Latest Developments in WNBA Semi-Finals

On Tuesday, the Minnesota Lynx were leading the Phoenix Mercury 1-0 in the WNBA semi-finals, following what many considered their best season ever.

However, things took a turn as they lost two consecutive games. In Game 2, they managed to squander a 20-point lead, and then they dropped Game 3 on Friday. To make matters worse, Naphesa Collier exited the game after just 22 seconds, clearly in distress after injuring his ankle during the final play.

Unfortunately for the Lynx, the news didn’t get any better. Head coach Cheryl Reeve will be absent for the crucial Game 4 against the Mercury this Sunday.

This situation is a result of the WNBA announcing on Saturday that Reeve was suspended following Game 3 due to “actions and comments.” Specifically, she faced penalties for her inability to manage her conduct, which included verbal abuse towards officials and delays in exiting the court.

Additionally, assistant coaches Eric Thibaut and Rebecca Branson have both received fines from the league.

Background on Cheryl Reeve’s Suspension

The incident leading to Reeve’s suspension began when Phoenix Mercury forward Alyssa Thomas intercepted the ball from Collier. On Saturday, the official NBA referee account stated that the no-foul call during that play was the correct decision.

Reeve’s reaction was swift and intense; she confronted the officials and was ejected almost immediately. As she left, she was seen expressing her support for the Mercury and continued to voice her frustrations during her post-game comments.

“The officiating crew we had tonight is cheating our league,” she said at the podium, adding that the assessment of the game was unworthy of the playoffs.

After Game 3, Reeve expressed concern that Collier might have a fracture, though she didn’t specify which injury Collier sustained. The availability of Collier for Game 4 remains uncertain.

“If this is what our league wants, fine. But I expect to see changes in leadership at the league level concerning officiating,” Reeve remarked on Friday night, noting that the current situation is detrimental to the game.

This could potentially be her last press conference following a game.