Cheryl Reeve, head coach and president of Basketball Operations for the Minnesota Lynx of the WNBA, grew up with two brothers.
She grew up as the middle child in a family of three, with two brothers, older brother Larry Jr. and younger brother Tom.
Her parents, Larry and Rae Reeve, hailed from the Philadelphia/New Jersey area.
Due to her father’s career in the U.S. Air Force, the family moved frequently, from Omaha, Nebraska (where Cheryl was born), to Georgia, then back to New Jersey before she entered high school.
Sibling Rivalry That Fueled Greatness
The relationship between Cheryl Reeve and her siblings was defined by healthy competition.
Growing up, Cheryl and Tom battled in everything, from backyard home run derby to driveway basketball.
Being older, Cheryl often used her advantage to end games in her favor.
Tom remembers her declaring, “Sorry, it’s time to eat,” right when she was ahead.
Even Larry, the eldest, wasn’t spared from Cheryl’s fiery spirit.
Cheryl once defended him from a school bully, handing her books (and even a hamster cage) to Tom before delivering a beating to protect her brother.
Lessons From Their Father
Their father, Larry Sr., was a disciplined and methodical man, a trait both Cheryl and her brothers recognized in her personality.
He treated his children equally, regardless of gender, whether it was chores, sports, or learning skills.
He coached Cheryl in softball, encouraged her competitive drive, and never let her take the easy way out.
Tom recalls a moment when Cheryl wanted a net for their basketball hoop.
After their father installed it, she performed a reverse dunk that ripped the rim straight out of the wall.
Without missing a beat, Cheryl blamed Tom, and the two were banned from playing for weeks.
Growing Up As “One Of The Boys”
From an early age, Cheryl preferred climbing fences, riding bikes, and playing ball with her brothers over wearing dresses.
Whether it was tetherball at recess or Little League baseball in the ’70s, she never felt out of place as the only girl; her goal was to be the best.
Her shared moments with her father, fixing things around the house or working on projects, were some of her fondest memories.
By the time she was 10, she could tell the difference between a monkey wrench and a pipe wrench, all while matching her brothers’ energy and determination.
