Photo: AP Photos/Phelan M. Ebenhack/Chris O'Meara.
Minnesota Lynx head coach Cheryl Reeve reacts to a play (left) and Minnesota Lynx guard Crystal Dangerfield (2) shoots over Washington Mystics guard Emma Meesseman (33) and guard Jacki Gemelos.
Charlie Wiese
Updated: September 17, 2020 03:13 PM
Created: September 17, 2020 02:49 PM
Minnesota Lynx Head Coach and General Manager Cheryl Reeve won the 2020 WNBA Coach of the Year award and guard Crystal Dangerfield won the 2020 Rookie of the Year award in a COVID-19 shortened WNBA season.
According to a release from the Lynx, Reeve received 25 votes from a national panel of 47 sportswriters and broadcasters. It's Reeve's third coach of the year award, tying her for the most coach of the year awards with Van Chancellor and Mike Thibault.
Reeve has won 232 games over 10 seasons with the Lynx, in addition to four WNBA championships.
The Lynx finished the 2020 season with a 14-8 record and the fourth seed in the playoffs. The final 15 games of the season were without star center Sylvia Fowles.
Minnesota Lynx
Meanwhile, Dangerfield, who was named on 44 of 47 of the ballots for the award, became the first-ever second-round pick to win Rookie of the Year. She was taken 16th overall in the 2020 WNBA Draft out of the University of Connecticut.
"She demonstrated a strong belief in herself from the outset of our time here in Bradenton. Crystal was a key reason for the success the Lynx experienced in 2020 as she brilliantly rose up to the many challenges of shouldering the responsibility of running an offense as a rookie in the WNBA," said Reeve.
Dangerfield is the fifth Lynx player to win the award and second in a row following 2019 Rookie of the Year winner Napheesa Collier.
Dangerfield started 19 of the final 20 games of the season for the Lynx, averaging 16.2 points and 3.6 assists per game while shooting 47% from the field and 92% from the free-throw line.
"This award means a lot to me, being named this year's Rookie of the Year," said Dangerfield. "There's still work that needs to be done in the playoffs, but I'm thankful for my coaches and teammates for putting me in the best position to succeed here in Minnesota."
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