Minnesota Lynx head coach Cheryl Reeve did not hold back in her scathing critique of the officiating crew following the Lynx’s dramatic overtime loss to the New York Liberty in Game 5 of the WNBA Finals. Reeve’s fiery comments have sparked a heated debate about the role of referees in deciding championship outcomes.
The controversy centers around a pivotal moment late in regulation when Lynx forward Alanna Smith was called for a foul on Liberty star Breanna Stewart. The call, which Reeve vehemently disagreed with, sent Stewart to the free-throw line, where she tied the game with just 5.2 seconds remaining.
Breanna Stewart wasn’t even touched lmao this isn’t a foul pic.twitter.com/o7KvWlci9w
— John (@iam_johnw) October 21, 2024
The Lynx’s challenge of the call was unsuccessful, and the game ultimately went into overtime, where the Liberty secured their first-ever WNBA title.
“I saw a very physical and aggressive New York team,” Reeve said in her post-game press conference. “We know this from being a part of the game for so long that sometimes you get away with stuff when you’re physical and aggressive, and they certainly did. It’s a shame that officiating had such a hand in a series like this. Obviously, there’s always gonna be a team that’s a little more disappointed than the other. I thought today was incredibly disappointing”.
Reeve’s frustration was palpable as she continued to criticize the officiating process.
But the three people on the game need a third party to let them know because that decided the game. That decided the game… All the headlines will read ‘Reeve cries foul.’ Bring it on,” she said. “Bring it on. Because this sh*t was stolen from us.”
Cheryl Reeve:
“I know all the headlines will be ‘Reeve cries foul.’ Bring it on. Right? Bring it on. Because this shit was stolen from us. Bring it on” pic.twitter.com/P5Ckhsv5H5
— Oh No He Didn’t (@ohnohedidnt24) October 21, 2024
The Lynx coach’s bold demand for a review of the officiating process has garnered support from fans and players alike. Many have taken to social media to express their outrage and call for changes to the way games are officiated in the WNBA. Reeve’s comments have also reignited discussions about the need for greater transparency and accountability in officiating.
