Phoenix Mercury star Brittney Griner has gone viral for her accusations directed toward the WNBA, highlighting improper foul calls during games at the Minnesota Lynx home ground.
“Anyone that watches the W knows when you play in Minnesota you not about to get any call!” Griner commented on an Instagram post by Overtime WBB.
BG what u over here being messy for?😭😭😭😭 pic.twitter.com/sjBH2N3GIr
— ris | AU pili🔜 (@jckieyoung) October 21, 2024
Brittney Griner’s take came after Lynx star Napheesa Collier shared a wrap-up post on Instagram that featured snaps of the controversial WNBA Finals Game 5 foul calls in the final slides. The calls were crucial during the final moments of the championship-deciding matchup between the Lynx and the New York Liberty.
The Lynx had a two-point advantage with five seconds remaining in the regulation. However, Liberty’s Breanna Stewart went up for a potential game-tying shot when she was fouled by Lynx’s Alanna Smith.
Though Lynx coach Cheryl Reeve challenged the call and it seemed that Smith did not make any illegal contact with Stewart, the foul call was upheld, allowing two crucial game-tying free throws to send the game to overtime. The game eventually concluded with the Liberty clinching the win in overtime to win the WNBA championship.
While Collier highlighted the alleged lapse in judgment in favor of the Liberty, Brittney Griner responded with her take that games held in Minnesota favor the Lynx with the foul calls.
“Stolen from us”: Minnesota coach blasts WNBA officiating after title loss
During the post-game conference after their WNBA Finals Game 5 loss against the New York Liberty, Minnesota Lynx coach Cheryl Reeve blasted the WNBA officiating for their alleged role in their title loss.
“It’s a shame that officiating had such a hand in a series like this,” Reeve said. “That was not a foul. That call should have been reversed on that challenge. If we sent that clip in … they would have told us that it was marginal contact. No foul. Guaranteed.”
Reeve was aware that there would be headlines about her complaining; however, she firmly stuck to her opinion.
“Bring it on, because this sh-t was stolen from us,” Reeve added.
New York Liberty coach Sandy Brondello was later questioned about Reeve’s comments in the same press conference. Brondello said that she thought the officiating was “pretty fair.”.
The Liberty coach added that there had to be “give and take”, highlighting her own issues with the referees in Game 4 of the series.
“All we want is fair, OK. So if we are getting hit, that’s a foul. You know, I’m one of the nicest bloody coaches in this league, but this pisses me off. Just be fair,” Brondello said
Following the hard-fought battle between the two teams, the Game 5 win on Sunday secured the Liberty their first-ever WNBA title.
