A time for celebration and reflection for the Lynx at a press conference Wednesday unsurprisingly took a turn in a direction Lynx and Team USA coach Cheryl Reeve didn’t want to travel down. Reeve was asked about criticism she received during the Paris Olympics for starting veteran guard Diana Taurasi in group phase games.

Criticism is part of the gig in sports, particularly coaching, but it’s heightened when you coach a program as dominant as Team USA Women’s Basketball, which has now won eight straight gold medals and 61 straight Olympic contests. And yet still, even after edging France by one point in a dramatic thriller in the gold medal game, there were plenty of opinions spouted off about what could’ve been done differently to exert extra dominance.

Reeve felt fortunate the Lynx’s dynasty prepared her in many ways for her role as Team USA coach. Minnesota won four WNBA titles over seven seasons under Reeve, and with that success came expectations and naysayers. But it’s hit a new level in pro sports even in recent years. Reeve noted broadcasts are often dedicated to who is or isn’t playing, or who was or wasn’t selected to the team.

“This is what it’s become,” Reeve told reporters. “And so it makes the seat I was sitting in a bit more challenging, a little less rewarding. I think that’s a sad commentary. I’m really hopeful that we can find our way, going forward. The vitriol only hurts the game, and we can do much better than that.”

Lynx forward Napheesa Collier, who played a pivotal role in the United State’s run to another gold medal with her play on both ends of the floor, frankly preferred the tightness of that 67-66 victory over France.

“It was so earned,” she said. “Not that it’s not earned every time, but to fight to get a gold medal is a great feeling.”

Collier said the high level of expectation of the Team USA women’s basketball program is “good and bad.”

“It’s the hardest thing to do in the world. You are literally the best in the world at that time, and to reach that is really, really hard,” Collier said. “But it’s amazing, because it comes with the level of excellence that has preceded you before that. And to be a part of something that dominant is an amazing experience.”

But, Collier noted, “it comes with a lot of pressure, and sometimes that is unfair.”

After the women’s team held on for gold, Reeve received a text from U.S. men’s coach, Steve Kerr, that read “Welcome to the ‘Thank God’ club.”

“That’s what it is,” Reeve said. “It’s either relief or misery when you’re a coach.”

Collier felt the relief, as well, but it came with another emotion.

“So much elation,” she said.