Garnering Cheryl Reeve’s trust is difficult. The soon-to-be most winningest coach in WNBA history doesn’t mess around when players make game-plan mistakes. Players who don’t fit into the offensive schematics and sets, miss key rotations and are positioned poorly defensively, or don’t play “Lynx Basketball” aren’t going to see much time on the court.
Second-year forward Ola Kosu’s experience under Reeve has been no different. Kosu, who turned 21 in April, had a redshirt season in her rookie year because she was one of the league’s youngest players. However, in Year 2, Kosu has quickly transformed her game and has worked through the growing pains of increased minutes.
In only a year, Kosu has already developed from one of the Lynx’s end-of-bench prospects who saw only spot minutes when injuries or garbage time emptied the bench to a consistent rotational piece for the Lynx. All the while, she is still growing into her game.
Increased opportunity is a large reason for Kosu’s success. Like other Lynx frontcourt players, Kosu has benefited from the void left behind by the injured roster as well as the offseason exodus. The Lynx lost many veteran players with size this offseason, including Alanna Smith, Jessica Shepard, Maria Kliundikova, and Bridget Carleton. Other than Napheesa Collier, Kosu was the only returning player above six feet tall.
Veteran replacements Nia Coffey and Natasha Howard have exceeded all incoming expectations because they have filled core minutes while Napheesa Collier and Dorka Juhasz have been recovering from injury. However, behind them, the bench was a significant unknown as the Lynx attempted to work in flux at the season’s start. The Lynx found a talented frontcourt piece in Emma Cechova. However, to make matters worse, she also suffered an injury and is set to miss the remainder of the season.
On a healthy Lynx roster, Kosu slides down the depth chart. But given the circumstances, she has capitalized on her minutes and provided steady play.
For starters, everyone can see Kosu’s toughness. In the fifth game of the season, Kosu broke her nose on an inadvertent elbow in the paint. She responded by going to the bench, throwing on a protective mask, and returning to the game, even though the Lynx were leading by 24. On top of it, Kosu entered concussion protocol the next day.
Kosu, listed at 6’1”, is smaller for a frontcourt player. Her stature creates limitations, and she has found more comfort when playing opponents who match her height. Aside from matchups, Kosu’s skill set and physical traits have still flashed even when the opponents haven’t benefited her. As long as Kosu limits her volatility and can play within Reeve’s system, all minutes are good minutes.
The biggest change for Kosu this season has been adjusting to playing more at the 5. Comparing Kosu to other 5s around the league, she may look undersized. Still, her unique physical measurements have allowed her to stretch her versatility. Kosu entered the league as more of a wing or forward. However, her ability to play different roles depending on the opponent has been another reason for the increase in her minutes recently.
Defensively, Kosu’s listed 6’5” wingspan, strong base, physicality within her play, and athletic twitch allow her to be a disruptive force. All give her the ability to play larger than her listed height. Her profile is interesting because it shows how even when a player is shorter than others, they can still play just as large as someone who may be a couple of inches taller.
For example, more teams would look to add a player who is a bit shorter, has a plus wingspan, is much more agile, and is willing to take on contact, instead of a taller player who is slower and may not be as physical.
Kosu’s low center of gravity and quick feet make her a malleable piece for the Lynx defensive infrastructure. If the defense leans into more switching, Kosu can keep up. If the defense needs her to be a low, baseline helper, Kosu can fly around and be disruptive. Being able to slide to protect the rim and also be mobile enough to rotate.
Through 11 games, Kosu has showcased the ability to be one of the WNBA’s most disruptive players on a possession-to-possession basis, with a block rate of 5% and a steal rate of 3.3% according to Basketball-Reference. That means that 5% of the Lynx opponents’ FGA end in a Kosu block, and 3.3% of the opponents’ possessions end with a Kosu steal.
Kosu has only played in 120 minutes this season. Therefore, her metrics are based on a small sample. Still, over the last 4 games, Kosu has played 17 minutes per game, which is the most of any non-starter.
Offensively, Kosu is still finding her niche. She primarily operates as a play finisher, living around the rim as a roller, cutter, and occasionally showing flashes off the dribble. Much of her success comes down to the system Cheryl Reeve deploys, the pick-and-roll ability of the Lynx guards, and her strength.
Once the Lynx get Collier and Juhasz back, Kosu’s opportunities may become limited to spot minutes. No matter how her role evolves as the season progresses, the Lynx have given Kosu ideal developmental minutes. She has showcased improvements in her game and newfound comfort, and has also earned some trust from Cheryl Reeve.
The Lynx system oftentimes allows players to play above their individual skill level. Still, the more Kosu can find her fit within the team and play winning minutes as a 21-year-old, the better the results will be in future seasons.
