NEW YORK – In the immediate wake of their overtime loss to the New York Liberty on Sunday night in the deciding game of the WNBA Finals, the Lynx’s reaction was frustration and anger.
Coach Cheryl Reeve entered the post-game media conference ready to talk about what she perceived as an imbalance in calls between the two teams in general and with center Alanna Smith’s late foul call on Breanna Stewart — who clearly traveled before any possible foul occurred — that led to two free throws with five seconds left in regulation that forced overtime.
It was a bad call, Reeve asserted, which caused considerable reaction on social media, with high-profile NBA players LeBron James and Damian Lillard agreeing with the Lynx coach. The league’s review system needs to be changed, Reeve said.
The overtime period of the 67-62 loss was a disaster for the Lynx, who had five turnovers and missed all six of their shots from the floor.
“It’s a shame that officiating had such a hand in a series like this,” Reeve said. “Obviously there’s always going to be a team that’s going to be a little more disappointed than the other.”
But there was also sadness. The Lynx opened the season under the WNBA radar. They used a roster built around the talents of star Napheesa Collier and a collective effort that showed how close the team became. The Lynx won 30 games, and were the hottest team in the league after the Olympic break.
Collier finished second in the MVP voting, was first-team All-WNBA, the league’s defensive player of the year. And yet Game Five marked the first time in her stellar career where she took more than 20 shots but wasn’t awarded a free throw.
Smith and wing Bridget Carleton had career years. Kayla McBride was one of the league’s best three-point shooters. Courtney Williams showed her value as a point guard, particularly in the pick and roll.
