“If we are getting hit, it’s a bl–dy foul,” shared Sandy Brondello in a post-conference interview after game 4. It was the foul call disparity between the New York Liberty and Minnesota Lynx that led to the head coach’s blast over the officiating. A couple of days later, right before the series headed back to Brooklyn for the decisive Game 5, Brondello has a request from the Liberty’s standout.

This Sunday, Brondello came up for a pre-match press conference, where she stated, “We want her to be aggressive. She’s earned that right because she’s one of the best players in the game.” For her, enduring physicality with the foul call disparity has only one solution—aggressive gameplay. And getting it done by Breanna Stewart is more of a strategic approach.

The Liberty’s #30, boasts an average of 20.4 points and 3.5 assists per game. In addition, she shoots 29.5% from the three-point range and has a 45.8% accuracy from the field. She’s also been leading the team this postseason in scoring, rebounds, and blocks. But there might be more than one reason for Brondello to bring about Stewie’s aggressive play.

“The game’s called differently for Phee than it is for Stewie, for sure… for whatever reason, we have a hard time getting to the foul line in this series,” Lynx coach Cheryl Reeve had remarked after game 3 where the Liberty were called for 13 fouls to the Lynx’s 18. Looks like Brondello isn’t taking Reeve’s call for ‘unfair officiating’ to the head. Stewie taking charge is a sight the Liberty coach would rather pick.

But this is not to say Brondello hasn’t voiced her set of concerns with officiating; providing her all the more reason to focus on what they have in control and in their hands.

Sandy Brondello has a ‘pre-game mantra’ confession

“I know Cheryl talked about it last time, but we got no calls today,” Brondello shared after the Game 4 loss. The frustration was crystal clear on the Liberty head coach’s face. “So do I need to speak up in a press conference? Because they were getting ticky-tack calls. And we went down there and got hit and got nothing,” added Brondello. Why wouldn’t she be frustrated? Sabrina Ionescu got a foul call right when the scoreboard showed tied scores.

As the opposing team’s Bridget Carleton buried two free throws, the Lynx broke the tie 80-82 in the final second. This game, the Liberty had 16 turnovers with 14 fouls, while the Lynx had nine fouls with 13 turnovers. Regardless of the Game 4 drawbacks, both coaches are now heading into the showdown to battle it out one last time. So officiating aside, giving their best is as much they could do and Brondello aims for just that; leaving the anxiousness behind.

“I was anxious in the morning…but now I’m very calm… this is fun, don’t put too much pressure on yourself…no one needs to do more than what they’ve already done,” Brondello says. She also adds that the team just needs to stay true to itself, whatever the external factors. Will that prove enough for the Liberty?