WNBA: Who’re the Coach of the Yr candidates thus far?

Is it too early for 2025 WNBA awards discuss? The midway level of the season actually looks as if a good time to start conversations.

With that in thoughts, let’s check out who can be within the operating for the Coach of the Yr, if the season have been completed right this moment.

Natalie Nakase (Golden State Valkyries)

Photograph by A.J. Mast/NBAE through Getty Photographs

Contemplating that the Golden State Valkyries are an growth workforce, the actual fact head coach Natalie Nakase has them at present within the playoffs is astounding. She took gamers groups have been keen to lose and turned them right into a aggressive roster that performs cohesive and linked basketball.

It’s value remembering that Nakase was removed from a surefire factor. Whereas she had assistant expertise within the WNBA and NBA, she had but to be answerable for knowledgeable basketball workforce within the States. Nicely, she has taken benefit of her alternative and has been an ideal slot in Golden State. If the Valkyries hold this up and make the playoffs in Yr 1, it’s going to be arduous to vote in opposition to Nakase.

Photograph by Ethan Miller/Getty Photographs

With Brittney Griner gone and Diana Taurasi retired, this regarded like a rebuilding yr for the Phoenix Mercury. Tibbets, nonetheless, didn’t get the memo.

The second-year head coach has the Mercury sitting on the No. 2 spot within the WNBA standings and searching like a professional title contender. Tibbetts has additionally optimized Alyssa Thomas, serving to her attain an MVP-level this season.

Sydney Johnson (Washington Mystics)

Photograph by Ethan Miller/Getty Photographs

Successful with rookies within the WNBA is often an not possible activity. However, head coach Sydney Johnson has someway managed to try this with the Washington Mystics in 2025. Sonia Citron and Kiki Iriafen are shining as first-year gamers, each incomes All-Star honors.

Washington has gone from being close to the underside of the WNBA standings for a number of years to now sitting above .500 on the season. Whereas Johnson isn’t the one purpose, he’s discovered a method to assist Washington outperform even essentially the most optimistic predictions.

Photograph by Daniel Bartel/Getty Photographs

The Coach of the Yr award not often goes to the individual answerable for one of the best workforce. That appears foolish to me. The purpose of basketball is to win video games, and the pinnacle coach is judged largely on that foundation.

All Cheryl Reeve does is win. Although the Lynx have been projected to be this good, there’s one thing to say about assembly that normal. Napheesa Collier is placing up MVP numbers, and Minnesota has been the workforce to beat all season lengthy. To date, solely 4 groups have completed it throughout 23 video games—and Reeve is a giant purpose why.

That may not be sufficient for voters to provide Reeve one other Coach of the Yr award, but when her work helps the Lynx win the WNBA title that eluded them final yr, I doubt she’ll care.