The WNBA is handing out fines following the sharp criticicm the league\u2019s officiating crew received by Lynx coach Cheryl Reeve and others.<\/p>\n
Reeve was tossed toward <\/a>the end of Minnesota’s Game 3 in their WNBA semifinals series with the Mercury after a steal by Alyssa Thomas left Lynx star Napheesa Collier injured. The play wasn’t deemed a foul, which caused Reeve to go at the officiating crew in incredibly heated fashion. After the steal, Thomas scored a bucket on the other end that all but sealed the win for Phoenix.<\/p>\n After the loss, Reeve blasted the referees in her postgame press conference where she said the league’s decision to assign that officiating crew was “f—ing malpractice.”<\/a> She was suspended for Minnesota’s Game 4 for “aggressively pursuing and verbally abusing” an official, failing to “leave the court in a timely manner” after being ejected, and inappropriate comments made to fans. The Mercury eliminated the Lynx and advanced to the WNBA Finals in Reeve’s absence.<\/a> Collier wasn’t able to play in Game 4 due to an ankle injury suffered on the much-discussed play.<\/p>\n Now, Reeve has been fined $15,000 for her comments and conduct during Game 3, according to a report from ESPN’s Alexa Philippou<\/a>. Aces coach Becky Hammon and Fever coach Stephanie White were both fined $1,000<\/a> by the league for making critical comments about the officiating in this year’s playoffs in support of the Lynx coach.<\/p>\n The Fever and Aces are playing in a semifinal series of their own, where the winner of Tuesday’s Game 5 will play the Mercury in the WNBA Finals.<\/p>\n Reeve held nothing back as she spoke to reporters following the heated moment in Game 3. She called for “a change of leadership at the league level when it comes to officiating” as she fired off on the refs, not taking any questions and leaving the podium after her rant.<\/p>\n She was outspoken about her disdain for officiating last year as Minnesota lost a decisive Game 5 in the WNBA Finals to the Liberty<\/p>\n \u201cI know all the headlines will be \u2018Reeve Cries Foul,\u2019\u201d she said<\/a> last year after the New York Liberty beat her team to claim the title. \u201cBring it on, right? Bring it on, because this s— was stolen from us. Bring it on.\u201d<\/p>\n