Cheryl Reeve Completely Crashes Out on Refs and Opposing Fans… Then Calls for Change

By    |  
Updated:
Follow Us
Cheryl Reeve - Playoffs-Minnesota Lynx at Phoenix Mercury
Credit: Rick Scuteri-Imagn Images

The Minnesota Lynx went down 2-1 in their best of five semifinal playoff series against the Phoenix Mercury on Friday night, falling to Alyssa Thomas & Co., 84-76. On Sunday in game four, the Lynx’ playoff lives will be on the line.

But Minnesota’s loss last night took a backseat to Cheryl Reeve’s meltdown late in the fourth quarter, after Alyssa Thomas stole the ball from Napheesa Collier at the top of the key with 26 seconds left and took it in for a layup on the other end, putting the Mercury up 82-76 and icing the game.

Cheryl Reeve tossed from playoff game after insane blow up

Reeve thought Collier was fouled on the steal, which she may have been, but it’s not totally clear. Don’t tell that to Cheryl, though. It’s one thing for a basketball coach to get upset, yell at a ref, and even get tossed.

But few do it like the Lynx’ head coach/president of basketball operations did Friday in Phoenix, completely crashing out from the moment she lost her cool until she was physically dragged to the locker room SCREAMING at Mercury fans.

Related: MN Lynx PoBO Cheryl Reeve was 100% Right About Angel Reese

I’m not sure I have seen a basketball coach interfere with the inbound play on the court, especially late in a playoff game, in order to get into the refs face and scream about a recent call. Most at least take a timeout or make sure play is stopped before completely losing their shit.

Cheryl didn’t have time for any of that professionalism, however. And if you thought you’d get an apology during Reeve’s postgame press conference… then you do not know Minnesota’s head lady. Instead, Cheryl Reeve doubled down and tripled down postgame, calling out not just the officials, but the league too.

Minnesota Lynx coach doubles down after game

To Reeve, it wasn’t just about the non-call above. Her aforementioned superstar shot ZERO free throws in Friday’s contest and the Mercury shot double the free throws (22) as the Lynx (11). Clearly, Phee being “taken out” was her final straw.

Most notably, the head of Minnesota Lynx basketball went after the league for assigning a reffing crew she believes was unfit for the moment. But then, Cheryl took it a giant step further than anyone expected, literally calling for whoever is in charge of how WNBA games are officiated to be fired.

“When you let the physicality happen, people get hurt. There’s fights. And this is the look that our league wants for some reason. We were trying to play through it. We tried [not] to make excuses.

One of the best players in the league shot zero free throws. Zero. And she had five fouls. Zero free throws. Got her shoulder pulled out and finished the game with her leg being taken out and probably has a fracture.

And so if this is what our league wants, okay. But I wanna call for a change of leadership at the league level when it comes to officiating. It’s bad for the game. The officiating crew that we had tonight for the leadership to deem those three people semifinals playoff worthy is malpractice.

I can take an L with the best of them. I don’t think we should have to play through more than what they did. We got players, moshes on the glass, and gets cracked. And there’s no call. And all of them said, it wasn’t my call. I don’t know. I didn’t see it that way. They’re f***ing awful.”

Cheryl Reeve after Lynx loss vs Mercury
Mentioned in this article:

More About:

0What do you think?Post a comment.

Add MinnesotaSportsFan as a preferred source on Google.Add MinnesotaSportsFan as a preferred source on Google.