WNBA Coach of the Year History
The WNBA Coach of the Year Award has been presented
annually since the league's first season in 1997. The award recognizes
the head coach judged to have had the most outstanding regular-season
performance.
Van Chancellor of the Houston Comets became the first
winner and captured the award in each of the WNBA's first three seasons.
The list below includes every WNBA Coach of the Year winner from 1997
through 2025.
WNBA Coach of the Year Winners
| Year |
Coach |
Team |
| 2025 |
Natalie Nakase |
Golden State Valkyries |
| 2024 |
Cheryl Reeve |
Minnesota Lynx |
| 2023 |
Stephanie White |
Connecticut Sun |
| 2022 |
Becky Hammon |
Las Vegas Aces |
| 2021 |
Curt Miller |
Connecticut Sun |
| 2020 |
Cheryl Reeve |
Minnesota Lynx |
| 2019 |
James Wade |
Chicago Sky |
| 2018 |
Nicki Collen |
Atlanta Dream |
| 2017 |
Curt Miller |
Connecticut Sun |
| 2016 |
Cheryl Reeve |
Minnesota Lynx |
| 2015 |
Bill Laimbeer |
New York Liberty |
| 2014 |
Sandy Brondello |
Phoenix Mercury |
| 2013 |
Mike Thibault |
Washington Mystics |
| 2012 |
Carol Ross |
Los Angeles Sparks |
| 2011 |
Cheryl Reeve |
Minnesota Lynx |
| 2010 |
Brian Agler |
Seattle Storm |
| 2009 |
Marynell Meadors |
Atlanta Dream |
| 2008 |
Mike Thibault |
Connecticut Sun |
| 2007 |
Dan Hughes |
San Antonio Silver Stars |
| 2006 |
Mike Thibault |
Connecticut Sun |
| 2005 |
John Whisenant |
Sacramento Monarchs |
| 2004 |
Suzie McConnell-Serio |
Minnesota Lynx |
| 2003 |
Bill Laimbeer |
Detroit Shock |
| 2002 |
Marianne Stanley |
Washington Mystics |
| 2001 |
Dan Hughes |
Cleveland Rockers |
| 2000 |
Michael Cooper |
Los Angeles Sparks |
| 1999 |
Van Chancellor |
Houston Comets |
| 1998 |
Van Chancellor |
Houston Comets |
| 1997 |
Van Chancellor |
Houston Comets |
WNBA Coach of the Year Records and Facts
-
Van Chancellor won the first three WNBA Coach of the
Year Awards with the Houston Comets in 1997, 1998 and 1999.
-
Cheryl Reeve owns the record with four Coach of the
Year awards, winning with Minnesota in 2011, 2016, 2020 and 2024.
-
Mike Thibault won three times: Connecticut in 2006
and 2008, and Washington in 2013.
-
Curt Miller won twice with the Connecticut Sun,
earning the award in 2017 and 2021.
-
Dan Hughes won with two different franchises:
Cleveland in 2001 and San Antonio in 2007.
-
Bill Laimbeer won with Detroit in 2003 and
New York in 2015.
-
Natalie Nakase became the Golden State Valkyries'
first Coach of the Year winner in 2025, the franchise's inaugural
WNBA season.
Most WNBA Coach of the Year Awards
| Coach |
Wins |
Years |
| Cheryl Reeve |
4 |
2011, 2016, 2020, 2024 |
| Van Chancellor |
3 |
1997, 1998, 1999 |
| Mike Thibault |
3 |
2006, 2008, 2013 |
| Dan Hughes |
2 |
2001, 2007 |
| Bill Laimbeer |
2 |
2003, 2015 |
| Curt Miller |
2 |
2017, 2021 |
