The 2024 WNBA Finals were memorable to say the least. They featured excitement, drama, clutch moments and controversy. One foul call late in the fourth quarter was especially controversial, as New York Liberty star Breanna Stewart missed a shot to tie the game with only a few seconds remaining on the clock. However, a foul was called.
Stewart ended up making both free throws and the Liberty defeated the Minnesota Lynx in overtime. Lynx head coach Cheryl Reeve was not pleased with the foul call, and she even said the game was "stolen from us."
Video via TSN:
โ๐ง๐ต๐ถ๐ ๐*** ๐๐ฎ๐ ๐๐๐ผ๐น๐ฒ๐ป ๐ณ๐ฟ๐ผ๐บ ๐๐.โ
โ TSN (@TSN_Sports) October 21, 2024
Lynx HC Cheryl Reeve was not happy after an unsuccessful challenge deemed that Alanna Smith was โnot in a legal guarding position.โ
This lead to Breanna Stewartโs game-tying free throws in the dying seconds of regulation. pic.twitter.com/YSfzSiLoZL
WNBA legend Candace Parker shared her thoughts on the play via X (formerly Twitter).
Was that reviewed foul call a foul? I donโt think it was. Marginal contact.
โ Candace Parker (@Candace_Parker) October 21, 2024
As a new fan to the WNBA I can debate stuff like thisโฆ. That call didnโt lose the game but boy it wlda prolly won it for Minny if it was overturned https://t.co/c8GU9TvMhf
โ Candace Parker (@Candace_Parker) October 21, 2024
The Lynx did not play a perfect game. Minnesota endured offensive struggles , as they failed to find much of a rhythm throughout the contest. Still, their defense played well and limited the Liberty. No, one foul call did not lose them the game, but as Parker wrote, had it been overturned then the Lynx probably would have won Game 5.
The call is certainly debatable. It was a difficult call for the officials. There needed to be conclusive evidence for the call to be overturned, and the officials clearly did not feel that the available evidence justified a change after the Lynx's challenge.
Candace Parker's message after the Lynx's defeat
Parker had more to say on X. She played in many big games during her career, so Parker understands the feeling of losing in the postseason. She knows how difficult it is.
Iโve been to the finals. Won & lost โships. But there is no bigger emotion than losing and listening to the other team celebrate while you are in the lockeroom. I can remember the champagne, but I can FEEL the gut wrenching pain in my stomach when we fell shortโฆ..
โ Candace Parker (@Candace_Parker) October 21, 2024
This loss was surely even more difficult given the way the game ended. Minnesota challenged the best team in the WNBA throughout the series and they feel as if they should have won. Losing in that manner is frustrating. Nevertheless, the Lynx should be proud of the season that they had.
Meanwhile, the Liberty took advantage of the foul call and did not look back. They played better in overtime en route to the victory. New York needed a complete team effort to defeat Minnesota, as the Lynx would not go down without a fight.
The future is bright for both teams. New York will have a good chance of defending their title in 2025, but Minnesota will have extra motivation following their heartbreaking WNBA Finals defeat.