Whether it’s the WNBA or the NBA, passion for the game can spill over into heated moments, and Game 3 between the Phoenix Mercury and Minnesota Lynx was no exception. In the closing seconds, Alyssa Thomas stole the ball from Napheesa Collier near the Lynx’s three-point line and converted a layup, but not without controversy. On the follow-through, Thomas’s lower body collided with Collier’s left knee, causing her ankle to roll. The play sparked frustration, highlighting just how intense postseason basketball can get.

The Minnesota Lynx head coach stormed to the referee after the layup. As the referee walked away, Reeve was on his tail, protesting the decision to not give a foul to Thomas. Natisha Hiedeman and a few other members of the coaching staff had to rush to Reeve to separate her from the official. Eventually, the head coach was ejected from the game with 21.8 seconds remaining in the 4th quarter. However, that wasn’t the end of it.

The official X account of ‘BricksCenter’ highlighted footage taken by a fan as Reeve was being taken to the locker room by her coaching staff. As the group approached behind the basket, Reeve was reportedly seen saying, “F-ck you” to one of the fans. She shouted it out later to another spectator who wasn’t visible. Some fans reciprocated by swearing as well, while jeers continued being omitted from all corners of the stadium.

Cheryl Reeve tried to explain herself in the postgame presser, questioning the league’s officiating leadership and pointing to consistency issues. She even referenced similar remarks made earlier by Las Vegas Aces coach Becky Hammon, who had said the league’s “physicality is out of control.”

Reeve didn’t hold back in her criticism, as she added that “The officiating crew that we have tonight, for the leadership to deem those three people semifinals playoff worthy is f—ing malpractice. I can take an L with the best of ’em. I don’t think we should’ve had to play through more than they did”. The obscenities didn’t stop, as Reeve concluded her explanation by adding, “I think it’s f—ing crap. And all of (the refs) tonight, ‘It wasn’t my call. I don’t know. I didn’t have that. I didn’t see it though.’ F—ing awful.”

Cheryl Reeve got the chance to say her side of the story. However, just like the courtside fans, the netizens weren’t willing to be so forgiving to the 59-year-old.

WNBA Fans Criticize Cheryl Reeve For Shouting Obscenity At Fan

One social media user wrote, “Until you’re objective about the trash game PHX plays … your thoughts don’t matter. It’s all ugly, it’s embarrassing at this point, W isn’t even basketball, and everyone is injured … nightmare league and so sad bc there are some great players. College is much better to watch.” This isn’t the first instance of ejections this season.

Back in August, during a matchup between the Chicago Sky and the Connecticut Sun, Bria Hartley and Rebecca Allen jockeyed for position under the basket on a rebound attempt, and Allen appeared to push Hartley in the back. Hartley didn’t appreciate the contact, and she shoved Allen down to the ground. Allen grabbed Hartley’s jersey. Referees attempted to separate the players involved in the skirmish, but Sky guard Ariel Atkins jumped to her teammate’s defense by pushing Hartley, and reportedly appeared to make contact with an official. Hartley, Allen, and Atkins were all ejected due to this incident.

One individual wrote, “She needs help. A coach needs to maintain composure and his/her professionalism. She can file a grievance on Monday. No, I’m not a Mercury fan.” Yes, players on the court tend to get swayed with emotions, but there is a set of expectations from coaches, even with the passion and stakes running on the sidelines. Also, this incident doesn’t mark the first time that the Minnesota Lynx head coach has been ejected.

One social media user wrote, “Cheryl Reeve got an absolute right to call out these refs. Because anybody who has watched any game in the W should be able to tell that the WNBA has a referee problem. They lack consistency, and it shows too often. #WNBAPlayoffs2025 #WNBA.” Mind you, this isn’t the first time a coach got angry at the officiating.

Back in May, Stephanie White was reportedly fined “an undisclosed amount” after the Indiana Fever’s 90-88 loss to the New York Liberty. 4 days later, when asked about the officiating in the Fever’s 83-77 loss to the Washington Mystics, she joked, “Do you want me to get fined again? Because I did just get fined.”

Even players are not saved, as Caitlin Clark was fined $200 for writing “Refs couldn’t stop us” and “Elite bench mob” on a Fever’s Instagram post after Game 2 against the Atlanta Dream. Despite this, the criticism has continued, with no reported response from the league about the same.

But not everyone is fine with the attitude. One individual wrote, “Cheryl Reeve took a s–t on her coach in front of her camera and told her f–k you, you need to be fired. If Cathy Engelbert has any integrity left in her, she responds in 24 hours.” Fans weren’t the only ones highlighting this opinion.

Renowned WNBA analyst Rachel A. DeMita also took to X and wrote, “Cathy needs to say something publicly after this. She cannot keep hiding behind meaningless fines and ignoring the chaos happening daily in her league”. The next matchup between the Phoenix Mercury and the Minnesota Lynx is scheduled for Sunday. This gives the WNBA commissioner ample time to respond.

One social media user wrote, “Why can’t the W get the same refs as the NBA? Their seasons don’t align. Should be easy.” The NBA players and coaches have had their own criticisms about the officiating, but it isn’t as bad as the W. Anthony Edwards has learned the hard way just how much criticizing referees could cost a player. But minor issues aside, the NBA seems a far more stable ground when it comes to officiating, as almost all veteran refs of the W are moved to the NBA because of their ‘experience’.

Overall, the majority of reactions saw people mixed in either criticizing Cheryl Reeve or the officiating. As of now, it remains to be seen whether any long-term punishment awaits the Lynx head coach or not, as Minnesota’s 2024 revenge hangs by a thread as they trail 1-2 in the semis.