The most satisfying experience for Chery Reeve has been seeing, firsthand, what it's like when a great team comes together.
Reeve, coach of the Lynx, is an assistant on the United States team that beat Australia 82-70 in Istanbul to reach the final of the women's world championship game. Sunday the U.S. will face Spain, which beat host Turkey 66-56 in the other semifinal game.
"To see this firsthand, to see the interaction among these great players, it's special to be a part of," Reeve said by phone following the victory.
And the Minnesota influence was again a big part of the victory for the reigning champion Americans. Tina Charles led the way with 18 points. But Lynx star Maya Moore — the leading score for the U.S. team in this tournament — had 16 points, five rebounds and five assists.
Guard Lindsay Whalen, meanwhile, scored seven points with five rebounds. Five of those points came in the second quarter, when the U.S. reserves helped turn a very tight game into a 42-30 halftime lead. Whalen scored five straight points during one stretch.
Moore, Whalen and Seimone Augustus are all part of a team that will try for its ninth world championship gold medal Sunday. Those three were also on the U.S. team that won gold at the London Olympics.
"Every one is different, and every one is special," Whalen said. "It's been special having Coach Reeve on this staff."
The Australians were playing without injured center Liz Cambage. Still, hot shooting early and physical play throughout kept the Opals in the game for most of four quarters. Indeed, many felt this game pitted the two best teams in the tournament.
Erin Phillips had 19 points to lead Australia while Marianna Tolo had 10. Bothered by foul trouble throughout, Penny Taylor scored just eight points for the Opals.
Down nine entering the fourth quarter, Phillips hit a quick three-pointer to start the fourth. But Charles led a 15-2 run that sealed the U.S. victory. But ultimately it was the U.S. defense that won the game.
"Overall, I thought we dominated defensively with our pressure," Moore said.
And now the Americans will have a chance at another gold, one the three Lynx players would be instrumental in earning.
"This team the way we've come together throughout this last month has been great," Whalen said. "It has been special, and it's been a lot of fun."
Perhaps even more so for Reeve, who hadn't worked with USA Basketball before.
"I'm so focused on the day-to-day I don't normally focus [on the big picture]," Reeve said. "But, after we won tonight I thought, 'Wow, we'r e in the gold medal game. I've never been a gold medalist before. It would be fun to add that to my experiences.' "
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
