The Top Five WNBA Legendary Coaches of All-Time
In most sports, a team can have all the talent on paper. Whether the team has legendary players, veterans, or promising rookies, it does not matter. They can’t succeed without a good coach, and there are constant examples throughout any sports league’s history. There are so many phenomenal coaches that it’s often debated which coaches are the best. From the long list, 5 WNBA coaches stand out the most.
Cheryl Reeve
The best coach in the game today, and it’s not close. She has been the head coach of the Minnesota Lynx for 15 years and has won 4 WNBA Championships. Reeve is even a 4 time WNBA Coach of the Year. What also adds to her legacy is how she is inching closer to the most wins in WNBA history. Currently, she has 356 wins and is 23 wins away from tying the record. With how the Lynx have been performing lately, Reeve’s brilliance is a significant reason.
Van Chancellor
Can’t have the best WNBA coaching list without the architect of the Houston Comets dynasty from the late 90s. He has a lengthy resume of outstanding achievements. The Houston Comets won the WNBA Championship four consecutive years from 1997 to 2000, with a record of 211-111. Chancellor was inducted into both the Women’s Basketball Hall of Fame in 2001 and the Basketball Hall of Fame in 2007.
Mike Thibault
Mike Thibault is one of the most respected personnel of all time with his lengthy 20-year career. He currently has the record for most wins as a WNBA coach ever, with 379 victories. He also won a WNBA Championship in 2019 with the Washington Mystics. He departed the Washington Mystics organization in 2024 and is currently with the Belgian Cats of the FIBA Europe League. When the time comes, he will be inducted into the Hall of Fame.
Bill Laimbeer
Laimbeer has bragging rights as he won both an NBA (as a player) and multiple WNBA Championships. He was in the WNBA for 17 years with the Detroit Shock, New York Liberty, and Las Vegas Aces. He is the guy who helped lead the Shock to three NBA championships in 2003, 2006, and 2009. He is the 3rd most winning head coach with a record of 306-215 in the regular season. Laimbeer is also a 2 time WNBA head coach and helped change the WNBA with his coaching style.
Becky Hammons
Becky is often regarded as one of the top 5 coaches in the WNBA today. Many believe that it is too early to put Hammons on the all-time list, as she got hired in 2022. However, the two WNBA championships in 2022 and 2023 speak for themselves. Gregg Popovich taught Hammons well during their time with the San Antonio Spurs. The Las Vegas Aces are always labeled as Championship contenders thanks to her guidance. The sky is the limit for her career, and it will be exciting to see how she progresses.
Final Thoughts
Out of the coaches in WNBA History, these are the five that stood out the most. However, there are plenty of names left out that can make a case for being on this list, both current and in history. Total Apex Sports will keep you up to date regarding WNBA news, players, and other events.
