The four Minnesota Lynx Olympians return to Target Center with three medals and a new perspective

MINNEAPOLIS — To get an idea of ​​what success in women’s basketball at the Olympics means to the players, think about Wednesday afternoon in the atrium of the Target Center, where Lynx coach Cheryl Reeve and players Napheesa Collier, Bridget Carleton and Alanna Smith were officially welcomed back from Paris.

Reeve was the head coach of the US team. Collier wore the second gold medal she won with the same team. Smith of Australia wore her bronze medal, the first the Opals have won in 12 years. Carleton was the MVP of the Canadian team but did not advance past the group stage.

Reeve and Collier spoke about expectations for the US team. Smith spoke of a bright future for Australia. Carleton spoke openly about the disappointment. As a group, they embodied the emotions one feels when playing on a world stage.

It is important.

“It’s hard for me,” said Carleton, sometimes not letting on how hard it is. “The Olympics are the pinnacle of sport. You work for years towards this moment. It’s a disappointment. The emotions are still there. It’s going to be a process.”

That process begins Thursday night when the Minnesota Lynx — ranked third in the WNBA before the Olympic break — host Washington to kick off the final 15 games of the season.

But Wednesday was an occasion to remember the events in Paris.

Reeve said he received a message from Steve Kerr, coach of the U.S. men’s team, after the women beat France by one point in the final, capping the team’s 61-straight Olympic wins and eight straight gold medals, saying, “Welcome to the Godspeed club.”

“It’s either relief or misery when you’re a coach,” Reeve said jokingly, at least a little bit. “But I’m thrilled to have the chance to add another gold medal to the U.S. basketball dynasty.”

But that’s not all. Reeve had learned a thing or two about expectations while leading the Lynx to four WNBA titles in seven seasons, and his goal was to make this unique team’s journey as joyful as possible. Both Reeve and Collier spoke about how special it was to do this together.

Collier was a starter and a high-minute player for Team USA after spending most of her time watching and learning last time out. She averaged 6.7 points, was second on the team with 6.5 rebounds and third in minutes played per game (23:29).

Both Carleton and Smith were the MVP of their respective teams. Smith was named to the tournament’s All-Star Five after averaging 11.5 points, 8.0 rebounds and 2.2 assists. Carleton averaged 13.3 points, 6.3 rebounds and 2.0 assists.

To be honest, the pressure on Team USA was enormous.

“These expectations mean you’re the best in the world,” Collier said. “To be part of something so dominant is an incredible experience. There’s a lot of pressure and sometimes it’s unfair. But you do your best under pressure. … Of course, there will come a day when the winning streak ends. Hopefully it will be a long time ago when I’m done. But when you look back at what we’ve accomplished, it’s unmatched.”

All three players are looking forward to Los Angeles in 2028. Collier’s impact is expected to go a step further. After a coaching change and the influx of some new players, Carleton is looking to return and help get Team Canada into the medal round.

It’s been a remarkable journey for Smith. Two years ago, the former Stanford star was released and no longer on the WNBA roster. So far from home, she couldn’t wait for short-term opportunities. Some thought her WNBA story was over.

But Smith had a strong season in Europe. She went to Chicago and became a productive starter in 2023. Smith was signed by the Lynx as a free agent and is having a career year.

“I was pretty down,” Smith said. “And now I’m sitting here in the company of greats. I’ve won a medal myself. I’m on a great team in the WNBA. If you told me two years ago that this would happen to me, I would have told you you were lying. Winning a medal at the Olympics is great. Winning a championship in the WNBA would be the icing on the cake. To do that with these guys – that’s the next goal.”

And that starts Thursday. Talks about 2028 can wait a while. Reeve did not mention whether she would have the opportunity or desire to return as coach of Team USA. But she said the increasing interest in women’s basketball, combined with existing expectations, makes the head job a little more difficult this time around. She talked about conversations and criticism about who was on the team, the starting lineup, the rotations, the minutes played.

“That’s what it’s become,” Reeve said. “And it’s made the seat I was sitting in a little more challenging and less rewarding. I think that’s a sad comment. I’m really confident that we can find our way and move forward.”