Minnesota sports fans couldn't be more familiar with the words if they were tattooed on the inside of their eyelids. Rebuild. Patience. Future.
Someday, someday will arrive. That's the pitch so many prominent Minnesota sports teams have made to their fan bases, a pitch that doesn't always make it to the plate.
Breaking this pattern are the Lynx, winners of the past four major sports championships by a Minnesota team and a franchise that, given the option of rebuilding, decided not to take the easy way out.
After winning four WNBA titles in seven years, then losing all but one of their stars, the Lynx faced a painful decision following the 2018 season: Rebuild and lessen their hard-earned popularity, or try to win and risk languishing in competitive limbo, without high draft choices to procure exceptional talent.
The owner, Glen Taylor, met with the coach, Cheryl Reeve, who would soon become the team's general manager as well. Reeve laid out the options. They decided they wanted to take the risky route — trying to win without a rebuilding lull.
That decision led to a flurry of moves Reeve made in the past month that may have propelled the Lynx back into championship contention. They have signed perhaps the two best wings available in free agency, a strong post player and built their best starting lineup since Maya Moore was known more for jumpers than social justice.
The building of this roster began before the 2019 season. Reeve drafted Napheesa Collier with the sixth pick and traded guard Alexis Jones for guard Odyssey Sims. Collier would become the league's Rookie of the Year, and Sims would become an All-Star for the first time, and the Lynx would make the playoffs.
Before the 2020 season, Reeve chose point guard Crystal Dangerfield 16th overall in the draft. She would become the WNBA's first second-round pick to win Rookie of the Year, and the Lynx would advance to the league semifinals before losing to eventual champion Seattle.
