A viral moment between officials and Minnesota Lynx head coach Cheryl Reeve during Friday night's semifinal game sparked various reactions. When Lynx forward Napheesa Collier had the ball stolen from her by Phoenix Mercury star Alyssa Thomas with just 30 seconds left in regulation, Collier fell to the floor after some contact after the steal. The play went on with no foul being called, sending Lynx coach Cheryl Reeve into a frenzy. The Mercury sealed the win with an easy layup, and Reeve had an earful for the officiating crew, all while being held back by her coaching staff after she quickly stormed the court.
But there's more; Coach Reeve also had some not-so-pleasant words for Mercury fans as she was finally being escorted out. And as anyone can imagine, she wasn't done yet. In fact, she became more enraged during her postgame press conference, calling for much-needed change in officiating at the league level. Reeve was ultimately suspended for one game for her remarks and behavior, which ended up being the final game of the season for the Lynx.
White, alongside Becky Hammon, publicly agreed with Reeve’s comments—a costly show of solidarity as it turns out. White and Hammon were fined $1,000, while Reeve got a hefty fine of $15,000. At the same time, the fact that Reeve has support from other coaches proves how important her call for change is.
Stephanie White didn't shy away from agreeing with Cheryl Reeve
This call for change made its way into the Indiana Fever's media availability prior to Game 4 when head coach Stephanie White, who has been critical of officials all season, was asked about the viral situation involving Reeve. White was very supportive of Reeve's message and it runs similar to what she has already made clear in previous comments, which have resulted in fines for White. From the very beginning of the season, she has called for a change in officiating due to several inconsistencies and things not being called on both sides.
"I mean, I think that she made a lot of valid points. A lot of the same kind of conversations are happening. You know, it's happening from every team, from every franchise, from every coach, from every player," White said.
Those are the comments White was fined for, and this is the very issue with the WNBA. Coaches and players are being silenced and fined for expressing genuine concerns around the league. Holding officials accountable isn't limited to making the right calls and being fair on both sides, it also comes down to player safety. The game has grown to be very physical—even more so than the NBA, as Becky Hammon noted after Game 2 against the Fever. It's not good for the league. It leads to injuries and even altercations as seen in Friday night's game.
With more eyes drawing to the WNBA, much needed changes need to be made to clean the game up for the long term benefits of its players, coaches, and fans.