New York Liberty head coach Sandy Brondello didn’t hold back after her team’s tough Game 4 loss to the Minnesota Lynx in the WNBA Finals, directing sharp criticism at the officiating in the aftermath of the narrow 82-80 defeat. The loss, which tied the series at 2-2, left Brondello visibly frustrated, especially given how close the Liberty were to clinching their first-ever WNBA championship.
The game was an intense back-and-forth affair, with the score tied at 80-80 in the final seconds. However, a pivotal moment came when Liberty guard Sabrina Ionescu was whistled for a foul on Minnesota’s Bridget Carleton. Carleton then calmly sank both of her free throws to give the Lynx the win and force a decisive Game 5 in the series.
While Kayla McBride led the Lynx with 19 points, it was a well-rounded effort from Minnesota, as all five starters scored in double figures. Meanwhile, the Liberty struggled to get their star players going, with MVP Breanna Stewart and Ionescu held to just 11 and 10 points, respectively. Leonie Fiebich led New York’s scoring with 19 points, but it wasn’t enough to overcome the Lynx in the tightly contested matchup.
For Brondello, the deciding factor wasn’t just her team’s performance but the glaring free throw disparity. Minnesota went to the line 20 times, making 15 of their free throws, while the Liberty only had nine attempts, converting all of them. Considering the closeness of the game, Brondello felt the officiating played too large a role in the outcome.
“We got no calls today,” Brondello vented to reporters, clearly upset. “This pisses me off. Just be fair,” she added, calling out the referees and demanding more balanced officiating.
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Brondello’s frustration is understandable. The Liberty were on the brink of their first-ever WNBA title, and to fall short in such a close game—where officiating decisions appeared to tip the balance—was a tough pill to swallow. While Brondello acknowledged her team’s struggles, the lack of calls in her team’s favor became the main source of her ire.
Now, the Liberty are forced into a do-or-die Game 5 on their home court, with everything on the line. The finale is scheduled for Sunday, and all eyes will be on both the players and the officiating crew, especially in light of Brondello’s pointed comments.
It remains to be seen whether the WNBA will respond to Brondello’s remarks, but one thing is certain: the pressure is at an all-time high for the Liberty, and the officiating will be under scrutiny as the two teams battle it out for the championship.
