WNBA Finals: Liberty coach cries foul after Lynx’s Game 4 victory

After New York’s Game 3 victory, Lynx coach Cheryl Reeve was asked what Liberty forward Breanna Stewart did differently to get going offensively in the second half.

“I don’t necessarily know that it was,” Reeve said, before Lynx forward Napheesa Collier chimed in.

“It was free-throws,” Collier said.

“Yeah, I was going to say, she got fouled,” Reeve said. “She was asserting herself in that way.”

Stewart shot eight free-throws in the second half of Wednesday’s bout and 10 for the game, while Collier shot four.

“The game is called differently for Phee than it is for Stewie, for sure,” Reeve said. “You look at the same level of activity and around-the-rim contact, for whatever reason, we have a hard time getting to the foul line in this series.”

Two days later, that script certainly flipped.

Minnesota shot 20 free-throws in Game 4 — including the two from Bridget Carleton with two seconds to play to win the game — to New York’s nine.

Liberty coach Sandy Brondello saw those figures on the box score during her postgame press conference and took exception.

“I know Cheryl talked about it last time, but we got no calls today. So do I need to talk up in a press conference?” Brondello asked. “Because they were getting ticky tacks, and we went down there and got hit, and get nothing. (Fouls) were like 12 to six at halftime, and they tried to even it up at the end and it was 14 to nine.

“No, all we want is fair. So if we’re getting hit, that’s a foul. I’m one of the nicest bloody coaches in the League, but this (ticks) me off. Just be fair. You know, if they’re getting hit, it’s a bloody foul.”

Reeve noted she got no response from the League after her Game 3 comments, adding she had a text to prove as much. She also pointed at Collier’s arms to suggest the Liberty weren’t called for at least a few fouls they did commit on Friday. In general, Reeve said Brondello’s comments were “unfortunate.”

“I guess I don’t really have much more than that,” she said.