MINNEAPOLIS – โMinnesota Lynx head coach Cheryl Reeve has been suspendedโข for one game and fined anโ undisclosed amount followingโข her ejection during Friday night’s 77-63 loss to the Phoenix Mercury, the WNBA announced Monday. The suspension will causeโ Reeve to miss Game 4 of theโ semifinal series,scheduled for Sunday.
Reeveโ was ejected after receiving two technical fouls in the third quarter. Following the game, Reeve โฃsharply criticized the โขofficiating crew of Isaac Barnett, Randy Richardson, and Jenna Reneau, stating, “The officiating crew that we had tonight – for the leadership to โขdeem those three people โขsemifinals playoff worthy – is (expletive) malpractice.”
The controversial play sparking Reeve’s ire involved Phoenix’s Alyssa Thomas stealing the ball fromโข Lynx forward Napheesa Collier, leadingโค to a game-sealing layup.Collier sustained a left โคankle injuryโฃ on โขthe play and was helped off the court; Reeve stated Collierโ “probably has a fracture.” Collier willโ miss Game 4.
The National Basketball Referees Association defended the no-call on X (formerly Twitter), stating, “This is NOT a foul. Thomas legally getsโฃ to the ball and โฃknocks theโค ball looseโค prior to any contact. The legโข to leg contact is incidental once the ball is clearly loose.”
Reeve’s outburst came amid broader concernsโฃ regarding WNBA officiating this season.Las Vegas Aces coach Becky Hammon recently criticized the physicality โคallowed in playoff games, saying, “Youโ can bump and grab a wide receiver in theโ NFL for those first 5 yards, but you can do it in the Wโค forโค the whole half court.”
WNBA Commissioner Cathy Engelbert addressed officiating concerns in July during All-Star Weekend, stating the league reviews every play and uses the feedback for official training, emphasizing the importance of “consistency.”
Additionally, Lynx guard Rebekkah Brunson and Phoenix Mercury coach Vanessa Nygaard were each fined for inappropriate conduct. Thibault was fined for anโ inappropriate interaction with an official on the court. Brunson โwas fined for an inappropriate social media comment directed at WNBA officials.