Lynx coach Cheryl Reeve blasts WNBA refs after Napheesa Collier injury, calls for leadership changes
Reeve was ejected after a confrontation on the court and used a postgame news conference to criticize officiating following the 84-76 loss to the Mercury; Collier's injury prompted questions about league leadership.
The Minnesota Lynx's bid for a WNBA title faced a dramatic turn after Game 3 of the semifinals against the Phoenix Mercury when coach Cheryl Reeve was ejected following a confrontation with an official and later delivered a blistering critique of officiating in the postgame news conference. Napheesa Collier's injury in the closing seconds of the fourth quarter prompted the outburst and overshadowed the result, an an 84-76 loss that left the Lynx trailing the best-of-five series 2-1.
In the final seconds, Collier collided with Mercury guard Alyssa Thomas and left the floor with an ankle injury. Reeve said afterward the injury could be a fracture, though the team did not provide an official status update. After Thomas scored on the ensuing possession, Reeve sprinted onto the court to confront an official, had to be restrained by assistants, and was escorted to the bench. She then directed angry remarks toward fans as she exited the court.
In the postgame press conference, held away from questions, Reeve criticized the officiating head-on. She argued that the crew for that game appeared unsuitable for semifinal or playoff play, and that officiating leadership at the league level needed changes. Reeve also noted that Collier, one of the league's top players, did not shoot a free throw in the game despite being fouled multiple times, a point she said underscored the issue. Reeve referenced a broader history of disputes with officiating and reiterated her call for changes at the league level.
Reeve's comments echoed past seismic criticisms of officiating in high-stakes games. In last season's finals against the New York Liberty, she had invoked a similar sentiment, suggesting that a game or games had been stolen. This time she added that she could accept losses but did not want the team to have to play through what they described as subpar officiating.
The Lynx, the league's top seed, face elimination in Game 4 on Sunday if they cannot level the series. The team did not release an official update on Collier's status ahead of the next game. The Mercury will attempt to close the series and advance to the next round.
The incident added to a larger discussion about officiating standards in the WNBA playoffs. Reeve's remarks, while controversial, highlighted concerns about how calls impact injuries and momentum in critical games.
