WNBA: Reeve, Brondello or Sides for Coach of the Yr?

That is the primary in Swish Enchantment’s sequence of WNBA awards debates, the place members of our employees will make a profitable case for the main candidates for the league’s main particular person awards.

Up first, Coach of the Yr.

Will a three-time winner earn the respect for a fourth time, credited for serving to her group exceed expectations? May one other coach declare her second Coach of the Yr award, celebrated for solidifying the championship possibilities for her so-called “tremendous group”? Or, will a second-year coach be rewarded for preserving her now surging younger group collectively via early season struggles?

Eric Nemchock outlines the candidacy of Minnesota Lynx head coach Cheryl Reeve, Edwin Garcia particulars why New York Liberty head coach Sandy Brondello is most deserving and Łukasz Muniowski offers credit score to Indiana Fever head coach Christie Sides.

Cheryl Reeve (Minnesota Lynx)

Picture by Stephen Maturen/Getty Photographs

By early September, the Minnesota Lynx (26-9) have received over 74 p.c of their regular-season video games.

No, the yr isn’t 2014. The Lynx dynasty that lasted practically a decade and yielded six Finals runs and 4 championships is lengthy gone. However Cheryl Reeve continues to be on the helm in Minnesota, and what her group has achieved in 2024—Reeve’s fifteenth season with the franchise—harkens again to these glory days when the Lynx have been the WNBA’s gold customary.

Oftentimes, a deciding issue within the WNBA’s Coach of the Yr award is how every candidate’s respective group performs relative to expectations. By this measuring stick alone, Reeve has a terrific case; WNBA.com ranked the Lynx No. 6 in its preseason energy rankings, whereas ESPN had them lacking the playoffs at No. 9. Sportsbook BetMGM set Minnesota’s win whole at over/beneath 16.5 and gave the Lynx the second-worst championship odds at +6000.

It’s secure to say Reeve’s Lynx have shattered these expectations. With 5 video games to play, Minnesota is second within the WNBA standings, thanks largely to unselfish play (76.8 p.c help fee; first within the WNBA) and protection (95.1 factors allowed per 100 possessions; third within the WNBA)—two hallmarks of a well-coached group. The Lynx have additionally performed effectively in opposition to the remainder of the league’s finest, incomes profitable data of their season sequence in opposition to the Las Vegas Aces and Seattle Storm and splitting two video games with the New York Liberty. It ought to by no means be a shock when a Reeve-coached group excels within the common season, however the 2024 Lynx have been spectacular even by the requirements she’s set through the years, and it ought to earn her quite a lot of votes for Coach of the Yr. — Eric Nemchock

Sandy Brondello (New York Liberty)

Kirby Lee-Imagn Photographs

WNBA awards are supposed to spotlight the perfect performances we’ve witnessed this season. With out query, the job Sandy Brondello has achieved in New York is among the essential causes the Liberty sit on the prime of the WNBA standings and seem able to win their first title.

After final yr’s Finals run resulted in defeat, the Liberty got here again higher than ever. We’ve seen Brondello’s gamers buy-in to her philosophies, corresponding to Jonquel Jones sacrificing to suit the system and Sabrina Ionescu creating into the perfect model of herself. Ionescu already was a star, however now she’s approaching the “finest participant within the WNBA” tier. Whereas nonetheless scoring baskets as a capturing guard, she now handles the ball extra as a degree guard, along with creating a capability to attain contained in the arc in methods she by no means has earlier than. Ionescu is to be credited with this development, however it’s occurred beneath Brondello’s watchful eye, which must be factored into her teaching efficiency this season.

A great coach would have success with New York’s roster, however solely a terrific one would be capable to make the items of Breanna Stewart, Ionescu and Jones match completely. Presently sitting with a franchise file .829 profitable proportion, Brondello has pushed all the precise buttons, establishing the Liberty because the group to beat. Successful Coach of the Yr isn’t Brondello or the Liberty’s essential aim, however incomes it will be a terrific feather in her cap and recognition of the consistency and dominance the Liberty have displayed all yr lengthy. — Edwin Garcia

Christie Sides (Indiana Fever)

Picture by Dylan Buell/Getty Photographs

Whereas the main focus of the basketball (and non-basketball) world is on her ground common, Caitlin Clark, don’t overlook who’s in command of the Fever’s turnaround. Originally of September, Christie Sides was named the primary Coach of the Month in franchise historical past. Granted, the award was launched in 2017, so Lin Dunn and Stephanie White missed out on the chance throughout their profitable tenures as Fever head coaches. However you already know what else has been occurring because the 2017? The Fever’s streak of lacking the playoffs.

Originally of the season Coach Sides appeared misplaced, nearly out of her depth, with the Fever going 2-8 throughout their first 10 video games. The protection was unhealthy, the rotations didn’t make sense, particularly on the finish of video games, and a few have been calling for the coach to be fired. However common supervisor Lin Dunn allowed her to work with the younger roster and, with time, got here outcomes. Ever since she served as an assistant coach for Spartak Moscow in 2007, Sides has been stuffed with optimistic vitality and prioritized protection. No less than that’s how her former gamers bear in mind her, and that’s the identical Sides they acknowledge as we speak.

Sides additionally deserves credit score for her administration of personalities. Saying that Sides is profitable due to Clark, undoubtedly a generational expertise, is ignorant and easily unfair. Getting the rookie sensation to purchase into Sides’ philosophy, whereas serving to different gamers fulfill their roles and never really feel ignored on this media frenzy surrounding Clark, might be the best interpersonal achievement of any WNBA coach this season. That’s worthy of an award by itself. — Łukasz Muniowski