Odyssey Sims’ head was spinning during their first day at Lynx practice on Wednesday, but what else would one expect? The veteran point guard re-signed with the team on Tuesday and now has just two days to prepare to become the Lynx’s starting floor general in Friday’s season opener in Seattle.
It’s everything The Sims wanted, and there was a lot to ask of him.
Sims was still a free agent at the start of the week, and was considering a life after basketball. The WNBA is so short on openings at the moment that good players are often left on edge.
But at the end of training camp, he got a call and was offered the opportunity to return to the team where he experienced his greatest success.
“I’m so excited. It really hasn’t hit me yet,” Sims said. “I get a feeling, everything is soaking up, vibes. We have some new players, new additions. I’m just trying to get a good feel. I am more than happy to be back. I love this outfit.”
She finished in 2019, being named an All-Star as she averaged 14.5 points and 5.4 assists, helping Minnesota reach the playoffs in their first true year of the post-transition dynasty. The Lynx hopes to bottle that magic again this season.
“That’s the plan,” said Lynx coach and general manager Cheryl Reeve. “I think he’s even better. He’s more mature.”
This can be true in two ways. Sims was arrested and eventually pleaded guilty to a charge of drunk driving for an incident that occurred in the middle of the 2019 season. The now 29-year-old, 5-foot-8 guard tells Reeve she’s grown up since then.
“I wasn’t immature, but there was a lot going on in 2019, as you guys know,” Sims said. “So let’s get past it.”
She has since become a mother and everything has slowed down in her life.
“My mindset, my level of maturity, is a little different from when I was here in 2019,” Sims said.
That maturity may already be on display, as Sims entered camp on Wednesday, looking “really fit” per Reeve. Sims’ routine included exercising and playing with his 2-year-old son while waiting for the WNBA call. Rinse, repeat. So whenever opportunity struck, she was ready.
She played with a portion of Minnesota’s current roster in the bubble in 2020 and has some sense of the current playbook from her previous stint. Still, there will definitely be an early season learning curve.
“Still as real to me as I’m actually back. I thought at some point I’d be back in Minnesota, if I could. And here I am, here’s the opportunity,” said Sims. is a great coach. I appreciate her so much, she did everything to get me back. I’m just excited for this year. ,
Reeve hopes that Sims’ maturity will show itself in court. She said Sims, who spent last season in Atlanta, “has been in her vet years.” At this point in his career, a player has gained so much knowledge as experience.
“You don’t have to explain a lot, you just tell them what you want. Odyssey has always had great tendencies, but she just gathered so much knowledge that these are going to be her best years,” Reeve Said. “She knows how to be efficient. She knows defensively what her weaknesses were as a youngster. She was bragging about it, (saying) ‘I’m much better at this and that.’ Great. That’s what you expect.
“The longer you play, the more you look at your younger self and say, ‘Holy cow, was I a basketball player.’ By the time you are 10 years old in the league, you have gained so much knowledge about playing the game and being successful.”
The formula for success may not need to include the use of this time around Minnesota for The Sims. The 2019 Lynx team was pretty Sims-centric. This game was to be won. Now the point guard can play in the backcourt with the likes of Ariel Powers and Kayla McBride and of course, Sylvia Fowles up front.
“We want balance. I think for me as a coach and coaching Odyssey, I wanted a lot in making Odyssey (in 2019). There’s probably too much in his direction, so what you saw is Maybe I was overdoing it, which I find myself doing with some of the other players that we have now,” Reeve said. “You make your life more difficult this way. So just having a little more balance in our play—calling what numbers we’re calling and when and why, I think will help Odyssey.”
Reeve noted that The Sims had some “really special” performances in 2019. And Minnesota will need it again several times this season if it wants to enter title contention. The Sims can be a great clairvoyant, a great scorer, and a great passer.
“We need all of that,” Reeve said.
Sims notes that achieving All-Star status again this season is not his goal. He doesn’t care much about it. She wants to do whatever she requests Reeve to help her conquer Minnesota, and give Target Center more success.
“I think we’re going to be a very strong team this year. I think it’s definitely going to be a good year for Cob, but also for us as a team. As we roll, our We have a few pieces. … When we get everyone, and everyone can jail, I think we’re going to be very dangerous,’ Sims said. “In 2019, I already have It was crowded. So I’m going to pick up where I left off.”
