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Rodriguez and Lore have already begun shaping the futures of both franchises, as they OK’d the hiring of Timberwolves general manager Tim Connelly in May and a new multiyear extension deal for longtime Lynx coach and president of basketball operations Cheryl Reeve. While the two have joined the board of directors for both teams, with more input than typical limited partners, Taylor remains in full control.
While waiting for a flight last weekend, Lynx coach Cheryl Reeve opened Twitter and saw Anthony Edwards' name trending. She clicked to see why. Reeve looked at the viral snippet in which the Timberwolves guard made homophobic comments in his Instagram video as he observed a group of men on a nearby sidewalk. The video reminded Reeve of a darker time in her life, of the years she was closeted and did not want to live her life openly out of fear she would hear hurtful language like Edwards used.
"My journey was one of a more closeted nature for fear of retribution, and things being held against you, of not feeling safe, and so that's honestly what I thought of," Reeve told the Star Tribune from Australia, where she is coaching the U.S. Women's National Team. "How much an incident like that can be so destructive in progress that we've made during the course of my lifetime. Frankly, it's irresponsible and it puts people in danger. … We often live in fear."
In the video, Edwards comments on what he assumes is the group's sexual orientation from the way they were dressed, using the word "queer" in a derogatory manner. He then says, "Look what the world done came to, bruh." Reeve can't get that last sentence out of her head — "That keeps ringing in my ears. That's a tough one." That made Reeve, who is married to Lynx president of business operations Carley Knox, concerned that what Edwards said was more than a joke. "That one sort of crosses it into, 'Is hatred on his heart?' " Reeve said. "That seems to push it towards a more homophobic mindset. That was harder for me. That was pretty hurtful."
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For years now, former WNBA star Becky Hammon has been top of mind when it comes to "who" should first take that role. She's worked as assistant for Gregg Popovich and the San Antonio Spurs since 2014 and last year became the first woman to work as acting head coach. But all she ever gets in a head coaching search is "almost there." Minnesota Lynx general manager/head coach Cheryl Reeve doesn't see that changing soon, calling the exercise of naming a woman she believes should be an NBA coach a "waste of time" because "the men aren't going to allow it."
Reeve said it's not the players who are against women coaching, but the front offices that are largely controlled by men. "It’s really men’s sports," Reeve said. "It’s the mentality of men’s sports that what they’re doing is so difficult that a woman could not do that. And that’s the only place that we’re not leading. And once we do, look out. 'Cuz a lot of men aren’t going to be qualified anymore when we get some of these women in there. And it’s not the players by the way. It’s not the players, it’s the positions of leadership."
Taylor could make a popular diversity statement by naming hard-driving Lynx coach Cheryl Reeve to coach the Wolves. “I kid her about that, but I’m not making any changes — I’m talking to Cheryl, and we’re trying to put a really good team together for the Lynx right now,” Taylor said. “She’s planning on coaching them. “But,” Taylor added, “she’s an interesting person, isn’t she?”
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The partnership with the Minneapolis Foundation will include Wolves coach Ryan Saunders and Lynx coach Cheryl Reeve serving on one of two advisory committees with oversight on directing funds to Fund for Safe Communities, which seeks to prevent violence, reform the criminal justice system and address systemic inequality.
Does Cheryl Reeve — with four WNBA titles in the last seven seasons with the Lynx and a reputation for being strong with both strategy and chemistry — ever think about coaching in the NBA? Reeve made it clear that she loves her current job and her team. But yes, she does think about it. And she should. “I would be lying to say no because the opportunity seems a little closer than it was five years ago,” Reeve, 51, said.
Cheryl Reeve: “I love the NBA, and I watch a ton of it. I feel close to it. I do get pretty locked in on what I’m doing. But every once in while when the topic comes up or I get asked about it, if the opportunity presented itself I would absolutely consider that.”
She said Hammon’s role in the NBA is part of the reason it feels more possible than it did in the past. Dialogue creates discussion. Opportunities lead to change. “In every other industry there are women leading men. If the military can do it … ” Reeve said. “But it’s the sports world, it’s a culture. And that needs to change. The sexist mindset is one that’s antiquated.”
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