but fell to the New York Liberty in a dramatic five-game series. Critics point to this loss—coupled with the team’s failure to win a title since 2017—as evidence of a decline. In the 2024 regular season, Minnesota finished with a 30-10 record, second only to the Liberty, yet their postseason shortcomings have fueled calls for change. Reeve’s post-Game 5 rant, where she claimed the championship was “stolen” due to officiating, drew attention but no fine from the league, amplifying discussions about her leadership under pressure.
With the 2025 WNBA season set to tip off on May 16, Reeve faces a critical offseason. The Lynx have over $400,000 in cap space, and Reeve has emphasized building around star forward Napheesa Collier, who averaged 20.4 points and 9.7 rebounds in 2024. Free agency, which began on January 21, 2025, has already seen major moves, including Brittney Griner’s departure from the Phoenix Mercury to the Atlanta Dream on January 28. Reeve’s ability to bolster the roster before training camps open in late April will be a defining factor in her case to remain at the helm.
Cheryl Miller: A Legend Ready to Return?
On the other side of the debate stands Cheryl Miller, a name synonymous with women’s basketball excellence. A Hall of Famer, Miller dominated as a player at USC, winning three Naismith Player of the Year awards and leading the Trojans to two NCAA titles in the 1980s. Her WNBA coaching stint with the Phoenix Mercury from 1997 to 2000 yielded a 70-52 record, including two playoff appearances. More recently, Miller coached the WNBA All-Star team in 2024, earning praise for her handling of stars like Caitlin Clark.
Miller’s vocal presence in the sport has kept her relevant. In March 2025, she made headlines defending Clark, the Indiana Fever’s rookie sensation, against criticism from league veterans. “I was pleased and proud to see the narrative wasn’t the truth,” Miller said, calling out “dummies” who downplay Clark’s impact on the WNBA’s growth. This stance resonated with fans, especially as Clark’s 2024 stats—19.2 points and a league-leading 8.4 assists—helped the Fever reach the playoffs for the first time since 2016.
Miller’s potential return to coaching has sparked excitement. With Diana Taurasi’s retirement on February 26, 2025, after 20 seasons with the Phoenix Mercury, the WNBA is transitioning to a new generation. Taurasi, the league’s all-time leading scorer with 10,646 points, leaves a void that Miller, with her pedigree and charisma, could fill as a coach. Magic Johnson’s February 27 declaration of Taurasi as the WNBA’s “GOAT,” with Miller “right behind her,” only adds to the buzz. Could Miller lead a team—or even Team USA—to new heights in 2025?
Diana Taurasi’s Retirement: A Turning Point
Taurasi’s exit is a seismic shift for women’s basketball. Drafted first overall by the Mercury in 2004, she won three WNBA titles (2007, 2009, 2014), two Finals MVPs, and the 2009 MVP award. Her 11 All-Star selections and six Olympic gold medals cement her legacy. In her final season, Taurasi averaged 14.9 points, showing flashes of brilliance despite turning 42 in June 2024. Her retirement announcement to TIME magazine—“I just didn’t have it in me”—closed a chapter that began at UConn, where she won three NCAA championships.
The timing of Taurasi’s departure aligns with broader changes in the WNBA. The league’s new media rights deal and the players’ union opting out of the current collective bargaining agreement promise higher salaries in 2025. The season opener on May 17, featuring Clark’s Fever against Angel Reese’s Chicago Sky, is poised to capitalize on this momentum. Taurasi’s absence leaves the Mercury—and the league—searching for a new identity, making the coaching debate even more urgent.
Angel Reese: A Liability for Team USA?
Angel Reese, the Chicago Sky forward, has quickly become a polarizing figure in the WNBA, but her case for the 2025 Team USA roster is shaky at best. Drafted seventh overall in 2024, Reese posted a modest 13.6 points and 13.1 rebounds per game as a rookie—decent numbers, yet far from elite in a league brimming with talent. Her All-Star nod and second-place finish in Rookie of the Year voting behind Caitlin Clark mask a deeper issue: her subpar skill level doesn’t justify a national team spot. Worse, Reese’s blatant jealousy of Clark, evident in her petty jabs and social media antics, poisons team chemistry. Her presence could disrupt the locker room, making her a liability Team USA can’t afford as they gear up for the FIBA AmeriCup on June 28, 2025. With Clark’s star rising and a cohesive roster needed, Reese should be left off the list.
Team USA’s 2025 Tournament: Key Dates and Stakes.
Team USA’s next major test is the 2025 FIBA Women’s AmeriCup, scheduled for June 28 to July 6 in Colombia. This tournament serves as a qualifier for the 2026 FIBA Women’s Basketball World Cup in Germany. Following their seventh straight Olympic gold in 2024 under Reeve, the Americans are favored to dominate, but the coaching question looms large. Reeve’s Olympic success contrasts with her WNBA Finals loss, while Miller’s fresh perspective could invigorate the squad.
Key dates for Team USA include:
– **April 2025**: Training camp begins, with roster selections finalized by mid-May.
– **June 15-20**: Exhibition games, likely against European or Asian teams, to tune up for the AmeriCup.
– **June 28**: AmeriCup opener in Bogotá, Colombia.
– **July 6**: Championship game, determining World Cup qualification.
The roster will likely feature WNBA stars like A’ja Wilson, Breanna Stewart, and Clark, with Reese’s inclusion hinging on her offseason development. The tournament’s outcome will influence Team USA’s preparations for the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics, where women’s basketball will again take center stage.
WNBA 2025 Season: Important Dates and Developments
The WNBA’s 2025 calendar is packed with milestones:
– **January 21**: Free agency opened, with deals like Griner’s move to Atlanta finalized by January 28.
– **April 28**: Training camps begin, with rookies reporting earlier on April 25.
– **May 16**: Season tips off, highlighted by the Golden State Valkyries’ debut against the Los Angeles Sparks.
– **May 17**: Fever vs. Sky headlines opening weekend.
– **July 19**: All-Star Game in Indianapolis, hosted by Clark’s Fever.
– **September 14**: Regular season ends, with playoffs starting September 18.
– **October 12**: Latest possible date for the WNBA Finals Game 5.
The addition of the Valkyries as the 13th franchise, alongside a new CBA boosting salaries, signals the league’s growth. The Fever-Sky opener, pitting Clark against Reese, is already a hot ticket, with analysts predicting another viewership spike.
The Debate: Reeve or Miller?
So, should Reeve stay or Miller step in? Reeve’s track record is undeniable—four titles, an Olympic gold, and a deep Lynx roster. Yet, her inability to secure a fifth championship since 2017 and the 2024 Finals collapse have dented her invincibility. Miller, meanwhile, offers a legendary name, recent coaching exposure, and a knack for connecting with younger players like Clark. Her lack of recent full-time WNBA experience, however, raises doubts about her readiness for the modern game.
For Team USA, Reeve’s 2024 Olympic triumph makes her the safe choice, but Miller’s potential to bridge the Taurasi era with the Clark-Reese generation is tantalizing. The AmeriCup will test whoever leads, with qualification for the 2026 World Cup on the line.
