Written by Tanisha Cardozo
Minnesota Lynx head coach Cheryl Reeve didn’t hold back following a controversial and emotionally charged Game 3 loss to the Phoenix Mercury in the WNBA semifinals. The 84–76 defeat not only put the Lynx on the brink of elimination, trailing 2-1 in the best-of-five series—it also may have cost them their MVP-caliber forward Napheesa Collier.
Collier, who averaged 22.9 points this season and finished as the WNBA MVP runner-up, was injured late in the game after enduring a series of hard, seemingly unchecked physical plays by Phoenix. Reeve’s frustration reached a boiling point with just 23.8 seconds left, when Phoenix’s Alyssa Thomas made a no-call steal on Collier that ended in a game-sealing layup. Reeve stormed onto the court and was quickly ejected after receiving her second technical foul of the night.
Postgame, Reeve ripped into the officiating, the league, and its leadership in a rare, raw display of anger and concern.
“This is the look that our league wants, for some reason,” she said. “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. Got her shoulder pulled out and finished the game with her leg being taken out, and probably has a fracture.”
Reeve didn’t stop there, calling the referee crew’s assignment to a semifinal game “malpractice” and criticizing the entire officiating selection process.
“I want to call for a change in leadership at the league level when it comes to officiating. It’s bad for the game,” she said.
Statistically, the disparity was clear. The Mercury attempted 22 free throws, converting 18. The Lynx only shot 11—making 10 of them. Despite her aggressive playstyle and involvement in several key collisions, Collier didn’t earn a single trip to the line.
The 29-year-old forward still managed to finish with 17 points and six rebounds before exiting in visible pain. Her status going forward is uncertain, though Reeve hinted the injury could be serious.
The Lynx will now face an elimination scenario in Game 4, with both their season and their star player’s health hanging in the balance. But win or lose, Reeve’s comments signal a broader reckoning coming for the WNBA—one that demands accountability not just on the court, but in the league office.
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