Even Cheryl Reeve did not expect her Minnesota Lynx team to be doing this well right now. “I didn’t know that we’d find a starting five that had more chemistry and synergy than the last two years,” She said. Well, she was not the only one in that boat. As it appears, WNBA analyst Terrika Foster-Brasby seems to share that same sentiment.

Speaking on Wednesday’s episode of the “We Need To Talk Now” podcast alongside Alicia Jay, Foster-Brasby reacted to Reeve’s statement and was quite clear in her assessment of the situation. As she said, “Everything says this team shouldn’t be this good, right? Everything says it. You’ve got a rookie at point guard. You’ve moved Courtney Williams over. She’s playing her natural position now, but it’s been a minute since she’s been able to do that. There’s no Napheesa Collier. You lost Jessica Shepard. You lost Elena Smith.”

Looking at the state of this Lynx team ahead of the season, it’s fair to say that Cheryl Reeve and Terrika Foster-Brasby were definitely not the only ones who didn’t see Minnesota leading the WNBA right now. Entering the season, the Lynx did lose key frontcourt players Jessica Shepard and Alanna Smith to free agency. Smith was voted the 2025 WNBA Co-Defensive Player of the Year and also earned WNBA All-Defensive First Team honors. Shepard, meanwhile, averaged 12.6 points, 11.0 rebounds, and an impressive 5.9 assists per game for Minnesota last season.

Alongside losing those assets, the Lynx have also had to start the season without Napheesa Collier, the foundational superstar and cornerstone of the franchise. She has still not played since suffering the severe ligament tear she sustained in September 2025 and continues her recovery process. Amidst all this, Cheryl Reeve has had to turn to rookie Olivia Miles, who has absolutely blown away the entire WNBA with her performances so far. At the same time, the team itself has continued to thrive, currently sitting on an impressive 8-2 record.

As Foster-Brasby further explained, “Everything suggests you should not be this good. And yet Cheryl Reeve puts on her cape like she always does. And she’s able to make the team believe and bring the best out of her players. She’s able to bring the best out of everything.”

The numbers explain why Foster-Brasby’s praise lands. The Lynx boast the league’s best defense, allowing just 98.1 points per 100 possessions. They also lead the WNBA with a +15.0 net rating and operate at an elite level offensively, pacing the league with a 113.1 offensive rating. Minnesota is currently riding a six-game winning streak. It will face the Seattle Storm in its next game on Wednesday. And judging by the Storm’s performances so far this season and their current form, it almost feels like win number nine is already waiting for the Lynx.

The question now is whether they can keep this going all the way to the WNBA championship. What do you think? Can they go all the way?

WNBA analyst applauds Cheryl Reeve’s talent evaluation skills amid Lynx’s impressive start to the season

For WNBA analyst Terrika Foster-Brasby, most of the success that the Minnesota Lynx are currently enjoying can be traced back to the players Cheryl Reeve assembled during the offseason. Speaking on the “We Need To Talk Now” podcast, Foster-Brasby highlighted some of the additions that have helped keep the Lynx rolling despite their injury troubles: “You bring back Natasha Howard, who is now in her second stint with the Lynx. You also bring over Nia Coffey. Nia Coffey is another free agent signing that I think people may have overlooked.”

And of course, those players, Natasha Howard and Nia Coffey, have been sensational for the Minnesota Lynx this season, serving as the primary anchors in the frontcourt and successfully offsetting the absence of Napheesa Collier. Specifically, Howard is averaging an elite 16.1 points, 7.9 rebounds, 3.4 assists, and 1.3 steals per game. In the same vein, Coffey is contributing 9.9 points, 5.9 rebounds, and 1.4 assists per contest.

Apart from those two, Foster-Brasby also cited Olivia Miles, who has been tearing up the league with her performances so far this season. She also mentioned Kayla McBride and Courtney Williams. Although not new additions, they have also continued to deliver strong performances for Minnesota. Williams, in particular, has been considerably better than she was last season.

According to Foster-Brasby, Cheryl Reeve possesses a special ability: “This is what Cheryl Reeve does. She’s able to spot talent and make it work.” She explained: “The way that she’s able to not only spot talent but develop talent and has a coaching staff is why Minnesota, no matter what they have, no matter how things start, you never can count this team out.”

With the way the Lynx have navigated injuries and roster turnover so far, it is hard to argue with that assessment. Minnesota continues to find answers regardless of the challenges in front of it, and Reeve deserves plenty of credit for that.