Minnesota Lynx coach Cheryl Reeve called out the suspect officiating her team suffered during their loss in the WNBA Finals on Sunday.
Oct 18, 2024; Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA; Minnesota Lynx head coach Cheryl Reeve talks to the media before game four of the 2024 WNBA Finals against the New York Liberty at Target Center. Mandatory Credit: Matt Krohn-Imagn Images / Matt Krohn-Imagn Images
With their 67-62 win over the Minnesota Lynx in overtime on Sunday, the New York Liberty are now the 2024 WNBA champions.
That’s what the history books are going to say and what will ultimately be remembered. However, this win came with a whole lot of controversy late in the game.
Specifically, as it pertains to two seemingly missed calls by the referees that benefitted Breanna Stewart and the Liberty. Not only did the officials miss what seemed to be a clear travel call when Stewart received an inbound with a few seconds left in regulation, but they also awarded her a questionable foul call that ultimately sent the game into overtime.
Minnesota Lynx coach Cheryl Reeve challenged the foul call but it was upheld.
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Reeve has a right to be upset about how this game was officiated down the stretch. And she made her feelings very clear during her postgame press conference.
“I thought today was incredibly disappointing,” Reeve said of the officiating, per Robin Lundberg. “We have got to change our challenge rules, and the officials during the game should have a third party. Because that was not a foul. That call should have been reversed on that challenge.”
She then went on to lament the uneven officiating between her star player Napheesa Collier compared to Breanna Stewart before adding, “When we challenged it, if we could have turned that clip in, they would have told us that it was marginal contact and no foul. Guaranteed. Guaranteed.
“The three people who are [refereeing] the game need a third party to let them know because that decided the game.”
Reeve later added, “I know all the headlines will be ‘Reeve cries foul.’ Bring it on. Because the s*** was stolen from us,” per ESPN’s Alexa Philippou.
Reeve certainly has a right to be extremely upset.
Minnesota Lynx coach Cheryl Reeve didn’t hold back in her postgame news conference after Game 5 of the WNBA Finals on Sunday, a 67-62 overtime win for New York that brought the Liberty its first title in franchise history.
“I know the headlines will be, ‘Reeve cries foul,’ ” Reeve said. “Bring it on. Bring it on — because this (expletive) was stolen from us.”
Reeve was furious about the free-throw discrepancy of Game 5. New York was whistled for 17 fouls and the Lynx were called for 21, but the Liberty shot 25 free throws while Minnesota had just eight attempts.
At the end of regulation, with Minnesota leading 60-58 with 6.3 seconds to play. New York inbounded the ball to Breanna Stewart, who threw up an awkward shot that looked off — but then a whistle blew, and Alanna Smith was called for a foul. Reeve and her staff were incensed and challenged the call. But the challenge failed, and Stewart stepped to the line. She drained both, which ultimately forced overtime.
“It’s a shame that officiating had such a hand in a series like this,” Reeve said. “I thought today was incredibly disappointing. The challenge – we have got to change our challenge rules. The officials during the game should have a third party, because that was not a foul.
“That call should have been reversed on that challenge … if we would have turned that clip in (to the league), they would have told us that this was marginal contact, no foul. Guaranteed. Guaranteed.”
Officiating had been a hot topic most of the series, with both Reeve and New York coach Sandy Brondello complaining about a lack of calls. After Reeve complained following Game 3, Minnesota shot 20 free throws in Game 4 while New York shot nine.
Then it was Brondello’s turn to complain after Game 4.
“I know Cheryl talked about it last time, but we got no calls today, so do I need to talk up in a press conference?” Brondello said. “Because they were getting ticky-tacks. And we went down there and got hit and get nothing … All we want is fair, OK? So if we are getting hit, that’s a foul. I’m one of the nicest bloody coaches in this league, but this pisses me off.”
Reeve said Sunday, “Officiating, it’s not that hard … Three of the games in this series, we’re talking about the same damn thing.”
Reeve had been particularly annoyed with a lack of calls for Minnesota’s star, forward Napheesa Collier.
In the five-game series, Collier shot just 14 total free throws, and none in Game 5. Stewart, New York’s star forward, shot 31.
Collier finished with 22 points Sunday, shooting 11-of-23 from the field. Asked why she struggled to score in the second half, Collier also pointed to the refs.
