On the Lynx’s run to the WNBA Finals last season, Williams was repeatedly asked, mostly in jest, if she was ready to embrace her new title of “point guard” yet.

She repeatedly insisted: No, not yet, “Next year.”

It’s “next year,” and Williams has the hallmark stats of a player running point.

Aside from using her midrange strengths to chip in 13.6 points per game this regular season, her average of 4.5 defensive rebounds per game was third among guards, putting the pace of Minnesota’s transition on her shoulders. Her 6.2 assists per game are second among guards, according to WNBA’s Advanced Stats. (Those spots bump up one factoring out Caitlin Clark, who played just 13 games this year.)

“[Reeve] saw some things in me, you know, that I honestly didn’t see in myself,” said Williams, who earned her second All-Star nod this year.

“Courtney has a very natural disposition that is happy. It’s real, it’s authentic,” Reeve added. “She comes the same every day, and when she doesn’t you’re worried … well, that [she] didn’t get enough sleep.”