Laughter and cheers echoed throughout the Tennessee Theatre in Knoxville on Saturday, but not for a comedy show or musical.
Instead, fans of women’s basketball packed by the hundreds to celebrate eight inductees to the Women’s Basketball Hall of Fame, including Minnesota Lynx head coach Cheryl Reeve.
The 2026 inductee class ranged from WNBA legends Candace Parker and Elena Delle Donne to international gamechangers like Amaya Valdemoro and Isabelle Fijalkowski. Another veteran coach was honored along with Reeve: Kim Muhl of Kirkwood Community College.
ESPN contributor Doris Burke was honored for her contributions as a broadcaster, and a posthumous veteran honoree was awarded to Barbara Kennedy-Dixon, who is one of just eight college players with at least 3,000 points and 1,000 rebounds.
Reeve was named the Lynx coach in 2009. Since then, she's won four championships, won four WNBA coach of the year awards, coached the U.S. women's basketball team to three Olympic gold medals and had six of her players inducted into the Women's Basketball Hall of Fame. Saturday was her turn as she became the ninth player or coach from the Lynx inducted.
Lynx great Lindsay Whalen welcomes everyone inside relationship with Reeve
Of all the inductees and their announcers, no one received more laughter than former Lynx player, current assistant coach and Minnesota-native Lindsay Whalen, who introduced Reeve on Saturday night.
Whalen played on the Lynx for nine seasons under Reeve. Whalen is now in her third year as an assistant coach.
She shared a story of a one-on-one preseason planning she had with Reeve while attempting to go vegan nearly a decade ago during the offseason.
“At that point in my career, all the rage in women's basketball was eating healthy: vegan, keto, paleo, macros, micros. I was more into carbos,” Whalen said as the crowd laughed. “I dabbled. I wouldn't say I went two feet in, but I dabbled for two days going vegan.”
Reeve, who was joined by her wife and Lynx head of business operations, Carley Knox, their son, Oliver, and former player Seimone Augustus, broke out laughing even before Whalen began the story, anticipating her comedic abilities.
The duo of Reeve and Whalen won four championships and made it to the finals an additional two times. They also have two Olympic gold medals.
But Whalen said their relationship is bigger than the stats or the accolades.
“None of that would have been possible without the leader to guide us,” Whalen said. “The leader who could see different things in us that we couldn't see in ourselves, push us beyond our comfort zones and help us reach our full potential. Turns out, the potential of that group was something pretty cool.”
‘I am deeply grateful for this game we all love’
Like Whalen, Reeve, an outspoken critic of WNBA officiating, started with a joke.
During her latest visit to the Women’s Basketball Hall of Fame, she noticed a section dedicated to referees.
“I thought, wow, Hall of Fame officials,” Reeve said. “I'm looking forward to having one in some upcoming games.”
Reeve quickly turned sincere. She thanked her wife, her son, other loved ones, former players, coaches and mentors she had along the way.
She also took a moment to shout out the Lynx faithful.
“The belief, passion and support have made the last 16 seasons unforgettable,” she said. “I am deeply grateful for this game we all love.”
While the accolades undoubtedly got her into the Hall, Reeve said the honor was more personal.
“Oliver, I'm standing up here because our team had a chance to win a lot of games. But I want you to know my greatest win is you,” she said.
Reeve fans (from near and far) make the trip to support
Reeve’s open vulnerability is why Lynx fan Jennie Littleton, 30, of Chattanooga, Tenn., gravitated to her. Littleton, who used to coach, said Reeve is the reason why she ever considered supporting young players in the first place.
“She's what drew me,” Littleton said. “I always wanted to coach, and I really admired her, and she is an incredible inspiration.”
That’s the same for Brittany West, who grew up in Shakopee and now lives in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, where she is an assistant coach at Kirkwood Community College under fellow inductee Muhl.
Sporting a vintage Whalen shirt, West said said she continues to look up to Reeve as she makes her own coaching decisions.
"She's instilled confidence in me in the way that I want to coach, in the coach that I want to be, and, I mean, I've been lucky enough to watch her since I've been 10 or 11 years old,” she said.
Reeve appreciates the past and hopes for the future
Reeve said during her speech she still looks to her own role models, mentors and peers who, all the way back to a $5,000 gig as an assistant coach for the now-defunct Charlotte Sting, helped her become synonymous with the WNBA.
“From 2001 until today, I ate, drank and slept everything WNBA. I experienced teams folding, I collected unemployment, and hearing my dad wonder aloud, when was I going to get a real job,” Reeve said. “Through all the wins, losses and championships, there were the incredible relationships with players that I will cherish forever.”
It was in that season, she said, she “believed in this so much,” even at a time in league history when players and coaches were told they “weren't worth a darn.”
More than two decades into her WNBA career, the Hall of Fame honor comes at a time when women’s basketball is growing and reaching new levels of popularity.
According to Nielsen’s data, the 2025 WNBA season broke viewership records for the second year in a row. ESPN networks aired its most-watched season and postseason ever.
Now in its 30th season, Reeve has more hopes for the coming decades of the league, including possibly owning a team — perhaps even with Oliver’s help.
“He's a huge WNBA fan. He's like my assistant GM,” Reeve said. “He’s so good and so passionate about it, but it's showing him the fortitude that it takes if you really, really want something.”
