The Minnesota Lynx head coach says the WNBA title was ‘stolen’ from us with scathing comments about the referees

In the fifth and final game of the WNBA Finals, it took overtime for the New York Liberty to win their first championship in franchise history.

However, Minnesota Lynx head coach Cheryl Reeve seems to think it should never have gotten to this point.

“This shit was stolen from us,” she said after the game.

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Minnesota Lynx head coach Cheryl Reeve looks on during a press conference after losing Game 5 of the WNBA Finals to the New York Liberty at Barclays Center on October 20, 2024 in New York City. (Elsa/Getty Images)

Reeve criticized the officials, saying there were far too many “discrepancies” in fouls.

“All the headlines will be, ‘Reeve has a bad cry.’ “Do it. “Do it. Because that was stolen from us,” she said.

Reeves’ biggest problem was a foul on Lynx center Alanna Smith with 5.2 seconds left. The Lynx challenged the call, but it was unsuccessful, and Breanna Stewart hit two free throws, sending the game into overtime.

“At the other end when they challenged it, if we had given the clip, they would have told us it was rim contact, not a foul. Guaranteed. Guaranteed,” Reeve said. “So when you review, the same parameters should apply as when you review, but the three people involved in the game need a fourth party to let them know. Because that’s what decided the game.”

Minnesota Lynx head coach Cheryl Reeve looks on during the game against the New York Liberty during Game 5 of the 2024 WNBA Finals on October 20, 2024 at Barclays Center in Brooklyn, New York. (David Sherman/NBAE via Getty Images)

ANGEL REESE SITTING ON THE PLAYGROUND AT THE WNBA FINAL WEARING A SPLIT LYNX/LIBERTY OUTFIT

However, the Lynx only shot a total of six free throws in Game 5. New York scored 23 times.

“I saw a very physical and aggressive New York team,” Reeve said. “We know that because we’ve been at the games for so long that sometimes if you’re physical and aggressive you can get away with things like that, and they certainly did that. It’s a shame that refereeing has played such a role in a series like this,” Reeve said.

“These guys shot 30% (from the floor). Shot 30%,” Reeve said of the Liberty. “The difference was on the foul line.”

“It just doesn’t feel right to lose a series with this discrepancy. We don’t have a team that whines and complains and all that stuff. Sometimes it probably hurts us. Maybe a little more, I think.” I don’t know, anything. But you have a star player like Phee who just doesn’t understand how to be held and then goes to the basket and then suffers a rim hit. The best thing to do is send his best player to the free throw line. That’s hard to digest.

Stewart hit two more free throws with 10 seconds left in overtime to bring the Liberty within five, making the win almost nil.

Breanna Stewart, #30 of the New York Liberty, celebrates with the WNBA Championship trophy after winning Game Five of the WNBA Finals at Barclays Center on October 20, 2024 in New York City. (Elsa/Getty Images)

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For the Lynx, Napheesa Collier and Kayla McBride did their best to take home the trophy with 22 and 21 points, respectively. Ultimately, it wasn’t enough as the Liberty were full of emotion and celebration on their home court.

Fox News’ Scott Thompson contributed to this report.

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