It took all of two practices in April for Cheryl Reeve to truly believe that this might work. The new pieces she had acquired through the WNBA offseason — not through high-profile signings or super-team denominations — and the remaining players developed in Minneapolis over the past few years might actually pan out in a way that felt like seasons past.

The WNBA Finals are here, and when the Minnesota Lynx take the floor, head coach and president of basketball operations, Cheryl Reeve, will lead the team.