Near the end of the Nov. 24 “Finding Forward” event at St. Thomas, school President Rob Vischer asked Minnesota Lynx Head Coach Cheryl Reeve what women’s sports issues deserved more attention. Her answer was simple: “women coaches.”
Ironically, if the 2026 WNBA regular season starts as scheduled, there will be zero Black female head coaches. Noelle Quinn, the only Black female coach, was fired by the Seattle Storm after five seasons. Now in her second year as a head coach in the upcoming Unrivaled 3-on-3 league, Quinn recently told reporters, “It’s not by accident; I believe it’s intentional. Representation is possible when leadership chooses to make it possible.”
“It’s obviously a big miss,” Reeve told MSR after the event. “It’s concerning. We’re going to continue to bring that to light, not just women’s coaches, but women of color, Black women. It’s inexcusable not to have Black female head coaches.”
Last season, the WNBA had only three Black coaches: Quinn, Chicago’s Tyler Marsh, and Sydney Johnson in Washington. Next season, only Marsh and Johnson, both men, remain.
The “Finding Forward” series aims to “help build trust, foster empathy, and move forward together.” Reeve, a recent guest, discussed her role as a racial ally, among other topics.
According to Utah State University’s “Racial Healing Handbook” (2021), “A racial ally is someone who actually supports others who are experiencing racial injustice…If you are White, being a racial ally means that you use your White privilege to challenge everyday racism.”
Reeve recalled the summer of 2016, an inflection point around police shootings of Black people. She shared a personal experience: being pulled over by police and realizing, “I’m White, I can move.” Coaching primarily women of color, she emphasized the importance of understanding the issues their families face daily.
That summer, following the deaths of Alton Sterling and Philando Castile, Reeve supported her players wearing warm-up T-shirts with Black Lives Matter before a home game. The shirts listed victims’ names and featured a police shield to acknowledge Dallas officers ambushed at the same time.
“I told my captains, ‘I want us to use our voices for change. I don’t know what it looks like,’” Reeve said. The players held a pregame press conference, with Reeve notifying the league, not seeking permission.
The Lynx, one of Minnesota’s most successful pro sports franchises, four championships in seven years, set a standard for racial justice advocacy locally and league-wide.
“I was incredibly proud of our franchise for standing behind us,” Reeve said. “We’ve tried to get involved in legislating locally…to impact lives. I want our players to feel empowered. Did we make a difference in the community, in their lives, and across the country?”
“I believe that when the unaffected, White people, other marginalized groups, recognize they can be affected, that’s when change happens,” Reeve concluded.
Finally… The latest Seton Hall Sports Poll reports 58% of Americans support a potential WNBA players’ strike. At press time, no new collective bargaining agreement had been reached, the 30-day extension expired Nov. 30, making a strike or owners’ lockout possible.