NEW YORK (AP) 鈥� Minnesota coach Cheryl Reeve said the WNBA championship was 鈥渟tolen鈥� from the Lynx during her complaints about the officiating Sunday night.
The New York in Game 5 in overtime, getting there after a disputed foul gave Breanna Stewart two free throws that tied the game with 5.2 seconds remaining in regulation time.
鈥淲e know we could have done some things, right, but you shouldn鈥檛 have to overcome to that extent,鈥� Reeve said. 鈥淭his s 鈥� ain鈥檛 that hard. Officiating is not that hard.鈥�
Reeve, who has led the Lynx to four WNBA championships and coached the U.S. women to an Olympic gold medal this summer in Paris, said she was aware there would be headlines about her complaining.
鈥淏ring it on,鈥� she said, 鈥渂ecause that s 鈥� was stolen from us.鈥�
The Liberty shot 25 free throws, while the Lynx went 7-for-8. Minnesota was called for 21 fouls to New York's 17, with All-Star forward Napheesa Collier, the WNBA's Defensive Player of the Year, fouling out.
Reeve took particular issue with the foul on Alanna Smith with Minnesota holding a 60-58 lead. Stewart drove into the lane and appeared to take the shot before there was any contact. The Lynx challenged the call, but it was upheld after video review.
Reeve called the contact 鈥渕arginal at best.鈥�
鈥淭his sucks,鈥� she said, after mentioning faulty officiating in Minnesota's loss in the 2016 WNBA Finals.
鈥淭his is for a championship, for both teams. Let them decide it. What contact is legal should be the same for both teams.鈥�
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AP WNBA:
Brian Mahoney, The Associated Press
