WNBA suspends Lynx's Cheryl Reeve for Game 4 after officiating complaints

Reeve and Lynx assistant coaches Eric Thibault and Rebekkah Brunson were also fined, the league announced. Thibault was fined for an in-game interaction with an official, while Brunson's came for a social media post after the game. 

Brunson wrote that the officials "(had) no control of the game" in a post on X/Twitter about the play where Lynx star Napheesa Collier suffered a serious-looking ankle injury — which is what led to Reeve's ejection.

Reeve was frustrated with the officiating all night, having picked up a technical foul in the first half in response to a play where physical defense against Collier went uncalled. She reached a boiling point after the controversial late play where Phoenix's Alyssa Thomas stole the ball from Collier and collided with her leg in the process.

Reeve stormed after an official following Thomas's layup on the other end, and she was ejected from the contest. Cameras caught Reeve appearing to verbally lash out at fans as she made her way off of the court.

Then, in her postgame media availability, Reeve spoke for two minutes about the officiating, did not take any questions, and walked out.

"I want to call for a change of leadership, at the league level, when it comes to officiating," Reeve said. "It's bad for the game. ... The officiating crew that we had tonight, for the leadership to deem those three people semifinals playoff-worthy is f***ing malpractice." She went on to drop two more f-bombs before leaving the room.

Thibault, as the Lynx's associate head coach, will presumably step into the head coaching role for Sunday's game, with Brunson and Lindsay Whalen as assistants.

Reeve, who has been with the Lynx since 2010, is the winningest coach in WNBA history when regular season and playoff victories are combined. She led Minnesota to championships in 2011, 2013, 2015, and 2017, as well as Finals appearances in 2012, 2016, and 2024.