Lynx coach Cheryl Reeve suspended for Game 4 of WNBA semifinals

Cassidy Hettesheimer, The Minnesota Star Tribune on Sep 27, 2025

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PHOENIX – The WNBA announced Saturday that Minnesota Lynx coach Cheryl Reeve would be suspended for her team’s must-win Game 4 Sunday against the Phoenix Mercury in the WNBA semifinals.

Reeve’s suspension comes after her ejection at the end of the Lynx’s 84-76 loss in Game 3, picking up a second technical foul after questioning the game’s officiating on the court and in the postgame press conference.

Reeve “has been suspended for one game for her conduct and comments,” the league press release stated. The Lynx confirmed Saturday that associate head coach Eric Thibault would takeover head coaching duties in Reeve’s place.

“Her conduct and comments included aggressively pursuing and verbally abusing a game official on the court, failure to leave the court in a timely manner upon her ejection … inappropriate comments made to fans while exiting the court and remarks made in a postgame press conference," the league announced.

Lynx star Napheesa Collier had rolled her ankle after a steal and layup by Phoenix’s Alyssa Thomas with 21.8 seconds remaining. Reeve had picked up her first technical in the second quarter disputing Thomas’ defense on Collier, who finished the game shooting zero free throws.

Reeve then stepped onto the court and all the way into the paint to question the game officials. She had to be restrained by the coaching staff and guard Natisha Hiedeman.

“I want to call for a change of leadership at the league level when it comes to officiating,” Reeve said postgame, making a statement before reporters asked questions and leaving afterwards. “The officiating crew that we had tonight, for the leadership to deem those three people semifinals playoff-worthy” is malpractice, she said, using an expletive.

Reeve, Thibault (who also picked up a technical foul) and assistant head coach Rebekkah Brunson have been fined. Thibault for his “inappropriate interaction with an official on the court,” said the league, and Brunson for “inappropriate social media comment directed at WNBA officials.”

“Yeah this happened! Take out one of the best players in the league because you have no control of the game!” Brunson wrote on X afterwards while reposting a video of the play.

Down 2-1 in the best-of-five semifinal series, the Lynx now must win Game 4 in Phoenix on Sunday to force a winner-take-all Game 5 on Tuesday back in Minneapolis, or risk their season ending.

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