Coming down to the wire, the Minnesota Lynx fell just short of making history by securing what would have been their fifth championship. In a gritty battle that featured both, overtime drama and a few contentious foul calls, Cheryl Reeve’s squad ultimately lost to the New York Liberty, 67-62. Losing controversially, Cheryl Reeve felt disappointed, which led her to subtly downplay the Liberty’s glory by referencing a past incident.

Shortly after the game, Lynx head coach Cheryl Reeve took to the podium for the press conference, joined by standout players Napheesa Collier and Kayla McBride. When asked about the disappointment of losing the championship after such an impressive season, Reeve was quick to commend her team’s discipline and dedication—qualities she values highly. Yet, as she wrapped up her thoughts, she couldn’t resist taking a subtle jab at the newly crowned WNBA champions.

“We did it the hard way. You know what, we gave hope to those teams that aren’t willing to circumvent the cap or, you know, fly illegally, or all the stuff that’s happened over the last five years, right? And so, I mean, do it the right way. It gives hope for those other teams that you can build a team just like ours. You don’t have to have a super team. So, I am incredibly proud of them,” Reeve told media. 

While Reeve emphasized the importance of fairness and discipline in her response, she slyly referenced “flying illegally,” a pointed jab at her championship rivals. This remark alluded to the $500,000 fine New York faced for using chartered flights during the second half of the 2021 season, a violation of the league’s Collective Bargaining Agreement that prohibited such extra benefits for players at that time.

That infringement put the Liberty’s franchise at risk of termination. However, they ultimately managed to escape with a reduced fine of $500,000, which they initially expected to be twice that amount. Well, Reeve’s already spoiled mood from the controversial end to the championship game may have fueled this discussion.

Cheryl Reeve’s discontent: A controversial call and its impact on the Lynx’s championship hopes

“I know all the headlines will be ‘Reeve cries foul.’ Bring it on. Because the sh-t was stolen from us,” expressed Reeve in the post-game press conference. In Game 5, there was a glaring disparity in free throw attempts, with Sandy Brondello’s team receiving 26 free throws compared to the Lynx’s meager 8, a notable shift from the previous game, where the free-throw count had favored the Lynx.

Amid all the discussions surrounding the game, the spotlight was undeniably on the controversial foul call. If that call had gone differently, Cheryl Reeve’s path to securing her fifth title with the Lynx might have been much smooth and seemingly guaranteed. The officials made the call in the final five seconds of the fourth quarter when Liberty was down by 2.

As the clock wound down, Breanna Stewart found herself with limited options. She had no choice but to push through the Lynx’s defense and take one last shot. Charging forward, she faced Alanna Smith, who was determined to block her attempt. In a do-or-die moment, Stewie leaped and released the shot. Although the ball didn’t find its way into the basket, her wrist made slight contact with Smith’s outstretched hands, resulting in a shooting foul call against the Lynx.

The Lynx quickly challenged the call with a review, but the referee’s decision stood firm. Interestingly, just before that pivotal moment, Stewart appeared to take several steps without dribbling, a potential travel violation that went unnoticed by the officials. Despite that, Liberty’s #30 calmly sank the free throws, tying the game and sending it into overtime. Once there, Sandy Brondello’s squad seized full control, determined to make their mark.

But the defeat didn’t let Reeve abandon her principles, as she said, “Do things the right way, built the team within the rules.”