VIDEO: Minnesota Lynx Coach Cheryl Reeve Flat-Out Accuses Refs Of Rigging WNBA Finals & “Stealing” Game 5 From Her Team During Heated Press Conference After Liberty Won Championship In OT Thriller

Cheryl Reeve (photo via NBA TV)
Minnesota Lynx head coach Cheryl Reeve has accused the officials who oversaw Sunday night’s WNBA finals game of rigging the contest in the New York Liberty’s favor.

The Liberty came out on top in a crucial Game 5 matchup that saw them win their first-ever WNBA title. But Reeve reckons the silverware was “stolen” from her team following its 67-62 loss in overtime.

The coach was upset over a particular foul call that went against Minnesota’s Alanna Smith after what looked like a clean block with 5.2 seconds left on the clock at the end of regulation.

The call saw Breanna Stewart score a pair of free throws to tie the game and send it into overtime.

“All the headlines will be, ‘Reeve cries foul.’ Bring it on.” Reeve told reports after the loss, per ESPN. “Bring it on. Because this s**t was stolen from us. Bring it on.”

Cheryl Reeve Also Had A Suggestion For The WNBA

The Lynx challenged the call but to no avail. And, following the controversial decision, Reeve has recommended that a third party help review the challenges.

“At the other end when they challenged it, if we would have turned that clip in, they would have told us that this was marginal contact, no foul. Guaranteed. Guaranteed,” she said. “So, when you review, there should be the same parameters that you’re reviewing with, but the three people on the game need a fourth party to let them know. Because that decided the game.”

The disparity in free throw shooting was also highlighted, with the Liberty getting 25 attempts from the line to the Lynx’s eight, with 21 fouls being called on Minnesota and 17 on New York.

“These guys shot 30% [from the floor]. Shot 30%,” Reeve added. “The difference was in the foul line.”