Minnesota Lynx head coach Cheryl Reeve isn’t one to mince words, and she certainly didn’t when the Caitlin Clark hype train first rolled into the Target Center last month. Back then, when asked about the legion of Clark fans who packed the stands, Reeve bluntly stated, “I don’t give two sh**s. Not even one sh*t.” Ouch.
Fast forward to this weekend, and it seems the ever-passionate Reeve has had a change of heart—or at least of vocabulary. Perhaps it was the emotional high of Maya Moore’s jersey retirement, or maybe, just maybe, Caitlin Clark’s skills are impossible to ignore. Whatever the reason, Reeve is now all about giving Clark the flowers she’s earned.
In a pregame interview that sounded like a 180-degree turn, Reeve couldn’t stop praising the Indiana Fever rookie. “What I have seen, coming into the season and watching her in college, I said the single best thing that she does that young players don’t do is she plays at an incredible pace. I know the sexier part is the logo three, but pace and passing are what make her exceptional in my mind,” Reeve said, likely surprising anyone who remembered her previous remarks.
Ah, the power of talent—able to transform even the most indifferent critics into admirers. As the Lynx hosted the Fever for a rematch, Reeve’s newfound respect for Clark was on full display. Gone were the expletives, replaced by admiration for Clark’s on-court vision and tempo. Who knew that “incredible pace” and “exceptional passing” could melt the cold, hard heart of one of the WNBA’s most fiery coaches?
But before we crown Reeve as the president of the Caitlin Clark Fan Club, let’s rewind to what sparked this U-turn. The Lynx were still smarting from their pre-Olympic break loss to the Fever—a game that had more Clark fans in the stands than a Jonas Brothers concert. It was this sea of Iowa Hawkeye jerseys that had Reeve muttering about how much she didn’t care. Well, after watching Clark become a roadshow attraction wherever she goes, it appears Reeve has come around to the idea that maybe, just maybe, there’s something special about this rookie.
In fact, Reeve now acknowledges what everyone else already knew—Clark is a star, and she’s bringing a whole new level of excitement to the WNBA. “I thought it was really cool her senior year of college to see that take hold. She became a roadshow. And I don’t remember seeing that in my time,” Reeve admitted. It sounds like someone’s been taking notes.
As for Clark, she’s too busy breaking records to notice the flip-flop. Despite the Lynx getting the better of the Fever in their latest matchup, Clark continued her assault on the WNBA record books, dropping 23 points, grabbing five rebounds, and dishing out eight assists. She’s now the fastest player and the only rookie in league history to reach 500 points and 200 assists in just 19 games. No wonder Reeve is singing a different tune.
With just 11 games left in the regular season, it’s safe to say that Clark has the Rookie of the Year award locked up. And with MVP chatter swirling around her name, she’s not just a roadshow—she’s a force of nature. Even Reeve, who once “didn’t give two sh**s,” can’t help but be impressed.
Maybe next time, she’ll save the expletives for the halftime pep talk.