'%20x='0'%20y='0'%20height='100%25'%20width='100%25'%20%0A%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20xlink%3Ahref='data:image/jpg;base64,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'%3E%3C/image%3E%3C/svg%3E)
"I'm one of the nicest bloody coaches": Liberty coach Sandy Brondello tears into officials after losing Game 4
New York Liberty head coach Sandy Brondello was frustrated with the way Game 4 was officiated. The Minnesota Lynx came up with a narrow 82-80 victory against her team on Friday night to force a Game 5 in the WNBA Finals. While there were several instances wherein New York seemed like it had the upper hand, Minnesota hung on for the victory.
After the game, Sandy Brondello said she felt like the officials played a part in Liberty's Game 4 loss. The coach claimed her players weren't getting any foul calls despite getting hit by their opponents and demanded better officiating in the winner-take-all Game 5.
"I will say this. I know Cheryl said it last time, but we got no calls today," Coach Brondello said. "Do I have to speak up in a press conference? They called ticky-tack and we got nothing."
"All we want is fair," Brondello continued. "If we're getting hit, that's a foul. I'm one of the nicest bloody coaches in this league but this pisses me off. Just be fair. If they're getting hit, it's a bloody foul."
Looking at free-throw numbers from the WNBA Finals after Sandy Brondello's Game 4 comments
Looking at Game 4's box score, New York only had nine free-throw attempts, which is 11 fewer than Minnesota's 20, prompting Sandy Brondello to lash out at the officiating.
The huge disparity in free-throw attempts between the Liberty and the Lynx was unique to Game 4. In two of the first three games, the foul calls seemed balanced between the two teams.
In Game 1, New York had 14 attempts, while Minnesota had 15. In Game 2, the Liberty had 14 attempts while the Lynx had only seven. In Game 3, the gap was close with New York having 14 and Minnesota with 12.
Looking at the contributions from both teams in Game 4, Minnesota played more cohesively than New York. The Lynx shot slightly better from the field (44.6%) than New York (43.7%).
Minnesota had five players in double-digit scoring: Kayla McBride with 19, Courtney Williams with 15, Napheesa Collier with 14 and Allana Smith and Bridget Carleton scoring 12 apiece.
The Liberty also had five players in double-scoring figures: Jonquel Jones (21 points), Leonie Fiebich (19 points), Breanna Stewart (11 points), Sabrina Ionescu (10 points) and Betnijah Laney-Hamilton (10 points).
Trending
