A Turnaround in the Making
When the Minnesota Lynx opened the season, the bench was a source of worry for head coach Cheryl Reeve. The early stretch revealed a unit that struggled to find rhythm, prompting Reeve to voice her disappointment publicly.
Eight games later, that narrative has shifted dramatically. A trio of role players — Maya Caldwell, Antonia Delaere and Anastasiia Olairi Kosu — have combined to lift the bench’s scoring average from 15.4 points per game in May to 18.5 in June, sparking an eight‑game winning streak that has kept the Lynx afloat in a competitive Western Conference.
Bench Boost
Despite the uplift, the Lynx still sit second‑to‑last in the WNBA for bench production, a reminder that the team’s depth remains a work in progress. The improvement, however, is evident in the way the players talk about their daily routine, embracing the club’s mantra of ‘get better’ days.
Caldwell, Delaere and Kosu credit the turnaround to a collective focus on individual growth and team chemistry. Kosu, who has become more comfortable navigating English‑language demands and the Lynx’s system, notes that the bench’s positive attitude and relentless work ethic have been decisive.
The bench’s resurgence coincides with a broader resurgence for the franchise. After a rocky start, the Lynx have begun to gel, and the contributions from the second unit have become a cornerstone of their recent success.