Coaching High-IQ Defense, Math (yep!) & the 1st-Place Minnesota Lynx with Victoria Larson

In this episode of the Splash City Basketball Podcast, host Steve Hartman is joined by Victoria Larson, former Riverland Community College player and current coach with the Minnesota Timberwolves & Lynx Basketball Academy! 

Victoria opens up about her transition from a record-setting three-point shooter in college to coaching youth hoops and sharing her passion for the game. The two dive deep into what it takes to build high-IQ players, simple ways to teach anticipation and court angles, and why bringing a little "math logic" onto the floor can completely change how young players understand spatial awareness. 

Topics Covered in This Episode:

• Victoria’s Journey: Transitioning from high school to junior college ball, dealing with the speed of the game, and finding a love for shooting. 
• Coaching & Player IQ: How to teach spatial awareness, defensive positioning, active hands, and reading passing lanes. 
• Youth Development: Essential fundamentals every kid needs, from pounding the dribble to mastering help defense. 
• Timberwolves & Lynx Basketball Academy: The mission behind getting kids in the gym, having fun, and learning the right way. 
• WNBA Breakdown: Napheesa Collier’s explosive return, Courtney Williams' mid-range dominance, Cheryl Reeve’s Coach of the Year case, and the impact of Rookie of the Year candidate Olivia Miles on the first-place Lynx! 

Connect & Learn More:

• Check out camp schedules and sign up at Timberwolves Basketball Academy. 
• Don't forget to Subscribe, Rate, and Leave a Review wherever you listen to podcasts!

Listen on Spotify, Apple Podcasts or YouTube. 

Follow Splash City Basketball Podcast on Instagram, TikTok, Facebook and Bluesky. 

Transcript

SPEAKER_00 0:04

Bag in there, back in and back again.

SPEAKER_01 0:08

Hello, everyone, and welcome to the Splash City Basketball Podcast where we talk hoops in the land of 10,000 links. I am your host, Steve Hartman. Uh, excited to talk to our guest today, Victoria Larson. She's a coach for the Timberwolves and Lynx Academy, as well as a former junior college player, high school coach, AAU coach. She's kind of done it all. She's got great experience and great insights. And we'll talk to her about coaching and playing. Uh, and then we'll get into a little bit of the Lynx as they wrap up their first half of their season. First place in the WNBA standings, Nefisa Collier comes back. They get a nice road win in Seattle tonight. Um, and just head in with a lot of momentum and a lot of high hopes. It's gonna be championship or bust, it feels like, which maybe the Lynx and Cheryl Reeve kind of have that goal every year, but this year, um, you know, coming into the season, I think expectations were a little lower, maybe just in that the national realm with um some new players, um, you know, some turnover on the roster. Didn't quite know yet yet what we had with Olivia Miles. Collier was going to be out, um, and here they are at first place, and they look very strong. They look like the um you know, real contender, they look like the favorite at this point. So um exciting times to be a Lynx fan. So Victoria and I will talk more about that later. Um, another topic I wanted to discuss today was that Nico Medved getting a contract extension, Golden Gulfer men's bed basketball coach extends his contract, you know, just kind of shows that uh Mark Coyle and the administration over at the U feel confident in him after just one season. There's uh you know some continuity on this year's roster, there's talk. I've even seen some national people talk about potentially the Gophers being a bubble team this year, and so we'll see how things shake out, of course. But um, you know, I think it's there's a lot of excitement amongst Gopher Faithful that they have the right coach, they're on the right trajectory, and um they now they just gotta go out and and prove it and stay healthy and stay healthy because last year that was that was uh what derailed their season a little bit last year, though they were able to withstand it and put together a strong finish uh and play some postseason basketball. Um another thing I wanted to just bring up related to the Gophers, uh check out my work. I just did an article. I was out in Vegas for summer league, as as you probably know, and um I was just keeping an eye on a lot of the players with little ties to the state of Minnesota, whether they played high school here, whether they played college here, or um, you know, maybe they have some sort of connection to Nico Medved. So I did a uh you know kind of a recap on those players and how they performed chances that they have of making the opening day roster. Um so check that out at hitting thehardwood.com under the gophers tab, you'll find that article there. I appreciate you checking that out, and I appreciate you listening to the podcast. So if you don't follow or subscribe, please do that wherever you get your podcast, Apple, Spotify, Amazon. Um, and then of course, also if you come across the podcast and you like what you hear, give us a follow Instagram, TikTok, Blue Sky, Facebook, wherever, YouTube, of course. Um, but would love to hear from you. But you know, just thanks again for listening. Um, I'm excited for you to all hear my conversation with Victoria Larson, so let's get into that right now. All right, today I'm joined by someone whose basketball journey spans nearly every level uh uh on the Minnesota hoop scene. Um, she played junior college basketball at Riverland Community College down in Austin, where she was a deadly, lethal three-point shooter, um, leaving the school as the program's all-time record holder in Steels and second in all-time three-pointers made. Um, made her mark on the court, jumped to the sidelines, spent some time coaching AAU and at the high school level, and now as a coach with the Minnesota Timberwolves and Lynx Basketball Academy. Welcome Victoria Larson to the Splash City Basketball Podcast.

SPEAKER_00 4:18

Hey Steve, thank you for having me. I'm ready to have some fun.

SPEAKER_01 4:22

Absolutely. Uh thanks for reaching out. Uh, thanks for wanting to come on, first of all. Um, really excited to talk to you. I think some of the things you shared about your passion and and you know, how you play the game, your approach to players and things now that you're coaching uh was really intriguing. So I think it's it's gonna be really fun. I always like to start off kind of asking the general, like, you know, tell us about your journey. Like how you you grew up in Wisconsin, uh played college JUCO and in Austin, Minnesota, and then now you're coaching. Like, what what's been your journey like and and where did you kind of find your love of the game?

SPEAKER_00 5:01

Yeah, well, I started basketball late. Um, well, now especially n late when you think about how quickly we have players starting now, but um, I didn't start playing until sixth grade um just because uh soccer was readily available for kids, you know, starting in second grade. So uh just started playing and as soon as I picked up a ball, it it came so natural that it was fun. You know, it's fun to be good at things, so you know, immediately it it was a fun sport. Um and then from there I got to play. Uh, you know, in Wisconsin they do November and December is girls' season and then just January and February is boys season. Uh and I knew the uh boys coach was one of my classmates' dad. Uh and he let me practice with them too. So I you know, I got four months instead of two months. Um and just fell in love with the work and and playing and doing doing anything basketball related. Um and then yeah, got to high school and we had pretty decent success, you know, at Bangor. Uh now they've gone on since I've left, they've gone on and won multiple state championships. So uh the program itself has been on the rise, which is really nice. Um and then yeah, when it came to college, I you know, had my hopes and dreams set um on going to Green Bay. I got accepted and and was gonna make that leap. And then, you know, my my ego kinda woke up a little bit and was like, Yeah, you're gonna sit the bench for four, maybe five years, and and that's not what you want. So kind of last minute I uh called up a coach at Viterbo University and said, Hey, you got any friends that need a player? And and so she she hooked me up with uh Susie Hebrink at at Riverland. So I ended up there last minute, and it was just kind of uh uh a beautiful mess, if you will. Um and yeah, had a great, great uh career there. I really enjoyed it. Um I played with an exceptional player out of Austin named Rebecca Acey, um, just an all-star stud. Double double on accident because she just knew what she was doing when she was doing it. Um so yeah, super fun. And then after that, uh I needed to start making money. So I got into got into coaching because that's you know where the money is, but um you know, started doing that as a side job and haven't stopped since.

SPEAKER_01 7:16

Nice, nice. Um so Rebecca AC, uh, did she go on to play after Riverland?

SPEAKER_00 7:24

She did not, she had many offers and and many people interested, but she was in nursing school. Um so she that was her goal was to do that, and and she, as far as I know, is still still doing it and still being exceptional at that as well. So she just, I mean, all around a good human, but had the option, but did not um go out of um Austin for for that.

SPEAKER_01 7:46

The the reason I ask is because I think there's a lot of um you know, there's a lot of excitement amongst parents, especially when you have a child playing basketball and they're pretty good at it. Um and the the levels, right? Like the levels to basketball are always I think fascinating and um stark when you see them up close. So like the the level from high school to junior college to division three to division two, one, all the way up, right? Like it's just there's levels to that. What did you notice about going from high school to um college basketball being the biggest difference?

SPEAKER_00 8:22

Just the speed of the game. The everything was everything was five times faster. Um players are are faster, um, you had to think quicker, uh just anything like that. The game itself sped up, having a shot clock, um you know, just mentally speeds you up because you you know you're on a timer. Um whereas in high school, uh when I played in Wisconsin, they didn't have one. So, you know, we could play offense for two minutes. Whereas, yeah, once you start playing college ball, it's it's quick, it's fast, you're going up and down. Um, and yeah, just everybody everybody is there and wants to be there and is competing to be there. So you're that's that's what you're playing against every day.

SPEAKER_01 9:03

Yeah, um, you know, with your you know, you mentioned three-point shooting, kind of a three and D, maybe, maybe uh, you know, before that was even like a thing that we talked about. But um how how do you how do you attribute your three-point shooting and your progression to becoming a good three-point shooter? And what was like your some of your favorite drills you did? Uh was it just volume getting shots up? Were there certain games, competitions you did that you loved, or or that maybe you do now uh as you as a coach like that you really enjoy?

SPEAKER_00 9:34

Yeah, I I just loved shooting in in all forms. Like when I first picked up the ball, I loved to dribble and I love to shoot. So it made um it made doing drills that much easier because it was it was fun. And uh when I realized there was more points if you went further back, I thought mathematically that made more sense. So you know I just started chucking them as soon as I started realizing that. And um, yeah, I thought it was it I thought for me it just made that much sense because I was only you know 5'3, 5'4, so I belonged out there. I didn't have to, you know, work in the paint and get sweaty and and bullied down there. Um But I really I for me I what I enjoy about making threes is there's always they always provide energy. You know, you could be down by a bunch, you hit a three, people are excited because that's three more points closer. Um you're up by a lot, you hit a three, now you're feeling like okay, now we're drowning them, we're good. Um so I think just that energy that that shooting deep uh gives to the game is is a lot of fun. Uh some drills that I liked were were ones that you were running up and down the court, right? So you you get that pass, you shoot that three, you run down to the next one, you shoot that three, because those felt like fast break threes, uh, which in a game, I don't know much that feels better than you know getting a steal and pulling up for three on a fast break. Um I know as a coach now I don't like that, but as a player, that was glorious. I loved it.

SPEAKER_01 11:00

That's so funny because I do feel like that is just one of those things in the last 10 years that you never used to see. Three on two fast break, it was always we're getting a layup or nothing. And now it's everybody runs out to the three-point line, the guy with the ball is looking to spray it unless they're going to the rim. So uh it's it's that's funny because I do think that's one of those things that has changed in coaching and playing that you almost kind of hunt for those transition threes now where it used to be like a transition, we're trying to get layups or dunks.

SPEAKER_00 11:34

Yeah, yeah, and I I like to think that you know a lot of things that is accepted now. I was doing, you know, 20 years ago when it when it was bad, when it was not good basketball, and had to try to convince my coach that this was a good idea, and that you know, this is a smart basketball play, and so I should call him up and just tell him, you know, hey, just so you know, you know, people are making lots of money doing what I was doing back then. So um, but yeah, honestly, I think just the excitement of the game, like that's what that's what shooting and three-pointers do.

SPEAKER_01 12:05

Yeah, for those of us who can't uh elevate or aren't uber athletic, the three-point shot it becomes your highlight reel, right? Like I was never doing any dunks, I still, you know, never never could. And so it was like that was the only way to get the crowd hyped when I had the ball. Um defensively, we were joking uh over email about how something you had said reminded me of me, were you know maybe not the most athletic player, but really active on defense, um, you know, reading passing lanes. What what uh what part of defense did you and or as a player, maybe now today, but like as a coach, like what what what is it about defense that gets you excited? Like what what are the elements of it that you think make great defensive players and teams?

SPEAKER_00 12:54

Yeah, I think it's just it's just IQ, right? Like you don't have to be fast, you don't you don't have to be quick, um, but just having a general understanding of the game. Um, you know, we one big thing that I always emphasize for defense, especially for the guards, is getting that hand down when that that crossover is happening. You know, if they're not gonna protect the ball, they're gonna cross over right in front of you, your hand's gonna be right there, and and we're gonna get two points out of it. Um but I think, you know, again, that was another thing that you never wanted to put your hand down because you know, then now you're in a bad position. But if you know, if you can teach it in a way that that gets their hand in the way with their feet still set for defense, you that's a great way to get steals. Um and again, you know, that's kind of a uh a lazy way that I got a lot of steals by not being quick at all. Um, you know, I I wish I could say I had you know these blazing fast feet and and you know some subtle quickness, but unfortunately that is that's not the case. I you know ran with lead in my shoes and and had a had a hitch behind me. So uh I had to make sure that you just do smart, smart things. And that's kind of what I preach as a coach too, is because you know I I might not be able to make you faster or quicker or um anything, but I can make you smarter and I can show you that you know if somebody's trapped here, here's the only areas that they can pass. So get into those areas. So just that the IQ and the the um kind of instinct piece uh is really what I focus on because especially in season, you're not gonna get you know a big difference in in quickness and speed uh during the season. You know, that's some off-season stuff. So during the season, it's it's just about between the ears.

SPEAKER_01 14:32

That's a great point, and uh I always appreciate high IQ defenders. Um one thing I've noticed coaching is some kids are just more naturally gifted. Like you said, you know, you can coach some IQ, you can sh obviously tell people tell kids where to play, um, you know, what angle to take, you know, what you know what the options are, where the biggest threats are, but I still feel like some kids just get that stuff. Like they just show up in the gym and they're reading stuff, you know. We I know a couple kids who don't do anything in the offseason, but they will show up in November or October and they will know all those angles and all those anticipation things. Um so how do you like from a drill standpoint or in a practice environment beyond just placing the kids kind of where you want them to be, and how is there other things you can do to increase that anticipation or that IQ uh that you've seen work?

SPEAKER_00 15:30

Yeah, I honestly, as as awful as it sounds for the kids, but just incorporating math into it, right? So, you know, sometimes, you know, I'll put I'll put a kid in the corner and and I'll put her on her heels and say, okay, throw it as far as you can, and you know, we'll see where that ball lands. And then it's like this is your general idea, right? Now we've cut the court in half. She can only throw it, you know, a quarter of this, you know, half. So why are we standing over on the other side in an empty, you know, empty space? So um, same with like, you know, if there's if there's two defenders on on one, now all of a sudden you realize as a defender you gotta play an area and not a person, because mathematically you're short. Um and when you when you utilize that, because they're they're doing that in school anyway, right? They're using that that logic, that mathematical um idea um or ideologies throughout school. So they already that's already their their wheelhouse. And then when you implement it to the game, they're like, oh yeah, I know that. Duh. Like, that makes sense. Um But like you don't think about it unless it's it's written out for you. So yeah, it's just like it's ways like that where you can you can kind of explain to them, you know, what you're saying by having that demonstration and having that easy, quick math um lesson for them. And then now of a sudden they're like, oh yeah, yeah, I know, I know. And it's like, great, we never have to talk about this again, you got it. And then yeah, it's kind of imprinted in their head, and then they kind of just kind of get it.

SPEAKER_01 17:03

Yeah, that's a great call-out. Um, I I don't know that I've gone that deep with math, um, but it makes sense, at least to me, who uh I've always been a big angles guy. Like everything to me in basketball revolves around angles, whether it's cuts, whether it's defensive positioning, uh trapping, whatever it is, like it's all about angles, and so uh it's just another example of math showing up in uh in the game. So physics to get the ball in the hoop, right? Like there's so many components to it. So absolutely, absolutely. I mean, I are I should double check. Are you a math teacher on the side? Is there something we don't know here? Is that is that part of the deal?

SPEAKER_00 17:43

Oh man. Um I did do long-term sub for math. Um, I did like sixth grade general math and uh tenth grade geometry. But no, I I'm a therapist, is my day job, and I will I will stay that way for a very long time. Math is just a a fun fun thing to have in your life, but not something, not something I want to teach.

SPEAKER_01 18:07

Well, I would say the therapist part might be good for coaching as well, because there's probably a little bit of self self-help, maybe we need to relate to kids, like all the things, right? So that that's probably a if if you're not gonna be a math teacher, the therapist piece probably makes the most sense. So kudos to you for that. Um speaking of like the kids, just in general, age group. I'm curious, um, not necessarily what's your favorite, because I'm sure there's different things that you like about different ages, but like what maybe there's uh are there things that you were surprised about um coaching certain levels against other levels? Um, you know, like what's a what's a third grader compared to a senior in high school, that kind of thing. Is there anything that like comes to mind where you're like, yeah, you know, the those middle schoolers, um they can be they can be a lot?

SPEAKER_00 18:59

Yeah, I would say uh a bit of a shock for me was like coaching you know seventh and eighth grade girls and not realizing just how you know just boy crazy, just you know, kind of obsessed with whatever's going around around them, and so focused on that that you talk basketball and they're like, can we take a break? Like, can we just check like our phone? Can we do this? And it just baffled me because I was like, what do you mean? Like this is the best time ever to play basketball, and you're so focused on you know your snap score or checking Instagram or doing whatever, and I was it it threw me for a loop. Because then when you look at the flip side, like sixth grade boys all believe they're going to the NBA, so every single one of them is you know doing underhand layups, reverse layups, shooting three, shooting from half court. So just that difference, even just in the age, um, is is crazy, um, the different levels. But I definitely learned that I I prefer that that 16 to 18. Um you know, you're you're getting to know your identity, uh, you're starting to understand your body, you're you know, you're not having too long of limbs that haven't your body hasn't caught up with, that kind of thing. You're you're kind of set. So, you know, I enjoy that aspect. Um, plus, yeah, with the the mental health side of things, I think you know, that's a an age that I also enjoy as a therapist to to work with. So it's just kind of you know uh a perfect storm age for me that that I think you know works really well with how I coach too.

SPEAKER_01 20:32

What are your you know, some of I guess must-haves when you're working with kids in terms of basketball? I mean, obviously there's the whole other side, emotional side of it. But like when you when you are coaching or you're doing something with um the academy now, like what are some of the things that you're like, hey, ever I want every player to leave with X? Offense and defense, what you know, one of each or whatever.

SPEAKER_00 20:58

Yeah. I mean, I mean, first off, it's just like fun and energy. Like, that's kind of what I bring, especially with the academy. It's like I want you to leave a one-day, two-day, four-day camp excited about basketball and enjoying your time. Um, offensively, I think the biggest thing that most of the kids could probably tell you rings through their ears is pounding the ball when you're dribbling. You know, when you're doing ball handling drills, you want that ball to go through the floor. Uh, it just gives you more control, it gives you a more understanding of how to control that ball. Um, and there's less chance that that ball is gonna go haywire if you have it under control and you're pounding it through the floor. Um, so oftentimes you'll you'll hear me at camp saying, hard, faster, faster, harder, faster, you know, getting it. Um just because those play you know, a lot of kids are timid and just kind of bouncing and and waiting for the ball to come back and whatnot. So, uh, I think that's a big thing for offense and and defensively, I really think it's just that that idea of just being in help position and why you're there. Um You know, sometimes we just easily just kind of soak off our person but don't understand why. Or then you have some ages, you know, the younger ages that are glued to their person. You know, their person does not have the ball and you're guarding them at half court. So it's just kind of really that understanding of you're in help for this reason, and then it then when they leave, they can say, like, I, you know, stopped the ball because I was in help position or whatever that may be. Um, but those are just two simple concepts that I feel like I need to just have on my shirt to say so I can stop repeating them. Um and yeah, just they can have them read it.

SPEAKER_01 22:39

That's great. Um, I agree on the defense, like that's totally something I would um harp on. Like, shell drill is my favorite drill, and you know, there's different iterations, there's different ways to run it, there's different point systems you can have, and all that stuff. Um, but uh the pounding the ball is is great, like super underrated. Um, it's probably something like me as a coach of middle school boys the last few years don't talk about enough because I think I think you're right, there's a lot of kind of soft dribbles that that I see. So I'm glad you pointed out. This is part of the podcast. I get to learn from all these other super smart people about basketball. So appreciate that.

SPEAKER_00 23:19

Of course, of course.

SPEAKER_01 23:21

So I will be honest, I wasn't as familiar with the Timberwolves and Lynx Academy as I should be, probably. My son hasn't done one of them. Um tell me a little bit about you know the organization, like what you guys do, uh, what the mission is, philosophies, things like that related to related to the academy.

SPEAKER_00 23:42

Yeah, so you know, it's kind of twofold. The the one side is you know, these basketball camps and clinics is it's just about getting kids playing basketball, getting them enjoying basketball. You know, not every kid at this camp is elite and all-star level. Um, some of them are just starting, some of them just found a basketball, and and so it really is a good um entry point for kids that just want to get better, just want to learn more about the game, um, while still allowing opportunities for you know players who maybe are at a high level that are looking to get you know us another step further, because we have you know 20 coaches that have various backgrounds, um, including you know professional playing, uh college-level playing, high school playing, all that stuff. So there's just so much there for just about every kid, and I think that's what makes us unique is that we're not out just hunting the you know the the elite. You know, we just we're trying to you know form a safe place to learn and enjoy basketball uh because we've kind of gotten away with that, or gotten away from that in youth sports is just you know enjoying the game, learning the fundamentals, having fun with it. Um and so the academy, that's you know, the goal and the mission is to get kids playing basketball. And then the the the second half of that is um just getting kids uh in the gym, watching the Lynx, watching the Timberwolves, um, you know, eventually bringing their kids watching the Lynx, watching the Timberwolves, because you know, we do have such exceptional players right you know in our backyard here in the city. So uh it's that part as well. And oftentimes, like if you go to a clinic, that also includes a game. So you get to go and and learn and do a quick hour, two hour, three hour clinic, and then get to go watch the best of the best play, you know, in the same the same building that you just did that camp in. So very, very unique, but also you know, a very needed uh thing to just get kids playing ball um and having fun and not you know trying to enter the league in fourth grade.

SPEAKER_01 25:41

Oh, come on. We don't want to dash their dreams quite yet. Um I will attest the Timberwolves and Lynx do a tremendous job of um getting kids involved and bringing them to games. Like we've done the play at noon uh with your team, and then you you know go to the game at night, and it's just like they do so many great things like that. It's it's phenomenal. Um quickly for for those listeners, the the camps you guys do aren't down always downtown at the uh the the training facility there, right? Like you guys go to different schools and different parts of the metro, I I assume.

SPEAKER_00 26:22

Yeah, yep. So so some of the camps are at the target center and other ones are yeah, throughout some of the cities, throughout you know the metro. So, you know, this week we're in Blaine, we're at that athletic um complex there, which is incredible. Last or two weeks ago, you know, they were in Shakapee. Uh, in two weeks we're in Egan at the community center. So just you know, trying to to filter in through all of the the small um you know suburbs of the metro, but trying to be able to hit so anybody has access to a camp.

SPEAKER_01 26:55

Yeah, I see uh like Rosemont, Eden Prairie, Egan, Atsigo coming up. So kind of everywhere. There's probably one close to you if you live anywhere near the Twin Cities. Um check that out. Uh Timberwolves basketballacademy.com is where you can find information on that. Um, Victoria, I wanted to end um the conversation time about the Lynx because you're you're a big Lynx fan. Um today we saw the return of Nafisa Collier, and it is officially the WNBA All-Star Break. Um, and so let's start with Collier's comeback. She shows up today, hasn't played in months. She drops 24 and 10, she was huge down the stretch. Um, impressions, thoughts on the return of Fee?

SPEAKER_00 27:39

Just an exceptional player. You honestly, you forget when players are out for a long period of time, you kind of forget the impact they have, right? You you don't the the links were already at the top of the standing, so you're like, what is what is fee gonna do that's gonna help this team, right? That's kind of been some of the mindsets of of the media or some fans. And then she comes out today, yeah, 24 points in 22 minutes. Like she just came out and was just exceptional. And I think I think that's I mean, she's been runner-up for MVP two years in a row, was a defensive MVP two years ago. Like, she is that girl for for the W. And it's just it what an what a perfect uh exclamation point to get her back in without you know the idea of having to play back-to-back games or anything like that. Get her in right before the all-star break. Let's see how she heals, let's see how she feels. Um, but what yeah, what an exceptional, exceptional display of who she is as a player coming right back against Seattle.

SPEAKER_01 28:36

This is crazy. Um Kayla McBride's been on a kind of a tear lately. I know um we talked about her a little bit briefly, uh, with her shooting not always being most fundamentally sound, but um is she one of your favorite players? I would assume as a three-point shooter, she's gotta be.

SPEAKER_00 28:53

Yeah, you know, and uh what I like about her is yeah, she's so unorthodox, but it's just one of those that you just enjoy it because it go it goes in. And those are the kind of players that, yeah, for me, because I also had an unorthodox shot, um, but nobody wanted to change it because it worked. And so when I see you know players like Kayla, I'm like, yeah, absolutely, you shoot that dang ball. Um but I honestly my favorite player is Courtney Williams for a similar idea, but just I mean, she cannot miss from mid-range. She's just absolutely pure. And I think for me, it's a little bit of jealousy on my end that I have to I have to love her because otherwise I would I would hate her truly. Um but it's just anytime that she stops and and shoots, I'm like, well, there's two.

SPEAKER_01 29:40

She's one of those players that you will look at a box score and be like, eh, she didn't play very well. But then when you watch the game, you're like, she's just doing so many good things, whether it's just facilitating, moving the ball, getting the ball to the right person, you know, like even in today's game, you see a lot of poor entry passes to the post, and like Fee was just catching everything comfortably, she's making her move. Like, I don't know. You you probably know this too. Like, as a coach, you just see things and you're like, that is not a highlight. You'll never see that on SportsCenter, but man, that's just a great play to set the team up.

SPEAKER_00 30:16

Yeah, and that's honestly, that's so often you see with the Lynx is they have so many so many plays that nobody will think twice about. Um, but the winning teams, that's what they do. Uh, and I even think like one thing that I love about the Lynx, and especially Coach Reeve, is she doesn't coach, like she doesn't overcoach. You'll see that a lot, especially in the W, is you'll see coaches just yapping all game. And and Cheryl's just not that way. Uh, she very much coaches on instinct, and you know, if a player comes up and says, Oh, what should I do, she doesn't tell him. She says, Well, what do you think? And then she'll that she'll go with that. And I think you know, that's something that that's why you see so many good instinctual plays that look natural, look fine, um, don't look, you know, like they're gonna end up on the Sports Center top ten, but win games, and that's why they're you know top of the league right now and and without their star player.

SPEAKER_01 31:15

Yeah, I mean, the fact that they have been in first place basically all season, didn't have Fee, didn't have Dorca for much of it, like she just I was talking to Cassidy Hedesheimer from the Star Tribune about this uh a couple weeks ago in a pod too, about how just the fact that she's the GM, so she gets to pick the players and she knows what she's gonna get. They know the expectations, she's getting people who've played for her before. There's just this like calmness about this group that is really astonishing. And I think you know, Cheryl Reeve is she she's just an unbelievable coach, and like from having four superstars, managing egos and shots when they won their first few titles, now they're just this consistent power, no matter who's in the lineup, no matter who's hurt, they're getting it done. Um what what like this year? I I know there's been some like frustrations maybe with the defense, um, but they're still scoring a ton of points most nights to overcome it. If if you s if you thought there was maybe a weakness on the team, especially now that Collier's back, what what would you say is the the biggest potential that could trip them up?

SPEAKER_00 32:29

Yeah, I I would definitely say defensive rotations, uh, but since you already said it, I'll try to try to think of another. But um, I do think like just transitional offense consistency might be uh something to pay more attention to. Maybe now with fee it'll kind of shore it up. But sometimes, you know, they they get a little rushed, they get a little panicked. Um, it seems like trying to trying to do too much, whereas they're so good in the half court that it's okay to pull that ball out. Um and so I would say that's an area that now maybe with fee will calm calm that down and maybe get better buckets, but also to make better decisions uh on the fast break. So yeah, definitely defensive rotations. You see that a lot, especially when the bench comes in. Um you're seeing a lot more um of that. And as they start to figure out what that rotation looks like now with fee, um, I think that's only gonna shore up with like especially with coffee coming off the bench.

SPEAKER_01 33:25

Right. I was just gonna say uh coffee was the one that moved to the bench with Collier coming back, which you know that the you don't you don't even just get the bonus of Collier back, now you get a better bench in theory. Like it doesn't always play out perfectly because roles and all that and fit uh with who you're coming off the bench with, but in theory that should be the case where now the bench even is stronger because you have uh someone who started what 20 some games already uh coming off the bench, and and Nia's been you know playing very well this year, too. So um it should should help shore up that depth and that lineup a little bit more, even.

SPEAKER_00 34:02

Yeah, and she's one of those that she I think could be the the poster child for the Lynx this year simply because she does a little bit of everything, and a lot of things don't show up on the stat sheet. Um, you know, she is boxing out, and so she might not be getting the rebound, but she's the reason they got the rebound, and and her ability to stretch the floor, um, you know, at the four position, it is super incredible, especially when you know you think about how often Miles drives to the basket. Can't do that if if we have two people hogging up the paint. So her ability to stretch the floor, I think, was incredible. So I'll be excited for when Miles has time with the bench, um, she'll get that time with coffee, and I think those two will just be a a tandem for you know the second the second line as they come in.

SPEAKER_01 34:48

Yeah, they could take a um the Timberwolves could maybe take a lesson here on clogging up the paint and not having floor floor stretchers, so maybe that'll change this year uh a little bit. But um last thing I wanted to kind of touch on with the Lynx was you know the last couple years they've been close. Obviously, they had little injuries in the playoffs last year, kind of derailed them. They got uh hung up against the aces, uh, who are great. Aces are obviously a very good team. Um, but this year does kind of feel like one of those pretty big disappointment if you don't win the title. Do you like I don't know how much you're around the facility or the team, but like I'm just thinking that is that pressure gonna be a lot for them? Because uh you've been in first place without your best player, and now she's back, and now the expectations are that you're gonna win the title and break through, and like you know, Collier needs kind of her moment to to be one of the stars, even though she already is, but like until you win that title, you kind of feel like you're you're always reaching for it. Do you think do you think there's some added pressure going into the last half of the year?

SPEAKER_00 35:55

Yeah, I I do think there is some there. I think because they came into the year, people were were kind of writing them off as six, seven, eight seed team. Um, I think they've kind of defied those expectations, but those aren't the expectations that were in the gym. You know, when they walk into their practice facility, they walk by four trophies. And I think that's just a reminder that you know it's really is that or bust for, you know, at least the foreseeable future. Um But I think I think when you when you look at just the team as a whole and and the season as a whole, like you know, obviously drafting Olivia Miles ended up being fantastic, and and we could we could go on and on about um you know how that happened and why that happened. Um But there's just been so many things that people are like, oh, you know, this is how lucky for the Lynx, but a lot of it, as you said, you know, with Reeves being in charge of who she wants as players, like they have this down to a science. Uh and so yeah, it's when it comes to playoffs, if they can stay healthy, yeah, it's it's championship robust for sure. Yeah.

SPEAKER_01 37:00

It should be an exciting second half. I definitely thought we'd see Collier right after the all-star break. You know, I just thought why why push anything? Just you get that extra time. But a little warm-up game, a little tease to the fans of what may be to come. Uh it gets everybody kind of juiced. So it should be a really fun second half of the season and hopefully a long playoff run through October. So um, Victoria, appreciate you coming on. Any anything you want to plug? Any, you know, we talked about the the Lynx Academy, but any anything else you want to hype up or talk about as long as I got you?

SPEAKER_00 37:36

Man, well, for the next hour I'm gonna talk. No, no, I'm just kidding. But I do think, you know, just throwing in a plug of for the the people who vote for, you know, the the coach of the year, rookie of the year, MvP stuff, um, just plug it in, Cheryl Reeve, because again, she's not flashy, she doesn't she doesn't do anything that sticks out to you know the everyday Joe fan. But this this woman is one of the, if not the greatest coach of all time, in terms of just her preparation for the game, her ability to utilize players within the game, uh, balancing egos, all those things that that people take for granted, honestly. Um, and she's been doing it for so long that people just it's it's almost just her baseline is is too high to get credit for anything. So I that's kind of my plug is is get this get this woman her votes for coach of the year because you know, just because the links are are used to being on top doesn't mean that the coach isn't the reason they're there. So um I think yeah, that's a big thing. And I think that adds to of like, you know, the conversation regarding first pick, second pick has been huge around the WNBA, right? With AZ Fudd going to Dallas and and that obviously pushing Olivia um to the links. But I at the end of the day, I bet Olivia's, you know, thanking all her lucky stars that that she got the opportunity to be here because she got to a to a team that has a coach that's willing to let her be herself and shine and not have to force her into a system or force her into a style of play that doesn't work. And so she's getting to play instinct basketball, and when you're able to do that, now all of a sudden you don't have to think, you just get to play. So I I dislike the conversation around first and second pick because I think they ended up where they needed to go, but I don't think Olivia Miles is complaining that she didn't go number one when she gets this opportunity to beat with the Lynx.

SPEAKER_01 39:33

Yeah, I mean we went uh quite a few minutes talking lengths and didn't talk about her. Uh but yeah, she's unbelievable. Um obviously Reeves able to put her in good positions, but um you know it was so funny because a couple weeks ago, I think when I when I did have the previous discussion on the Lynx, it had it felt like Olivia Miles was so far ahead of AZ Fudd in like rookie of the year conversation that I had to look up AZ Fudd's statistics and I'm like, oh, she's having like a pretty good year. Because it just felt like she was terrible because the the disparity between the two has grown, at least, at least here in this market, obviously we're probably a little biased, but Olivia Miles is just doing so much driving the engine of the top first place team um and putting up big numbers and you know doing it and with a little flash and a little fun, and like I don't know. I just it it kind of surprises me that how good AZ Fudd is still doing, but the conversation's just like I don't know, is if it's over, but it certainly feels like it's rookie of the year, Olivia Miles for sure.

SPEAKER_00 40:40

Yeah, it'll be interesting now with Phoebe being back, how that impacts Miles stats. Um, you know, I think her assists might go up, um, but I think you know, maybe rebounds and points might go down. So then you might be looking at the end of the year, her and AZ Food have similar stat lines, but yeah, it's about that impact and and what they're doing on the game. Um, but yeah, I think the thing is, and this is not a a slight to to Miles in in any way, but I don't think that she would be having anywhere near this season in Jose Fernandez's wings team uh system. They simply don't run a system that would have allowed her to flourish by any means. Um, you know, they they do a lot of of pick and roll and and kicks, not a lot of driving, you know, to the hoop, that sort of thing. So I feel like she she might have even struggled um you know within the the Winx organ the Wings organization. Um and then I think like AZ Fudd being on you know Minnesota, if if we were to just flip-flop them, you know, her and Courtney Willems would be absolutely you know mid-range madness. But who's bringing the ball up, who's you know, controlling the offense, all that stuff are questions too. So, you know, that's what I mean when I say that they they both ended up where they needed to be. Um that it's hard to it's hard to sit and be like, oh well, she should have been number one. And sure, if if you want, but you wouldn't have nowhere near the capabilities that she's able to, you know, showcase right now if she if she was. So um, yeah, I I love I love both the players. I think they're both so fun to watch. Um and honestly, just how great of something to fall into the Lynx's lap as somebody like Olivia Miles when they needed a a point guard and she was on the board.

SPEAKER_01 42:24

Yeah. Yep. Um Yeah, just to finish on Reeves, last last year I think I had done a podcast on one of my first ones, and I had talked about Cheryl Reeve being one of the top I think I was essentially arguing that she could be the third best professional coach in the United States in the last 30 years, when you look at her resume and everything, and I got some pushback uh from from that, um, because like the day after I published that she got tossed from that playoff game. Um, but now like Hall of Fame, wins leader, she was already postseason wins leader, um, you know, another title if she gets a fifth title, like I mean, she is I know the league didn't have a ton of teams 20 years ago, but I mean there's plenty of teams now. The competition's high. The women's game has come a long way. So I mean, Cheryl, you know, to your point, plugging her as coach of the year, like it it would be pretty hard to argue uh if they get first place and they miss their best player for half the year. So um Cheryl Reeves uh kind of a one-of-one at the at this point.

SPEAKER_00 43:30

Yeah, no, you are absolutely you are absolutely right, and I I think longevity speaks so much to it as well. Like coaches don't get a long shelf life anymore. And the fact that, you know, the the Lynx have stuck with her for as long as they have, you know, with the ups, the obviously four championship, but there's been a couple down years, and obviously, you know, the the shortened career of Maya Moore, you know, having this idea that you know they're just gonna have this franchise player for you know decade, decade and a half. Um they've just they've just rode with her and they've had confidence in her and it's just shown and yeah, just recently getting the the most wins, you know, how do you how do you argue with with that? You don't win by accident in the league. So yeah, it's it's definitely one of those things that I I I wish she would get more credit, um, but I also enjoy that that she does fly under the radar because it just gives you know more fuel to the fire for this Lynx team for sure.

SPEAKER_01 44:27

Yeah, yeah. Well, we'll end it there. This was a very fun conversation, Victoria. Appreciate you coming on. We covered everything for playing, coaching, links is great. Uh Lynx Academy, just again, uh Timberwolves basketballacademy.com if you uh are looking for a place for your child to play, um, get into a camp. Uh coaches, a lot like Coach Larson here. Uh, excited to work with your kids. So um Victoria, appreciate you coming on again. Thanks a lot.

SPEAKER_00 44:58

Yeah, thanks, Steve. Hope you have the best of uh rest of your year.

SPEAKER_01 45:03

All right, that is the show for today. I appreciate Victoria Larson from the Timberwolves and Lynx Academy coming on to talk hoops, to talk about playing, coaching, everything to do with the Lynx this season and her thoughts as we head into the all-star break. Um, you know, looking ahead, I'm gonna have a little bit of a feature on the Twin Cities Pro Am. I'm excited to have uh a guest on related to that. So um check that out next uh Sunday, probably. We'll drop that Sunday night, Monday. But I'm looking forward to that episode because uh I've been intrigued with the Twin Cities Pro Am for a few years now, and I think it's just a great way to watch some high-level basketball. So excited for that conversation and um much more to come this summer. Thinking of it, we're almost to August, and this you know, this is kind of the dead period, I would guess say, for basketball content and you know analysis. There's not a lot of games to watch uh other than WNBA, but you know, we're gonna be in September before you know it. And that's when NBA training camp will open up, colleges will start filling in in October, and we'll be back at it. So uh appreciate you sticking with me all summer. It's been uh it's been a blast. There's lots more to talk about. I might even try to get a um recap of the AAU season with some of the contacts that we've had on before uh in the AAU space. So kind of want to hear how their teams finished up, how the season went, any changes or exciting news that they might have. So we'll we'll maybe consider that too, and of course, we'll keep an eye on everything related to Timbuks, Lynx, and Gophers throughout the rest of the summer. And with that, this has been the Splash City Basketball Podcast.

SPEAKER_00 46:47

Bag and back in them back again.