Lynx coach Cheryl Reeve cuts off after WNBA Finals loss to Liberty: 'This shit was stolen from us'

Cheryl Reeve was not happy Sunday night.

Shortly after her team lost to the New York Liberty in Game 5 of the WNBA Finals, the Minnesota Lynx head coach was thrilled with the officiating team and the Liberty at Barclays Center.

Liberty Force OT in Game 5 due to controversial foul

Although Reeve obviously points to a larger management issue throughout the series, there was a clear moment in the final seconds of the fourth quarter on Sunday night that changed the entire course of the game.

Liberty star Breanna Stewart fouled a mid-range jumper with less than six seconds on the clock, sending her to the free throw line. Stewart hit both shots from the stripe to tie the game and ultimately force overtime. That brought the Liberty to a 67-62 win and gave them their first championship in franchise history.

However, the foul on Stewart was minimal at best. Reeve thought so too and even objected to the call. However, the call was answered.

After Reeve felt Lynx star Napheesa Collier was fouled during the game, the decision on Stewart made no sense to her.

The Lynx were warned for 21 personal fouls in Game 5, compared to just 17 by the Liberty. The Liberty also shot 25 free throws in the game, while the Lynx only shot eight. Collier was also fouled in the final seconds. It was the only game all season in which she fouled out.

There were similar trends in the Lynx's other two losses in the series. They were called for five more fouls than the Liberty in Game 3, but they shot just two fewer free throws. In Game 2, the teams were called the same number of fouls, but the Liberty shot twice as many free throws.

Reeve doesn't blame the department alone for the loss. She knows there's more to it. But every time the Lynx lost in the finals, she felt like the officiating was far too inconsistent. This is something “you shouldn’t overcome.”

Reeve, who earned WNBA Coach of the Year honors this season, just completed her 15th season with the Lynx this fall. From 2011 to 2017, she led the team with stars Maya Moore and Sylvia Fowles to four championships in seven years. A championship this season would have been the Lynx's fifth in franchise history, setting a WNBA record. Reeve, who also led Team USA to a gold medal at the Paris Olympics earlier this summer, is certain to be fined by the league in the coming days for her comments.

Regardless, the Liberty lifted the trophy for the first time Sunday night in Brooklyn. They had reached the finals five times prior to this season, including four of the league's first six seasons, but had failed to win a championship to date.