PHOENIX – Late in the Lynx’s 84-76 Game 3 loss to the Phoenix Mercury on Friday night, Minnesota head coach Cheryl Reeve was ejected after her second technical foul, angry because of Phoenix’s physical defense on Lynx star Napheesa Collier.
She picked up her second technical with 21.8 seconds left in the game, the Lynx already trailing as Phoenix star Alyssa Thomas knocked Collier over near half-court for a steal and layup. Collier exited the game with a seeming left-ankle injury after missing seven games earlier this season with a right ankle injury.
Reeve was issued her first with five minutes remaining in the second quarter.
“One of the best players in the league shouldn’t have zero free throws, and she had five fouls … had her shoulder pulled out and finished the game with her leg being taken out and probably has a fracture,” Reeve said postgame.
Reeve also questioned the officiating leadership at the league level.
“And so this is what our league wants, OK, but I want to call for a change of leadership at the league level when it comes to officiating… The officiating crew that we have tonight, for the leadership to deem those three people semifinals playoff worthy is malpractice.”