Head Coach of the Minnesota Lynx claims WNBA championship was unfairly determined due to controversial foul call in New York Liberty game

Minnesota Lynx head coach Cheryl Reeve expressed frustration with the referees after her team lost the WNBA championship in an overtime game against the New York Liberty. The controversial foul call in the final seconds of the fourth quarter allowed the Liberty to tie the game and eventually win in overtime. Reeve felt that the call, involving Alanna Smith and Breanna Stewart, was unjust as she believed Smith barely touched Stewart. Liberty head coach Sheryl Brondello disagreed with Reeve’s assessment, stating that she thought the officiating was fair and that her team deserved the victory. Brondello had previously criticized the referees for not calling fouls in favor of the Liberty in Game 4. Fans on social media noted Brondello advising her team to exaggerate if they were hit to draw fouls. This championship game controversy is not unique, as other sports have seen similar disputes over officiating decisions, such as in the 2020 Super Bowl. Fans of the losing team, in that case the San Francisco 49ers, were upset over missed penalties that benefited the Kansas City Chiefs, who ultimately won the game. Reeve’s postgame statements and Brondello’s response highlight the contentious nature of sports championship games that can come down to officiating decisions influencing the final outcome.

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