James and Reeves disagree with controversial call that helped send Liberty-Lynx Game 5 to overtime.
L - LeBron James (Credits: Robert Edwards-Imagn Images), R - Cheryl Reeve (Credits: David Butler II-Imagn Images)
In what may go down as the most exciting WNBA Finals ever, the Liberty and Lynx treated fans to a Game 5 for the ages, with Liberty taking home the gold. The intense battle reached a boiling point in the final seconds of regulation, where controversy struck.
The Liberty, trailing by two, struggled to execute their inbound pass under heavy pressure. Breanna Stewart managed to receive the ball, briefly losing control before recovering. Amid what looked like a possible travel, Stewart drew a foul from Alanna Smith, putting the outcome of the game into the hands of the officials.
Minnesota immediately challenged the foul, prompting an extended review as the stakes could not have been higher. After careful consideration, the officials stood by the call, rejecting the Lynx’s challenge and sending Stewart to the free throw line.
Having missed two critical free throws just moments earlier, Stewart calmly sank both, forcing the game into overtime.
As expected, this moment sparked plenty of reactions.
LeBron James reacts to the controversial call
LeBron James, watching the game from home, did not hold back his criticism of the controversial call that sparked widespread debate.
On X, he expressed his frustration, stating, “I’m sorry but that wasn’t a foul! Let the damn players dictate the outcome of a close battled tested game.”
Having faced his own share of high-pressure situations in the NBA Finals, James clearly understands the weight of such calls.
Cheryl Reeve voices frustration during post-game press conference
Minnesota coach Cheryl Reeve claimed the WNBA championship was “stolen” from the Lynx due to questionable officiating.
Following the New York Liberty’s 67-62 overtime victory, Reeve referenced a disputed foul that allowed Breanna Stewart to tie the game with free throws.
“We know we could have done some things, right, but you should not have to overcome to that extent,” she stated. “This shit ain’t that hard. Officiating is not that hard.”
Reeve, who has led the Lynx to four WNBA championships, embraced potential backlash for her remarks. “Bring it on,” she said. “That sh*t was stolen from us.”
Read More: How many WNBA rings does Breanna Stewart have?
Sandy Brondello addresses controversial WNBA Finals call
While LeBron James and Cheryl Reeve expressed frustration over the officiating, New York Liberty head coach Sandy Brondello had a different perspective.
When asked about the referee’s performance and Reeve’s claim that the game was stolen, Brondello said, “I thought they were pretty fair.” She acknowledged the back-and-forth nature of the series, saying, “After the last game… I mean… [there’s] give and take. Like game number one, we should have won that game.”
Brondello expressed respect for Reeve and the Lynx, admitting, “But look, I have so much respect for Cheryl and I have so much respect for that Minnesota Lynx team, because man, that was ugly. But we found a way to win.”
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