MINNEAPOLIS — Two tense games in the W.N.B.A.’s Western Conference finals reduced Minnesota Lynx Coach Cheryl Reeve’s voice to a rasp. It had mostly recovered by midweek, when Reeve, dressed in blue-and-gray Lynx sweats, directed practice.
But it was not exactly right, and that bothered her.
“Is it better?” she asked. “I tried everything. It’s hard this time of year.”
Part teacher, part taskmaster and part tactician, Reeve is as much the voice and driving force of the Lynx franchise as the American Olympians Maya Moore, Seimone Augustus and Lindsay Whalen are the faces.
The Lynx qualified for the playoffs only twice in 11 seasons before Reeve, a former college head coach and W.