Fans feel Minnesota Lynx coach Cheryl Reeve threw in the towel early in their most recent loss to the Indiana Fever . But if we trust the coach, it was a tactical move.
On September 22, 2026, Reeve benched all four Lynx starters – Napheesa Collier , Kayla McBride , Courtney Williams , and Natasha Howard – for the entire second half of the final regular-season game against the Fever. Minnesota lost 96-77, trailing 57-34 at halftime.
The Lynx head coach played her second unit led by Liatu King, Aari McDonald , Dorka Juhasz, and Chloe Bibby .
After the loss, Reeve explained her decision to bench her starters in a game that already lacked Olivia Miles.
"It was apparent that maybe rest was a better option with playoffs starting on Sunday. We thought that first group would be better served saving legs, not chasing a win that wasn't going to happen ," Reeve said, according to an X (formerly Twitter) post by Sports Illustrated 's Andrew Dukowitz.
Reacting to Reeve's reasoning, fans wrote, "It's pretty obvious it was because the Fever were cooking the Lynx starters. If it was the other way around, I bet the starters would've still been in the game."
Another user mocked the Lynx coach, saying, "Wasn't going to happen", nice mentality going into the playoffs."
Refusing to buy Reeve's decision to bench the starters, another fan wrote, "Lynx TANKING last two games to avoid playing the Liberty!!!!"
Highlighting how the bench cut the lead significantly eventually in the game, another user commented, "They were down by like 8 points in the 3q and she talkin bout sum "hasn't gonna happen" 🥀😂."
Reeve said the rationale behind benching their key players was purely rest and health, not seeding. The four-time Coach of the Year explicitly said that the team didn't care about seeding and didn't want to chase an unwinnable game.
"As a coach, you're watching the game, and you go, 'This isn't working.' I'm old enough to know chasing wins is a really bad idea when you're playing every other day, and we start on Sunday in the playoffs. … Really couldn't care less about seeding. Wherever it lands, it lands. Whatever it is will be what we deserve."
Nevertheless, the coach said that she was "really pleased" with how her shocktroopers performed, calling them a "silver lining."
"In situations like this, you just try to find something you can take away, and I really appreciated King just coming in and competing at a level we hoped maybe some of the other players would have come with," Reeve added.
Bibby led the scoring with 15 points on five three-pointers, while King ended with three steals, four rebounds, and 12 points.
Reeve's response suggests she will prioritize rest over securing the No. 1 seed in her final regular-season game against Indiana on September 24, 2026. If Minnesota beats Indiana on Thursday, they will secure that top seed. The Lynx will have the same outcome if the Golden State Valkyries lose one of their final two games. The Valkyries play the Portland Fire on Tuesday and the Los Angeles Sparks on Thursday.
Fever may as well take it as a positive sign, assuming Reeve would prefer to have her top players fully rested when the playoffs begin. Even though it's unlikely, Indiana is still in the hunt for home-court advantage.
Reeve is already confident in Minnesota's postseason chances, regardless of where they land in the seeding.
Citing that the Lynx are a major force away from home, Reeve said, "We're a d— good road team."
