Cheryl Reeve suspended for Game 4 Sunday against Phoenix with Lynx on brink of elimination

The WNBA announced on Saturday that Minnesota Lynx coach Cheryl Reeve has been suspended for one game, specifically for her team's must-win Game 4 against the Phoenix Mercury in the WNBA semifinals on Sunday. This suspension follows her ejection at the end of Game 3, where she received a second technical foul after disputing the game's officiating both on the court and in the postgame press conference.

Reeve's suspension was due to her conduct and comments, which included aggressively pursuing and verbally abusing a game official on the court, failing to leave promptly after ejection, making inappropriate remarks to fans while exiting, and comments in the postgame press conference. In that press conference, she called for a change in officiating leadership at the league level, criticizing the crew as unworthy for a semifinals playoff game and using strong language.

Additionally, Lynx star Napheesa Collier will miss Game 4 due to a left ankle injury sustained from a play involving Phoenix's Alyssa Thomas late in Game 3. Reeve had earlier received her first technical foul in the second quarter for disputing Thomas's defense on Collier, who did not shoot any free throws in the game. Other consequences include fines for associate head coach Eric Thibault, who will take over head coaching duties in Reeve's absence, for inappropriate interaction with an official, and assistant coach Rebekkah Brunson for an inappropriate social media comment on X regarding the incident.

The Lynx are currently trailing 2-1 in the best-of-five semifinal series and must win Game 4 in Phoenix to force a decisive Game 5 in Minneapolis, or their season will end.