Minnesota Lynx coach Cheryl Reeve was fined $15,000 for her comments and conduct during Game 3 of the semifinals against the Phoenix Mercury.A source from the league confirmed that Reeve harshly criticized the refereeing of the match.In addition, coaches Stephanie White of the Indiana Fever and Becky Hammon of the Las Vegas Aces also received fines of $1,000 each for their recent public criticisms of WNBA officiating.White told reporters that she was fined for supporting Reeve, calling the situation “crazy”.In the last minute of the third game between Phoenix and Minnesota, Reeve had to be restrained to avoid confronting the referees after a foul was not called when the Mercury’s Alyssa Thomas stole the ball from Lynx star Napheesa Collier.Collier suffered an ankle injury due to contact. Reeve was ejected and, subsequently, in the post-match press conference, called the refereeing “malpractice”.The Lynx’s long-time coach added that this “uncontrolled physicality” is what the league apparently seeks and called for “a change of leadership in the league with respect to refereeing.”Reeve was suspended for Minnesota’s next game, and Collier was out due to her ankle injury. Without their star and coach, the Lynx, ranked number 1, were eliminated from the playoffs after losing the fourth game against the Mercury with a score of 86-81.Reeve’s suspension was due not only to his post-game comments, but also to “aggressively pursuing and verbally abusing a game official on the court, not leaving the court in a timely manner after his ejection, and inappropriate comments to fans as he left the court.”Hammon and White, whose teams faced each other in the other semifinal, backed Reeve’s criticisms and have been outspoken throughout the season about what they consider a league-wide officiating problem.
White added that Reeve “raised many valid points… I think at some point, there has to be accountability”.White went on to say that “every part of our league has improved, and that part has fallen behind, for whatever reason… Often, it’s infrastructure in terms of training, often, it’s financial. And it’s really investing in who we have as officials, and sometimes, it’s manpower. Who is entering the program? How do we get them to stay? How do we keep them growing and improving? Do we have more resources to support them? Do we have more resources to help, whether it’s something like a replay center? And those are conversations that are ongoing.”“She didn’t lie, she told the truth,” Hammon said about Reeve. “I think something has to change. When players are in vulnerable positions, like jumping or running at full speed, I think you have to protect them. You have to protect the product.
Becky Hammon
