“It was stolen from us”

The Minnesota Lynx missed 44 of their 70 shots in a championship-clinching WNBA Finals Game 5 loss to the Liberty.

When her head coach, Cheryl Reeve, sat down at the microphone for a bitter postgame press conference on Sunday night, she didn't miss a beat.

“All the headlines will be: Reeve screams foul,” she said. “Bring it on. Because this shit was stolen from us. Bring it on.”

Reeve had started the meeting complaining about the management.

“Sometimes you can get away with things if you're physical and aggressive, and they certainly did that,” Reeve said. “It’s a shame that the office played such a role in a series like this.”

It later expanded.

“We know there are things we could have done, but (the office) shouldn’t have to put in that much effort,” Reeve said. “It’s not that difficult. Officiate? It's not that hard. Be consistent when someone is being held. If you don't want to call it on one side, don't call it on the other side. …

“You have a star player like Phee (the Lynx’s Napheesa Collier). I don't understand it. I don’t understand how she can be pinned, go to the basket and get hit, and then a minor (foul) at best sends her best player (Breanna Stewart) to the free throw line.”

Reeve concluded with a sarcastic remark: “Congratulations to the Liberty on their first championship. It took 28 years, congratulations to her. That’s how close we were to our fifth place.”

The Lynx were whistled for 21 personal fouls, with Collier fouled out in overtime; The Liberty were whistled for 17 fouls. After Minnesota's two-point win in Game 4, Liberty coach Sandy Brondello complained about the foul discrepancy as her team was called for 14 fouls compared to nine on the Lynx.

Reeve also criticized the Liberty's previous WNBA sanction for improper charter flights, as well as the ongoing investigation into possible salary cap violations by the 2022 and 2023 champion Las Vegas Aces.

“I built a team within the rules,” Reeve said of her Lynx. “Things like that might not be happening in our league right now. And did it the hard way. We've given hope to teams that aren't willing to circumvent the cap or fly illegally or all that stuff that's happened in the last five years, right? So, I mean, do it right.”

Liberty head coach Sandy Brondello refused to get involved when it was her turn at the podium.

“I thought they were pretty fair,” Brondello said of the referees. “But look, I have so much respect for Cheryl and I have so much respect for the Minnesota Lynx team because, man, that was ugly, but we found a way to win.”