Minnesota coach Cheryl Reeve stated that the WNBA championship was “stolen” from the Lynx while expressing her complaints about the officiating on Sunday night.
The New York Liberty defeated the Lynx 67-62 in Game 5, which went into overtime. The game tied after a controversial foul gave Breanna Stewart two free throws with just 5.2 seconds left in regulation.
“We know we could have done some things right, but you shouldn’t have to overcome to that extent,” Reeve said. “This s—- ain’t that hard. Officiating is not that hard.”
Reeve, who has led the Lynx to four WNBA championships and coached the U.S. women’s team to an Olympic gold medal this summer in Paris, acknowledged that her complaints would attract attention.
“Bring it on,” she said, “because that s—- was stolen from us.”
The Liberty shot 25 free throws, while the Lynx made 7 out of 8. Minnesota committed 21 fouls compared to New York’s 17, with All-Star forward Napheesa Collier, the WNBA’s Defensive Player of the Year, fouling out.
Reeve specifically criticized the foul called on Alanna Smith when Minnesota was ahead 60-58. Stewart drove into the lane and seemed to shoot before any contact was made. The Lynx challenged the call, but it was confirmed after a video review.
Reeve described the contact as “marginal at best.”
“This sucks,” she said, referring to past officiating issues during Minnesota’s loss in the 2016 WNBA Finals. “This is for a championship, for both teams. Let them decide it. What contact is legal should be the same for both teams.”
