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Controversial Ending Leaves Minnesota Lynx Reeling After WNBA Finals Loss

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Kayla McBride had 21 points, five rebounds and five assists in the Game 5 loss. Elsa/Getty Images


The Minnesota Lynx expressed their frustration on Tuesday following a heartbreaking loss to the New York Liberty in a decisive Game 5 of the WNBA Finals. The game ended in controversy due to a contentious foul call in the dying moments of regulation, leaving Lynx players and fans feeling unjustly treated.

Napheesa Collier, a four-time All-Star and forward for the Lynx, voiced her discontent during the team’s end-of-season media availability. “That loss is something I’ll never get over,” she said. “To have it end that way feels super unjust. I don’t think that is something to get over. It’s different if you feel like you lose a game.”

With the Lynx leading 60-58 and only six seconds left on the clock, officials called a foul on Lynx forward Alanna Smith as Liberty forward Breanna Stewart drove toward the basket. Many observers felt the contact was minimal and questioned the validity of the call. Despite the Lynx challenging the decision, the ruling stood after a video review. Stewart subsequently made two free throws, tying the game and sending it into overtime, where the Liberty triumphed 67-62, clinching their first championship title.

Lynx guard Kayla McBride echoed Collier’s sentiments, stating, “The chips fell as they did, but I don’t think I’ll ever get over it. It’s hard to replay in your mind… it’s definitely going to sting for a while.” The emotional toll of the game was palpable, as players struggled to come to terms with the nature of the loss.

After the game, Lynx head coach Cheryl Reeve was unequivocal in her criticism of the officiating. She asserted that the foul call “decided the game,” claiming the championship was “stolen from us.” Reeve suggested that a third-party review system should be implemented for officiating, arguing that the call should have been overturned. “That was not a foul,” she told reporters, emphasizing her belief that the officials made a critical mistake.

When Reeve spoke on Tuesday, however, she adopted a more measured tone, reflecting on the emotional rollercoaster of the past few days. “Unfortunately, I have experience in this. I have a lot of feelings about it,” she admitted. “But today, I want to focus on the players and the season, because something like this is soiling the amazing season that we had. We all know what happened.”

The Lynx were vying for their league-record fifth WNBA championship, making the loss particularly painful for a team with such a storied history. Despite the controversy surrounding the final moments, Game 5 garnered significant viewership, indicating a growing interest in women’s basketball. ESPN reported that the game peaked at an average of 3.3 million viewers, marking a 142% increase compared to last year’s deciding Game 4 between the Las Vegas Aces and the Liberty.

As the New York Liberty bask in their victory, they are preparing to celebrate their championship with a ticker tape parade scheduled for Thursday morning. The parade will commence at Battery Park and proceed north through the renowned “Canyon of Heroes” on lower Broadway. After the parade, a ceremony at City Hall is planned, culminating in a fan event at Barclays Center that evening.

While the Lynx grapple with the aftermath of their loss, the Liberty’s championship victory represents a significant achievement for the franchise. The emotional weight of the Lynx’s defeat, combined with the high stakes of the WNBA Finals, highlights the intense passion and competitiveness within women’s basketball.

As the Lynx reflect on their season and the controversial ending to their championship aspirations, the hope remains that the focus will eventually shift back to the remarkable journey they undertook throughout the year. The team has the potential to regroup and come back stronger, but the lingering feelings of injustice from the finals will likely fuel their determination moving forward. For now, all eyes will be on the Liberty as they celebrate their hard-earned title, while the Lynx begin to plot their path for the future.

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