Minnesota Lynx head coach Cheryl Reeve criticized the referees after her team lost to the New York Liberty in the WNBA championship game in overtime. The game went into extra time after a controversial foul was called against the Lynx in the final seconds of regulation. Reeve felt that the foul on Alanna Smith was minimal and allowed the Liberty to tie the game with two free throws, ultimately leading to their victory. In response, Liberty coach Sheryl Brondello defended the officiating, saying it was fair and suggesting that calls evened out over the course of the series. Brondello also mentioned that she had urged her team to embellish fouls in order to get calls in their favor. This controversy over officiating decisions is not unique to the WNBA, as other sports, such as football, have seen similar debates arise following championship games. Ultimately, the New York Liberty emerged as the champions of the WNBA, with fans and pundits divided over the impact of the referees on the outcome of the series.
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Coach of the Minnesota Lynx alleges WNBA championship was unfairly taken due to foul call in New York Liberty game
