Reeve BLASTS referees after Collier injury in Lynx loss

Cheryl Reeve Explodes at Referees After Lynx Loss

Minnesota Lynx coach Cheryl Reeve expressed her fury against the refereeing after her team’s 84-76 loss to the Mercury in the third game of the WNBA semi-final. Reeve was ejected in the final seconds of the fourth quarter after Alyssa Thomas, a Mercury player, stole the ball from Napheesa Collier, of the Lynx, sealing the victory with a layup. Collier suffered an ankle injury after contact with Thomas, but no foul was called. Reeve described the refereeing as “malpractice”. Collier, visibly in pain, had to be taken out of the game, and Reeve suggested that the ankle injury could be a fracture, although he didn’t offer more details. The Lynx have not provided information on Collier’s status for the fourth game.

If this is what the league wants, that’s fine, but I’m asking for a change in leadership at the league level regarding officiating. The officiating crew we had tonight, that the management considers those three people worthy of a playoff semifinal, is bad practice.

Cheryl Reeve

After Thomas’s annotation, Reeve had to be restrained while running to rebuke one of the referees, receiving a second technical foul that resulted in her ejection. Natisha Hiedeman and two assistant coaches tried to stop Reeve. Associate coach Eric Thibault also received a technical foul for protesting. Collier, who didn’t play the last 21 seconds, finished with 17 points. The game was marked by 15 lead changes, but the Lynx only scored nine points in the final quarter, allowing the Mercury to take control. Thomas, Satou Sabally, and Kahleah Copper, Phoenix stars, combined for 65 of the Mercury’s 84 points.

In her post-game statements, Reeve criticized Collier for not shooting free throws. “One of the best players in the league, zero free throws and five fouls,” she said. “I don’t think we have to play through what we did.” Before leaving the press conference without answering questions, Reeve stated: “They are terrible.” The Lynx coach joins other voices who have criticized the refereeing in these playoffs. The team has a day to prepare for the crucial fourth game, which will be played on Sunday.