This WNBA Finals was packed with drama—not just due to the last-second game-winning three-pointer and the overtime excitement, but also because it concluded with the New York Liberty winning their first championship amid controversy. Cheryl Reeve, who was denied a historic fifth title with the Minnesota Lynx due to a questionable foul call, understandably felt devastated, believing the championship was taken from them. Now, as she once again sheds light on the final game events, some fans are targeting her with trolling comments.

The Minnesota Lynx held the post-season conference for one last interaction with the media, where after the regular starters completed their interviews, head coach Cheryl Reeve took the podium. Well, as soon as the conversation reached the controversial loss and the officiating errors, Reeve remained reserved but made another subtle remark about the events, expressing her lingering disappointment.

The 4x WNBA champion head coach expressed, “We all know I mean, I don’t need to say anything about, but we all know what happened.” She clearly looked disappointed, adding “I think that loss is something that I’ll never get over.” The controversial foul call against Alanna Smith for a slight contact with Breanna Stewart led to two free throws for the Liberty, which Stewie converted, tying the game and keeping their hopes alive.

Despite the Lynx’s challenge and review of the decision, the referees upheld the call, citing that Smith was in an ‘illegal guarding position’—an explanation that occurs ever so rare in basketball. Given the intensity and magnitude of a championship game,  many including legends had supported Reeve’s anguish. Yet, some fans feel Reeve is ranting unnecessarily.

Fans call Cheryl Reeve’s frustration disappointment invalid

Cheryl Reeve transformed the Minnesota Lynx’s fortunes after taking the helm, leading the team, which had zero rings in 11 seasons before her hiring, to their first championship in her second year. It was just the beginning of Reeve’s era as in the next six years, she led Lynx to three more championships, equaling the most titles record of Houston Comets. This championship could have set her stature in a league of her own with the only coach with five WNBA five titles.

But it didn’t happen, as the Liberty seized their lifeline and crushed the Lynx’s momentum, dominating the rest of the overtime game. One fan pointed out this Lynx’s failure in overtime, criticizing Reeve for not adequately preparing her team and blaming her coaching for their loss.

“Can someone tell her that her team had a whole FIVE MINUTE overtime AFTER that? Poor coaching to communicate that to her players and clearly weren’t mentally engaged for overtime. Reeve failed her team.“

With the scoreboard tied in the final seconds of the fourth quarter, the Lynx had one last chance for a game-winning play with just five seconds left. With Napheesa Collier in top form, hitting fadeaway shots, Reeve set up a play for Collier to drive into the paint, which could have given the Lynx a strong chance. However, the players opted for a different approach, as Kayla McBride took a deep shot but missed. This led the game into overtime, where the Lynx managed only one field attempt in five minutes, which also failed. One fan commented that if the Lynx were to win, they needed to capitalize on these opportunities and noted that Game 5 might not have been necessary if Game 4 had featured fairer calls for the Liberty.

“Yea we all know what happened when you still had 5 seconds in regulation needing 2 and you called a quick 3 rather than getting the ball to Collier.. we also all saw that you could not buy a bucket in OT and that the officiating in game 4 was the ONLY reason it got to 5“

The Lynx had led the game 5 for the first half, with the score at 34-27 by the end of it. However, the Liberty made strides in the second half, narrowing the gap in third quarter and then giving a neck-to-neck battle in the last one. If only Lynx would have contained this comeback from the Liberty, it’s true that their fifth championship was waiting to be theirs. Another fan opined the same reason asking Reeve to self-assess calling and everyone in her support “Cry Babies”. 

“Cry babies!!!!! They put themselves in the position where a referee could determine their win or loss, they don’t deserve to even play if then they blame the ref. Look in the mirror and blame yourself!!!!!!“

With this Final being the battle between the two-top seeded teams from the regular season, it was expected to be this dramatic and thrilling. However, one of the user believes that Lynx would have faced much more difficulties if they had Las Vegas Aces as their opponents and then the head coach couldn’t even have the excuse to throw their defeat on officiating. The fan commented Reeve better get over the loss given she has lost now.

“You will get over it lady! You’re a very special and good player. If Lynx Faced an Extremely powerful Aces team? What would happen? Reverse all the Referee Calls? I still need to advise you, You must get over it! There’s no around it. You lost!“

Another fan didn’t offer any reasoning or explanation but instead took a jab at Reeve by echoing her own words, stating that she and her team simply lost. The comment ended with Statute of Liberty emojis, showing clear support for New York.

““We all know what happened.” Yeah we do you lost 🗽🗽🗽“

In the end, the WNBA Finals highlighted both the thrill of competition and the impact of controversial officiating, leaving fans and players alike to reflect on missed opportunities and unfulfilled potential.