NEW YORK (AP) – Minnesota coach Cheryl Reeve was fined $15,000 for comments and actions after losing the third semifinal against Phoenix Mercury on Tuesday.
The person spoke without anonymity because there was no official announcement.
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The fine is believed to be the biggest for individual coaches or players in league history. The WNBA does not advertise the number of fines.
Additionally, Indiana Heat coach Stephanie White and Las Vegas coach Becky Hammon were fined $1,000 each for public comments about WNBA hosting, who defended Reeve. Hammon and White's teams faced off in the decisive Game 5 on Tuesday night.
Track and Field reported the fine first.
Both coaches supported Reeve’s criticism and spoke out over the course of the host’s question throughout the season. White told reporters in Indiana practice on Monday that she was “finished for supporting Cheryl, which I think is crazy.”
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“I think she made a lot of valid points,” White said Sunday. “A lot of the same conversations are happening. This happens to every team, every team, every coach, every player. I think there has to be a certain sense of responsibility at some point.”
Harmon also defended Reeve.
“She didn't lie from what I heard,” Harmon said before ACES Game 4 loss to Indiana. “She's telling the truth. A lot of people think it's not a foul, so let me give you an analogy. In the NFL, if you're a catcher and you're going to have a ball, then the ball is heading in that direction, your direction is going, the guard is coming, then you don't run to that wide receiver coming to the ball, even if the ball is loose.”
In addition to the fine, the league also suspended the fourth game of Reeve, with the Lynx losing and being eliminated by the playoffs. This is the first time in WNBA history that the coach has been suspended from playing games.
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“Her behavior and comments include active pursuit and verbally abuse of an official in the court, failing to leave the court in time, playing in the fourth quarter with a 21.8-second shot, playing in the fourth quarter, inappropriate comments to fans when exiting the court, and commenting in a post-match press conference,” the league said in a statement Saturday.
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AP WNBA: https://apnews.com/hub/wnba-basketball