The Lynx kicked off their 2019 training camp on Sunday, welcoming a ton of new faces into the building and getting off to a great start in what is sure to be a productive, fun, competitive two weeks.

The practice wasn’t about evaluation—though that will come—rather starting to install parts of the offense and see where everyone is at. Reeve was upfront in saying that there will be a learning curve, after all there are only four returning players from last season. However, it’s a bright, competitive group, and they are anchored by the always-solid Seimone Augustus, Sylvia Fowles and Danielle Robinson.

“We’ve always led by committee, so it’s Seimone, it’s Syl and it’s Danielle, those are my three captains.” said Reeve. “You go as your captains go. So we’ll go as Danielle, Syl and Seimone go. If they’re going well, playing well and connected with their teammates we’ll do well.”

Day 1 ☑️ pic.twitter.com/LVlXqxZ54q

— Minnesota Lynx (@minnesotalynx) May 5, 2019

Robinson in particular has a lot on her plate this year, taking over as a captain and the presumed starter at the point guard from the departed Lindsay Whalen. She’s more than up to the challenge. Reeve has been very impressed by Robinson’s approach this offseason despite a nasty late-season ankle injury that kept her rehabbing well into the winter.

“She’s going to make it look so seamless we’re going to forget that she just had a nine-month injury. She has worked probably as hard as I’ve seen anybody in my nineteen years in the WNBA in terms of how hard, the things that she put her body through to be ready,” Reeve said. “Not only is she healed but her game has gotten better. That’s hard to do, to do that at the same time. When she was able just to walk, we were walking through pick and roll reads and what we needed to do. She’s really eager to lead this team.”

Robinson is excited to lead the Lynx and build them in her image—she’s not just going to do what Lindsay Whalen did—and that’s exactly how Reeve wants it. It’s been an adjustment for both sides, but this is Robinson’s team now. The relationship between the coach and player is already a strong one, the only thing that remains are ironing out the X’s and O’s.

“I want her to be in my office, we watch video together, it’s like a crash course because it’s now her team,” said Reeve. “It’s going to look different, it’s my job to learn what is different and make sure that I’m gearing more towards Danielle. I had a couple moments early on in the offseason when I would do something and I said, ‘Shoot I’m sorry that’s what I used to do with Lindsay.’ I had to catch myself.”

Introductions for faces new and old… pic.twitter.com/45r8vRX4Sp

— Minnesota Lynx (@minnesotalynx) May 5, 2019

Fowles Back To Full Strength

Fowles played the last month or so of the 2018 campaign with a ruptured ligament in her left elbow. She is now completely healed and didn’t need surgery to get past that injury. Fowles didn’t play overseas in the offseason but she’s been back to basketball for some time.

“Rehab took me five months, so I did five months of rehab. After that everything was pretty much full force. I know by the time I got back here everything was going to be cleared because I was fully good.”

Now Fowles is just excited to get out and run and compete with the new players Reeve has brought in.

“These girls are amazing; it feels good to actually have some people that we can run with. These young legs, fresh out of college, I’m liking the process of just keeping up which is good for me because I like to run. They out here doing their thing and they’re making the coaches’ job real hard about who they are going to pick for the season.”

gotta go to work 💼 pic.twitter.com/LGyRJdixy6

— Minnesota Lynx (@minnesotalynx) May 5, 2019

Quick Hits

• Lexie Brown was brought here to shoot and shoot she did. She was knocking them down from the corner in drills. If she can keep it up she’ll see the floor quite a bit. Her form is excellent.
• Cierra Dillard has a great intensity about her. She was running hard and calling out plays, playing at full speed even in five on zero action. Dillard is going to make the veterans at the guard spot compete every day.
• Odyssey Sims seems to be getting along very well with her new team. She looked comfortable running the team through a few offensive sets and she’s another hyper-competitive guard to have around. Reeve said her acquisition might end up being a difference-maker this year.
• Erlana Larkins made a name for herself on this team last year setting screens and passing out of the post. She hasn’t lost a step in either area. Larkins is intense and fun to watch and it’s clear her teammates love the space they get coming off her picks.
• Damiris Dantas is taller than you think and she looked very smooth rolling to the rim. Another signing you shouldn’t forget about.

The Lynx are back tomorrow for another day of camp, we’ll have more for you then!