According to a league source speaking to ESPN, the WNBA opted not to fine Minnesota Lynx coach Cheryl Reeve following her critique of the officiating in Game 5 of the WNBA Finals.
Reeve expressed her frustration after a contentious foul was called on Alanna Smith of Minnesota with just 5.2 seconds remaining in regulation, with the New York Liberty trailing by two points. Breanna Stewart, last year’s WNBA MVP, sank both free throws to tie the game, leading the Liberty to a 67-62 overtime victory and ultimately securing the championship.
Reeve, who challenged the foul call to no avail, criticized the officiating as “incredibly disappointing” and lamented its influence on the outcome of the series.
While WNBA coaches and general managers have been fined in the past for public criticism of officiating, fines are typically not disclosed to the public.
In Game 5, the Liberty attempted 25 free throws compared to the Lynx’s eight, with 21 fouls called on Minnesota as opposed to 17 on New York.
Reeve expressed her dissatisfaction, stating, “It just doesn’t feel right to lose a series under such disproportionate circumstances.”
She further added, “Officiating should not be this difficult.”
The league also chose not to fine Liberty coach Sandy Brondello following her critique of the officiating after Game 4, as per the source. In that game, the Lynx took 20 free throws compared to the Liberty’s nine.
Brondello expressed her frustration after the game, noting the disparity in calls and emphasizing the need for fairness from the officials.
Games 1, 3, and 4 were closely contested, with two of them going into overtime, marking the first WNBA Finals series with multiple overtime games.
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