The WNBA refereeing issue is not settling down as the league is holding on to its ‘standards’ while players and coaches are blaming the ‘higher authorities’ for the below-par officiating. Cheryl Reeve recently went viral for blasting the officiating and didn’t hold back this time as she asked for a change of personnel at the top.
The WNBA fined Reeve $15,000 for criticizing the officiating after they suspended her for one game for the same. But the Minnesota Lynx HC is not backing down.
Chery Reeve Not Ready To Apologize
The league is cracking down on its players and coaches for commenting on the referee decisions in press conferences or even making videos about the same. Popular players like Sophie Cunningham and Caitlin Clark already paid fines for their reactions the league found objectionable. Yet Reeve was slapped with the most significant fine in league history – $15,000 for her massive crackdown on the topic.
Despite receiving a one-game suspension and fine, the experienced coach is not ready to back down and put her feelings in front of the press.
“I will never apologize for being me. I do think it’s important to grow and understand consequences of actions, for sure. But I will always stand up for our players’ health and safety, and the fair treatment of our organization,” Reeve said.
"I can only be me, I've never apologized for being me. I do think it's important to grow."
— Ahmad Hicks (@AhmadHicksTV) September 30, 2025
Cheryl Reeve was suspended and fined $15K after standing up for her players in Game 3. I asked if she’d change anything looking back—this was her full response:@FOX9 pic.twitter.com/U6MjKcTNe3
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Napheesa Collier also blasted the league’s top management in her recent interview. In Reeve and Napheesa Collier’s absence, the Phoenix Mercury won the series against the Lynx in Game 4 and advanced to the 2025 WNBA Finals
Cheryl Reeve Receives Support from Fellow Head Coaches
While the Phoenix Mercury HC, Nate Tibbetts, didn’t react to Reeve’s calls, other semifinalist coaches, Becky Hammon and Stephanie White, showed support to the Lynx HC. Incidentally, Hammon and White also received $1,000 Fines for backing Cheryl Reeve’s stand.
“I think that she made a lot of valid points. A lot of the same kind of conversations are happening. It’s happening from every team, from every franchise, from every coach, from every player. And I think at some point there has to be some accountability,” White said.
Hammon used safer words and said, “From what I heard, (Reeve) did not tell a lie. She said the truth.”
With CBA negotiations underway, the league’s approach and recent mess put the next season in question.