On Saturday, the WNBA announced the disciplinary action against Cheryl Reeve, head coach of the Minnesota Lynx, following her conduct during a playoff game against the Phoenix Mercury. Reeve has been suspended for Game 4 of the semi-final series and fined.
During the fourth quarter of Game 3, she was observed actively confronting a referee and raising her voice in disagreement with the officiating crew. The Lynx ultimately lost that game, 86-81, leading to their elimination from the playoffs.
On Tuesday, it was reported that her fine totaled $15,000, making it one of the largest fines given to individuals in the WNBA. For context, Diana Taurasi faced a $2,500 fine back in 2021 for similar behavior during the WNBA Finals.
After being ejected, Reeve was notably slow to leave the court, lingering until just over 21 seconds remained in the game.
Her outburst was largely triggered by a play where Alyssa Thomas stole the ball from Napheesa Collier and scored a critical layup. Collier sustained an injury and was escorted to the locker room afterward. Reeve mentioned that Collier might have a fracture, although she didn’t expand on the specifics of the injury.
Following the game, Reeve made comments about the officiating, indicating a desire for changes in leadership within the league. She expressed frustration about the officials assigned to the game, saying, “If this is what the league wants, then OK…” Her remarks seemed to reflect a broader discontent with how the games are managed.
Furthermore, two of Reeve’s assistant coaches were also fined for their own inappropriate interactions with officials and comments made on social media. Each received a fine of $500. Coaches Becky Hammon and Stephanie White were reportedly fined $1,000 as well for their support of Reeve’s criticism of the officiating.
Hammon stated that changes need to be considered regarding player safety during games, suggesting accountability must extend to officials too. White echoed similar sentiments, agreeing that Reeve raised important points about accountability.
WNBA Commissioner Kathy Engelbert acknowledged that they are listening to feedback as they move forward, emphasizing the importance of consistency in officiating. She noted that all plays are reviewed thoroughly to aid in the training of officials.
