New York Liberty coach Sandy Brondello criticized the officials after her team’s 82-80 loss to the Minnesota Lynx in Game 4 of the 2024 WNBA Finals on Friday night. Brondello expressed her frustration and called for fairness from the referees as the series heads to a decisive Game 5 in Brooklyn on Sunday.
Despite the Liberty’s 14 personal fouls compared to the Lynx’s nine, the Lynx shot more free throws and ultimately secured the win with Bridget Carleton’s game-winning free throws. There were controversial calls throughout the game, including a pivotal foul on Breanna Stewart late in the third quarter.
Despite the challenges faced, the Liberty had opportunities to win the game and the series. However, they fell short in the closing moments of the game. Brondello acknowledged areas of improvement and expressed frustration with a missed timeout call in the final seconds.
Both Brondello and Lynx coach Cheryl Reeve have voiced concerns about the officiating in the series, hinting at discrepancies in how different players are treated. The impact of these complaints on the officiating in Game 5 remains to be seen.
