PHOENIX — Lynx head coach Cheryl Reeve went off on the officiating crew following Minnesota’s 84-76 loss to the Phoenix Mercury in Sport 3 of their sequence Friday, saying it was “malpractice” to have them work a WNBA playoff semifinal sport.

Reeve was ejected within the closing seconds of the fourth quarter after Mercury guard Alyssa Thomas stole the ball from Lynx ahead Napheesa Collier and sealed the sport on the different finish with a layup.

Collier writhed in ache on the bottom after her left leg made contact with Thomas on the play, leading to Collier coming down onerous on the aspect of her ankle. No foul was referred to as. Collier hobbled to the bench, and Reeve stated afterward that it was “in all probability a fracture” on her ankle, although she didn’t elaborate on the harm.

The Lynx didn’t have an replace on Collier’s standing for Sport 4.

“If that is what the league desires, OK, however I need to name for a change of management on the league stage in terms of officiating,” Reeve stated after the Lynx fell behind 2-1 within the sequence. “The officiating crew that we had tonight, for the management to deem these three individuals semifinal playoff worthy, it’s f—ing malpractice.”

After Thomas scored, a livid Reeve needed to be restrained as she ran onto the courtroom to berate one of many officers. Because the ref tried to stroll away, Reeve adopted him and acquired her second technical of the sport, resulting in an ejection.

Guard Natisha Hiedeman tried to carry Reeve again. So did two of her assistant coaches, whereas affiliate head coach Eric Thibault received a technical for yelling on the refs, as effectively.

Reeve wouldn’t cease and needed to be dragged off the courtroom. As she lastly turned to stroll again to the locker room, she yelled profanities on the PHX Area followers.

Collier, who needed to sit out the ultimate 21 seconds of the sport, completed with 17 factors on 8-of-15 taking pictures.

There have been 15 lead adjustments on this back-and-forth sport, and no workforce received an even bigger lead than eight factors. However within the fourth quarter, the Lynx have been restricted to simply 9 factors, permitting the Mercury to take management.

Phoenix’s massive three of Thomas, Satou Sabally and Kahleah Copper mixed for 65 of the Mercury’s 84 factors. They scored every of the Mercury’s final 29 factors of the sport, together with all 21 within the fourth quarter.

In her postgame remarks, Reeve was incredulous that Collier didn’t try a free throw Friday evening.

“We have been making an attempt to play by means of it, making an attempt to not make excuses. However top-of-the-line gamers within the league, she had zero free throws and he or she had 5 fouls,” Reeve stated. “She had her shoulder pulled out and completed the sport together with her leg being taken out.”

Reeve added: “I can take an L with the most effective of them. I don’t suppose we must always must play by means of what we did.”

Then, earlier than strolling out of the information convention with out taking questions from reporters, Reeve stated, “They’re f—ing terrible.”

Reeve is the newest coach to talk out towards the officiating this postseason. After Sport 2 between the Las Vegas Aces and Indiana Fever, Aces coach Becky Hammon stated that the extent of physicality occurring in these playoffs wouldn’t fly in another league.

When Reeve was requested in regards to the officiating earlier than Sport 3 in Phoenix, she stated the dearth of fouls being referred to as within the Lynx-Mercury sequence wasn’t something to boast about. Sport 1 of the sequence noticed the fewest mixed free throws in a playoff sport in league historical past, with simply 10.

Reeve stated she didn’t desire a “foul fest,” however stated something that restricted freedom of motion or was an apparent infringement wanted to be referred to as.

“We’ve talked about how harmful it may be,” Reeve stated earlier than Sport 3. “And also you’re listening to it from the opposite sequence. You’re listening to from different coaches. You’re listening to Becky discuss it. Whenever you let the physicality occur, individuals get harm.”

The Lynx have simply someday earlier than their must-win Sport 4 on Sunday.