Sydney Johnson is absolutely making waves in the WNBA, leading the Washington Mystics to a playoff berth that honestly, almost no one expected. This squad was pegged for a development year, a season to figure out who to build with, maybe snag a few fun wins along the way. But Johnson and his young crew? They had totally different plans, and now the WNBA Coach of the Year race is shaping up to be wild.
Sydney Johnson’s Masterclass in Washington
Seriously, raise your hand if you had the Mystics as a playoff team this year. If your hand is up, you need to show me some receipts, because for most of us, this was all about growth for Washington. The goal was finding pieces for the future. Instead, Head Coach Sydney Johnson has steered them to their first winning season since 2022 and they’ve already locked up a playoff spot. Think about that for a second! They could even snag a top-four seed if things break right. Washington’s development has been phenomenal, no other way to put it. Shakira Austin is absolutely balling out, hitting career highs with 16.8 points, 9.4 rebounds, and 2.5 assists per game. And Kiki Iriafen and Sonia Citron? They just keep developing as All-Stars. Even rookie Lauren Betts has fit right in. Johnson has perfectly blended a winning culture with a development mindset, making the Mystics one of the most exciting and successful teams in the league. How do you NOT consider him for Coach of the Year after that?
Cheryl Reeve Keeps Defying Expectations in Minnesota
Then there’s Cheryl Reeve, a coach so good it’s just undeniable. She’s the winningest coach in WNBA history, so we probably shouldn’t be surprised that the Minnesota Lynx are a top team, but honestly, it’s still mystifying sometimes! This season was supposed to be a bit of a gap year for the Lynx, especially with Napheesa Collier sidelined at the start and her return date up in the air. Instead, Reeve leaned hard on rookie phenom Olivia Miles and molded the Lynx into the absolute best team in the WNBA. They aren’t just the top seed, either. If they win out, this will be the second-best Lynx regular-season winning percentage in franchise history. Think about that: better than any of their four title teams, second only to the 2016 squad! It’s unreal that Reeve, 17 years into her career, keeps breaking records and just blowing past expectations. With Collier back, they might just grab that elusive fifth title, all under Reeve. That would make her the WNBA coach with the most championships ever, surpassing Van Chancellor. Talk about a legend!
It’s clear that Coach of the Year isn’t just about who has the most wins. It’s about context, overachievement, and overcoming setbacks. Both Johnson and Reeve have made incredibly strong cases. And hey, can Natalie Nakase be the next head coach to go back-to-back for the award? Van Chancellor was the last one to pull that off. This race is tight. Who do you see as the leader in the clubhouse?
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Swish Appeal.
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