Minnesota Lynx coach Cheryl Reeve was not fined for punching officials and claiming the WNBA Finals were “stolen from us” after falling to the New York Liberty earlier this month, according to ESPN’s Alexa Philippou.
Reeve ripped the referee after the Liberty defeated them 67-62 in overtime of Game 5 of the WNBA Finals, giving the Liberty its first championship in franchise history.
Although she hinted at a larger issue throughout the series, there was a moment late in Game 5 that set Reeve in motion. Liberty star Breanna Stewart was fouled on a mid-range jumper with less than six seconds left in the fourth quarter. She made both free throw attempts, forcing overtime and ultimately allowing the Liberty to cruise to victory.
However, the foul, which was called on Alanna Smith, was minimal.
With the Lynx still 2 points ahead and 5 seconds left in the game, a foul was called on Alanna Smith
The Lynx challenged the call, but it was unsuccessful. Breanna Stewart hit both free throws and we’re off to OT!!#WNBA pic.twitter.com/DzFra6gIis
— WNBA Universe (@wnbauniverse) October 21, 2024
The Lynx picked up 21 personal fouls in the game, compared to just 17 on the Liberty. The Liberty also shot 25 free throws, while the Lynx made eight.
“All the headlines will be, ‘Reeve cries foul.’ Bring it on, right?” Reeve said after the game. “Bring it on, because this s*** was stolen from us. Bring it on.”
Reeve, who earned WNBA Coach of the Year honors last season, also called out the referee for being too inconsistent during the series. She even took a stray shot at the Liberty organization, which had been to the finals five times before finally lifting the trophy, during her postgame interview.
“I mean, congratulations to the Liberty on their first championship… It took them 28 years,” Reeve said. “Congratulations to them, you know. We were so close to our fifth, but it just didn’t happen.
“It’s disappointing. It’s incredibly disappointing. … We were so damn close, and it hurts. It hurts.”
Although the league did not fine Reeve for her comments, which is standard practice for anyone who criticizes the referee all season, Liberty coach Sandy Brondello was also not fined after criticizing the referee after Game 4. turned over. The Lynx shot 20 free throws, while the Liberty attempted just nine.
Reeve has spent the past fifteen seasons with the Lynx. She won four championships there and was looking for what would have been a WNBA-record fifth title. She also led Team USA to a gold medal at the Paris Olympics earlier this summer.
