Lynx coach blasts officials after WNBA Finals loss: ‘Stolen from us’

NEW YORK — 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. 

“Probably because I was getting held a little bit,” she said. “It was a little hard to make shots.”

Brondello guffawed when told about Reeve’s comments about the title being “stolen” and said, “I thought (the officials) were fair.”