Cheryl Reeve goes nuclear on refs after WNBA Finals: ‘This s— was stolen from us’

brooklyn —Minnesota Lynx head coach Sheryl Reeve slammed officiating after the team lost to the New York Liberty in Game 5 of the Finals. WNBA Finals.

“All the headlines are going to say, 'Reeve cries foul.' Come on, give it a try,” Reeve said at the end of a lengthy rant in which he vented his frustrations with the officiating. “Because this was stolen from us.”

Reeve, the most decorated coach in WNBA history, criticized the fact that a foul was called on Alana Smith at the end of regulation and the foul was not overturned after a challenge from the coach.

With Minnesota leading by two points and five seconds left, Brianna Stewart drove to the basket and Alana Smith was called for a foul.

Reeve objected to the play, but the decision was accepted. Stewart then sank two free throws to tie the game and force overtime.

“We need to change the challenge rules, and we need a third person to referee the game, because that's not a foul,” Reeve said emphatically from the stage. “If I had sent that clip, that challenge would have been canceled. That's guaranteed. I guarantee it.”

Reeve also wasn't happy with the overall difference in free throws between the Liberty and Lynx in Game 5. Minnesota State attempted 8 free throws and was called for 21 fouls, while New York State attempted 25 free throws and was called for 17 fouls.

“This is not that difficult,” Reeve said. “It's not that hard to officiate. When someone is tied up, be consistent. If you don't want to make a call on one hand, don't make a call on the other hand. Be consistent. Please maintain your sexuality.”

Part of Reeve's frustration was the fact that Collier didn't attempt a single free throw, while Stewart, who matched up with her for most of the night, attempted eight free throws. Collier ultimately fouled out in overtime, but Lynx guard Bridget Carleton played. Five fouls led to an extra period. At the same time, no Liberty starter committed more than three fouls.

“I don't understand how she feels.” [Napheesa] I can hold it, go to the basket, get hit, and reach my limit. [foul] At best, you send your best player to the free throw line,” Reeve said. “That's hard to swallow. That's hard to swallow.”

Collier seemed to agree with his coach after the game. When asked why she was more effective in the first quarter (10 points) than in the second half (12 points in the final three), she cited the fact that she was also fouled.

“Probably because he was a little bit restrained,” Collier said. “It was a little difficult to take shots.”

Officiating frustration reached a boiling point in Game 5, but both coaches had complaints about officiating throughout the series. After Game 3, Reeve said she felt Cole favored Liberty, and after Game 4, it was Liberty head coach Sandy Brondello who took her case to court. In Game 4, the free throw difference was reversed. Liberty only attempted nine free throws while the Lynx attempted 20.

“Sheryl talked to me about it last time, but I didn't hear from her today,” said an uncharacteristically furious Brondello after Liberty's 72-70 Game 4 loss. “Do I need to speak at a press conference?”

Reeve acknowledged that the fact that coaches were unhappy with the officiating in three of the five games in the Finals was a problem.

“It's unfortunate that the referees had anything to do with a series like this,” Reeve said after the Game 5 loss. “Obviously there's always some teams that are a little bit more disappointed than others. I think today was incredibly disappointing.”

But when asked about Reeve's officiating complaints, Brondello said he felt the referee was “pretty fair” and that Liberty should have won the first game.

Reeve also said his team doesn't complain about referees as much as other teams, and he feels that not complaining sometimes comes at a cost.

“It just doesn't feel right to lose a series with such a mismatch,” Reeve said. “And we don't have a team that whines and complains and things like that. That can probably hurt us sometimes.”

Many current and former NBA players watching the WNBA Finals also criticized the late-game foul on Alana Smith, including Damian Lillard, LeBron James, and Isiah Thomas.

“Congratulations to Liberty on their first win,” Reeve deadpanned on stage after airing his frustrations with the host.

“It took them 28 years. Congratulations. We were pretty close to fifth place. It just didn't happen, right? It's disappointing. Incredibly disappointing.”