Plenette Pierson is returning to the Minnesota Lynx, this time as a coach.
Needing to replace James Wade — who left to become head coach of the Chicago Sky — Lynx general manager and head coach Cheryl Reeve elevated Walt Hopkins to full-time assistant and hired Pierson as an assistant.
Pierson will join Reeve, assistant coach Shelley Patterson and Hopkins on the staff for the 2019 season.
"I couldn't be more thrilled to be returning to the Minnesota Lynx organization," Pierson said in a release. "Leaving the WNBA in 2017 in championship fashion with this franchise, I knew someday I'd be back with coach Reeve."
Pierson's 15-year career in the WNBA ended with the Lynx in 2017, with the franchise's fourth league title in seven seasons. But it wasn't the first time Pierson and Reeve had shared titles.
Pierson — who played 444 games with four teams — made four trips to the finals, winning titles in 2006 and 2008 with the Detroit Shock when Reeve was an assistant there.
Pierson spent the past season as an assistant coach at Wayne State University, where she worked with post players and prepared scouting reports.
Hopkins has been with the Lynx for two seasons. He has more than a decade of experience as a coach at the professional, college and high school level.
"Walt was a great addition to our team two years ago," Reeve said. "I appreciate the tremendous work he has done with our player during that time and look forward to his expanded role with our team. Plenette has a bright future as a coach and I'm really excited to have her back with the Lynx."
