WNBA Coach Cheryl Reeve Involved in Post-Game Altercation

Cheryl Reeve, the Minnesota Lynx coach recognized for her exceptional achievements as a four-time Coach of the Year and champion, reportedly confronted players from the Connecticut Sun near their locker room after Game 1 of the semifinal series. According to league sources, Reeve, who is also the 2024 Coach and Executive of the Year, took issue with the manner in which the Connecticut Sun celebrated their series-opening victory in Minneapolis.

The incident, as described by a source familiar with the situation, involved Reeve approaching the Sun players aggressively, prompting arena security intervention to de-escalate the altercation. The Women's National Basketball Association (WNBA) has not provided any comments although team sources confirm the league’s awareness of the altercation.

“It’s like the players always say, there’s really competitive people,” Reeve remarked when inquired about the confrontation. “Really competitive people. It’s the playoffs.” Meanwhile, Connecticut Sun’s coach, Stephanie White, stated on Friday that she wasn’t present during the confrontation after Game 1.

Game 1 was intensely contested, concluding with a missed 3-pointer by Minnesota’s star player, which could have tied the game. Connecticut’s star player, however, celebrated with a dramatic performance, ending one assist short of a triple-double with 17 points, 10 rebounds, and nine assists. “We had to be disruptive,” White commented regarding the team’s strategy. “We had to try to force them into uncomfortable shots.”

The series has been marked by a high degree of competitiveness and physicality. During Game 2, an incident occurred where Sun guard collided with Lynx guard, leading to a foul while other on-court altercations included physical skirmishes involving players diving for loose balls and exchanging shoves. A Minnesota guard also received a technical foul for taunting after a successful basket.

Reflecting on the physical nature of the match-up, Reeve emphasized the necessity for toughness. “When you play these guys, you have to be physically and mentally tough, because they sure are,” she stated following Minnesota’s 77-70 victory in Game 2. Minnesota secured a further advantage in Game 3 with a 90-81 win, leading the series 2-1, and setting up anticipation for Game 4 on Sunday.