Reeve Unleashes Profanity-Laced Attack on WNBA Officiating
The WNBA semifinals just got a whole lot spicier. After being tossed from the Minnesota Lynx’s 84-76 Game 3 loss to the Phoenix Mercury, a visibly furious Cheryl Reeve unleashed a profanity-laced tirade against the league’s officiating, calling for a "change of leadership." The eruption came just moments after Lynx star Napheesa Collier went down with what Reeve believes is a potentially fractured ankle on a controversial no-call.
Chaos in Phoenix
With the Lynx trailing by four and the clock winding down, Mercury forward Alyssa Thomas appeared to strip the ball from Collier, then went coast-to-coast for a dagger score. Reeve was incensed by the no-call, charging onto the court before being restrained by her staff and Natisha Hiedeman. Collier left the court in tears and limping, with Reeve stating afterward, "She probably has a fracture."
Reeve didn't mince words about the officiating crew. “The officiating crew that we had tonight, for the leadership team to deem those three people semifinals playoff-worthy is f—ing malpractice,” she stated flatly, adding that she wants a league-level change.
A Free Throw Disparity
Reeve's frustration wasn't just about the final play; it was about the overall physicality allowed throughout the game. Collier, the WNBA MVP runner-up, attempted just one shot in the fourth quarter and didn't attempt a single free throw in 37 minutes. The Lynx, as a team, attempted only 11 free throws to Phoenix's 22.
While Mercury coach Nate Tibbetts gracefully sidestepped the issue, saying his team just "play[s] hard," the numbers tell a story of a game dictated by the whistle—or lack thereof.
Lynx on the Brink
The loss puts the top-seeded Lynx on the brink of elimination, now trailing the fourth-seeded Mercury 2-1 in the best-of-five series. Phoenix was led by a collective effort from Satou Sabally, Alyssa Thomas, and Kahleah Copper, all of whom scored over 20 points for the first time this season.
Reeve, who has been fined before for criticizing the league's officiating, finished her two-minute address by saying the game was "ripped from us." For the Lynx, they'll have to quickly reset and prepare for a must-win Game 4, but the loss of Collier could be a fatal blow to their championship aspirations.
