‘Natural-born leader’ Angel McCoughtry steps into veteran role as Lynx chase fifth WNBA title

Just six months ago as the 2021 season came to a close, five-time All-Star and two-time Olympian Angel McCoughtry admitted she didn’t see herself as a member of the four-time WNBA champion Minnesota Lynx. But with just two weeks to go before the season opener, the former overall No. 1 draft pick now says she can’t see herself anywhere else.

“I’m going to be honest, I thought I was going to go back to the (Las Vegas) Aces – I never thought that I was going to be on another team,” said the 35-year-old McCoughtry, who played for Las Vegas the last two seasons but spent all but one game during 2021 on the bench due to a torn ACL in her right knee.

“I had to look at where I could be successful coming off another injury, who still believed in me – that I can do what I know how to do on the court – and Cheryl (Reeve) was the perfect person,” she said, adding that being near the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minn., with anytime access to medical care, is another bonus. “This is definitely a great situation for me.”

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Training camp kicked off Monday for the Lynx, who made no secret during media day on Wednesday that their mission is to send star player Sylvia Fowles off to retirement with a league title in her 15th and final season. Head coach Cheryl Reeve and the Lynx have made the WNBA Playoffs 11 straight years, and two of their four titles have come with the 6-6 Fowles at center. Fowles herself said the addition of the 6-1 McCoughtry is a perfect complement to her own goals for the season, which include imparting as much knowledge as possible to her teammates.

“Angel is good seed for me,” explained Fowles, a seven-time All-Star and four-time Defensive Player of the Year. “She’s