LIBERTY'S CHAMPIONSHIP REACTION 🗽 Debating the CONTROVERSIAL foul call to send it to OT | NBA Today

[@ReidenPlayz]

Agree to brian windhorst napheesa deserve more. Napheesa deserved this year’s championship and FMVP too but the Lynx were blatantly robbed. Winning would’ve truly cemented this season as one of the best in WNBA history for her

[@coleprivott6140]

Rewinded that clip like 30 times the only foul I see is a walk on Stewart

[@josephfrank5224]

No way you decide a game like that. Stewart travels and you give her a foul call? I don’t even be sayin stuff like this but Minnesota was absolutely robbed

[@stephenam5893]

Game was not decided on that call. Stewie had to make both free throws and then there was 5 minutes for both teams to find a way to win.

[@juliosantana1646]

@@stephenam5893yes it was. If the right call is made then the game is effectively over and Lynx win

[@NotNiceLeeK]

@@juliosantana1646They choked a 12 point lead. Get over it.

[@NotNiceLeeK]

@@juliosantana1646They choked a 12 point lead. Get over it.

[@sasukelownwolf]

@@juliosantana1646 if the right call is made game 5 never even happens. Liberty won game four until a last second ridiculous foul call on the Sabrina box out. So keep crying about the refs or score more than 2 points in OT

[@monicahavechristjesus5455]

Its ridiculous that the play was reviewed and not overturned. It revealed a RIGGED game and shows the WNBA desparation to become relevant.

[@TF-vb9us]

The Liberty won the ring in game 4. Thanks to the refs for rigging it to extend the Losing Lynx season one more game. 🗽 cope

[@paganmaestro]

21-7 Liberty in free throw points. And yet it still took an ignored travel by Stewart and a phantom foul call to save New York. Criminal. My limited respect for the WNBA has vanished.

[@itslia9175]

25-8*

[@aviagrawal5903]

@@itslia9175yeah attempts more important than makes

[@midnight-2021]

Looks like gambling is a major factor in the WNBA currently and permanently with how this game played out.

[@stefankelly5391]

I know I say Tim Doneghy and Scott Foster out there, even those two would be better refs then the trash they got out there now🤣🤣

[@freddym5618]

the refs completely gave the game to the liberty. stewart traveled and did not get fouled on. what a joke the wnba is/ its hard to stay a fan if we aren't going to get legal calls and officiating.

[@katwashere194]

Did you see game 4? Lynx got away with a lot so….

[@Militantreturns]

Stop whining

[@DonFranco55]

Did the refs cause McBride to miss a wide open 3 with 3 seconds left in regulation?

[@sasukelownwolf]

@@DonFranco55 and on top of that, did the refs make the Lynx only score 2 points in OT

[@nickshaner5376]

RIGGED!!!!!!! When the commissioner is wearing a dress made of NEW YORK!!! She should resign!

[@HannahDisponett]

What she can't have a favorite like the rest of the arena?

[@jonathanoscategui2678]

​@@HannahDisponett Some people are weird 😂....

[@HannahDisponett]

@@jonathanoscategui2678 Ikr

[@kamalhillard2974]

If McBride who torched the Liberty 🗽 all night makes a wide open shot 3sec left to win 🏆 the championship they beat 😂 the rigging! LOL 😂! Stop ✋️ it!

[@HannahDisponett]

@@kamalhillard2974 cry about it

[@ReidenPlayz]

The liberty had talents chiney but they are chokers. Yes they have good accolades but napheesa collier is one shining star in that series period!

[@nickm5807]

It wasn't controversial but rather it was clear that the refs weren't going to let the Liberty 28 year championship drought continue any longer if they could help it.

[@ak_hoops]

facts

[@Emolga6274]

So it’s controversial then

[@freakhead10]

What about game 4?? Y’all only criticizing the refs for how they treated the Lynx but not the other way around.

[@ACEKING26]

Refs got their money for sure

[@d.c.2775]

Any ref in a kids league would have called that a travel… is ridiculous they did not only let that get away but on top they called foul …

[@Bowie-1200]

She did not foul her at all

[@BGG-dq2fo]

Terrible takes from everyone on this panel. That foul call was a joke. And Stewie taking 7 steps before not being called is very telling that this game was rigged. Aint no way refs could miss that 7 step travel.

[@katwashere194]

She didn’t initially have possession. Look at other angles 😂

[@nellydavis7645]

@@katwashere194lies

[@TF-vb9us]

Seven 😂 yesterday it was FIVE steps 😂 The pathetic loser mentality yall are pouring out is cringe. You wanna cry rigged? Liberty won the ring in MN in that case. Cry harder, pay better next season.

[@IENetworkTV]

if phee makes that clear layup at 5 seconds left the ending dont matter

[@BGG-dq2fo]

@TF-vb9us oh please if reverse Stewie and Phee in this situation and the Lynx had won, yall would be crying rigged too. Yall got a fake ring and yall know that 😆

[@keithgupton9349]

A missed call traveling and a no foul should have been called in the same possession!

[@thamoneyent]

They get paid too lies like we ain't watch the same game refs control that game somebody got paid big in betting

[@winston5791]

It is one thing to call a foul but another thing to review it and not overturn it, especially when the ref have been overturning real actual fouls. And you can't win a game if the ref are rigging the whole game.

[@katwashere194]

And did you think game 4 was called fairly? 😂 Lynx got away with so much.

[@michealasher6983]

Nah, this ESPN take is a PR job. The league rigged this game.

[@jessiekatt]

She never had possession initially. It was actually almost a turn over bc it hit the back of McBride. You can see it better on another angle

[@katwashere194]

Not a travel. She didn’t have possession initially. Yes a foul, lower body contact.

[@nellydavis7645]

@@katwashere194it’s a travel

[@katwashere194]

@@nellydavis7645 😂

[@michealasher6983]

@@katwashere194 false and false. She was gripping the ball with two hands and hopped on both feet. Smith was in position, lower body contact initiated by Stewart.

[@thamoneyent]

How u review and c no travel

[@Watermelon-u8z]

Rigged. Unfortunately not surprising.

[@Krugzug]

The refs worked overtime to get NY a win.

[@HannahDisponett]

Aww, cry more babe

[@NotNiceLeeK]

They blew a 12 point lead 😂

[@ucouco78]

What's the excuse for the terrible overtime?

[@katwashere194]

McBride missed a wide open 3 to win it 😂. They choked in OT. Williams was MIA. They can’t handle the big lineup. Etc etc

[@Militantreturns]

Get over it

[@gray_veee]

we wouldn't even be debating whether it was a foul or not if the refs have called that travel or should I say adventure with how many steps she took

[@gray_veee]

wnba should really invest in hiring decent officials cause with the way these refs been calling certain games this season they are making this look like a high school league instead of a professional league

[@nickshaner5376]

CONGRATULATIONS ILLEGITIMATE CHAMPIONS!!! New York Liberty

[@djbasco4837]

Sabrina. It means you didn't deserve that trophy. 👌

[@FOFF802]

The referees clinched NY first title

[@Militantreturns]

Yea. The Ref. Had. 57 points. They were amazing

[@andyhaines3062]

The only way the liberty won that game was because of poor refs that were making sure they had a chance to win. Total BS. The Lynx got robbed and that’s the point. They had the lead with 6 seconds left and that foul which was not a foul but a travel changed everything. The amount of fouls not called against the Liberty during the series is so ridiculous. When you have a team like the Lynx with more poise and finesse work very hard against a very physical Liberty team that hacked and fouled their way to a OT victory. As far as I’m concerned yeah they won big whoop they didn’t play well. Put an asterisk by the title and know you didn’t deserve it.

[@sasukelownwolf]

@@andyhaines3062 so you going to ignore when the Liberty had game four won and an even more ridiculous foul call on the Sabrina box out that gave the Lynx the win. If we want to play the game of blaming refs. When refs were the only reason a game 5 even happened

[@TF-vb9us]

Liberty won the series in 4 😂 but yall don’t wanna hear that huh

[@pogiako1749]

Chiney made me sick saying the new york have an Mvp talent like jj who gives the liberty the edge 😅 napheesa collier is the one who dominate the game in 4th and should be the finals mvp. Thats a big time player!!! Crazy! Jj is one of the dirtiest player pushing always an injured alana smith , doing what wwe does. You analyst are ashame in this women sports new york chip will be remember as gifted chip it was given not earned. Sandy blows the script to stewie embelish it and the ref will do the rest . Fix game period!!!

[@martinalbert29]

I play ball but I’m not a wnba viewer. Didn’t watch any game. Heard about the controversy and checked the footage. Unbiased. So Ms.Stewart took no less than 5 steps before releasing the shot attempt and on the attempt there was no visible foul, if that was foul that was a very soft foul. They did a review and still came out with the wrong call. They allow a championship to be decided this way?

[@MarkAustin-q9h]

They were given the game!! This was not earned but rather a gift from the team in stripes. So sad to end an amazing season in this fashion. The stripes failed to call a fair game. Guess the coach to cry “foul” last is the winner!

[@TF-vb9us]

If yall gonna cry like that then then the liberty won the ring in game 4

[@md11x6]

@@TF-vb9us We've all seen the replays. Funny how nobody complaining about the game 4 refs can provide one shred of evidence. We all seen the evidence from 5 seconds to go in regulation in game 5, thousands of times.

[@kryptotello]

Easily one of the worst games ever. 21 points on free throws. 21/67 total points. Trash league that rigged the game. I'd be livid if I was a gambler 😂

[@itslia9175]

Ppl really don’t understand how bad the liberty played but that 21/67 points tells the tale. WNBA is a joke.

[@SuperDB43]

RIGGED AF!

[@Militantreturns]

Lol

[@altondavis1518]

First Pro Basketball Championship in New York since 1976 when the New York Nets then in the ABA-started as the New Jersey Americans,moved to New York as the New York Nets,back to Jersey as the New Jersey Nets and returning to New York as Brooklyn Nets....

[@asharaomnsports]

None of this matters…. Bad call lynx won

[@TF-vb9us]

Liberty won in game 4

[@wnbaLover]

Malika and chiney dont make us fool!!! How can the lynx win when the outcome already decided. Napheesa collier is way better than Jj In that game . She score 18 points in the paint .attacking the rim without single call foul? Jj almost wrestling the lynx. How can you win if you keep attacking and fouling you without a call. Forget the bench contribution because new york star player choke. Showing napheess collier and kmac are the read bigtime player. Lynx with 5 seconds left leading two points and they dont call travel to stewart and call a foul? We are not blind everybody knows refs cheated for nyk who is thirsty for a championship. This is embarrasment for the wnba as a casual viewers i will decide to stop watching this piece of thrash wnba no integrity.

[@Rommy68]

Sad. This is what drops ratings. ESPN should be calling out the shi+ show job of the refs.

[@ACEKING26]

Rigged!!!!!!!!Cats Got Robbed!!!!!!

[@SHsparx]

It wasn't just a bogus foul call, it was a travel no-call. And it wasn't just a bogus foul call and travel no-call, it was a REVIEWED bogus foul call.

[@WadeEmsley-e6l]

"Sabrina struggled out the gate. So did Sabrina." Huh? When did the struggling stop in your estimation. She was 1-19??

[@DavidMotherland]

Holding ionescu to 1/19 and Breanna to 4/15 was not good enough. It needed to be 0/19 and 2/15

[@jricks92921]

😂😂😂😂

[@WadeEmsley-e6l]

They're "true" champions 🏆

[@jricks92921]

​@@WadeEmsley-e6ltru and I respect that...but 1 for 19 though? That's insane...shouldn't have got paid to do that 😂😂😂

[@Bbz384]

She also had 8 assists

[@RichardHymon]

Y'all rob them folk's everybody kns that wasn't a foul

[@TF-vb9us]

4 quarters + OT and the Lynx couldn’t hang with the worst game NY every played. Crying RiGgEd when your players choked in clutch time is weaknessZ

[@benjaminfranklin219]

Them refs. was terrible lol & I’m from NYC

[@nellydavis7645]

Same here.. folks should boycott that period.

[@paulmorris9978]

Fixing a wnba finals is crazy work

[@judithmais4643]

The Lynx was robbed by officials! 😞

[@darylcarr8283]

The "bad call" may have.cost the Lynx that GAME; but NOT the SERIES! Reeve can't pin their prevuous losses on that call; ESPECIALLY since they took homecourt advantage from the Liberty by winning Game 1!

[@mymiphone1841]

They gave the refs some big checks. New-York billionaires stole the win from the Lynx...

[@sitori663]

JJ has impunity from the refs for her many offensive fouls.

[@Notfromwashington]

Refs definitely won that game

[@chaseredwood5666]

WNBA had an agenda with this much media attention they tried to milk this series with the refs. It was a great series imo but for any competitive athlete, this should leave a sour taste in your mouth about this league

[@tresjordan982]

I’m a big fan of WNBA……in PR parlance,,, this was a fiasco all around. The timing couldn’t be worse.

[@mcaldlnr]

Illegitimate nba title for liberty..BS

[@WadeEmsley-e6l]

Totally illegitimate. Especially since they're not in the NBA. Most would identify as NBA players though

[@TF-vb9us]

Yep the Liberty won the championship back in game 4 🗽🗽🗽🗽🗽🗽🗽🗽

[@stephencarter6190]

How can NY even feel like champions after that.. they know they were not the better team.And the commissioner literally was wearing a NY dress.. how unprofessional she should be released immediately. I’m done with WNBA..

[@ronnellrudolph4101]

I have been a NYC LIBERTY Fan since 2005

[@alexpeets7118]

As a native NY'er we've been STARVING for a basketball championship, Liberty did it now we need the Knicks to do the same hopefully in the next 2-3 years.

[@YaguareteAba55]

C'mon, man Courtney Williams had 4 pts ? That can't be right 😂 Smith played really well despite her injury but overall the team just didn't do enough to win. Liberty was #1 the whole season so winning this title is a major relief for them as well.

[@cyrussencila8879]

rigged

[@Mc_Lance1]

IS CHINEY THE SISTA CONNECTION OF GREAT NNEKA JOKING? HOW WONDER IF YOUR SISTER GUARDING JJ FOR THE CHAMPIONSHIP AND JJ DOES WHAT SHE DOES TO ALANA SMITH. HOOKING , GRABBING , PUSHING AND WRESTLE HER ON THE FLOOR? EDGE OF TALENT? WELL JJ HAS A TALENT OF WRESTLE INJURED INPAIN PEOPLE THATS FMVP. FINALS MOST VIOLENT PLAYER. I STAND MY CASE THIS GAME 5 WAS RIGGED AND THEY WANT NEW YORK TO BE THE CHAMPION BECAUSE THEY BELIEVE THEY ARE THE TALENTED TEAM SABRINA AND STEWIE PLUS JJ. BUT NAPHEESA COLLIER AND KAYMAC THE REAL STAR SHOCK THE WORLD AND REF NEED THEM TO STOP. NEW YORK ITS NOT Á SUPERTEAM BECAUSE IF THEY WERE THEY DONT NEED THE REF TO BEAT THE LYNX.

[@williamtang6604]

Cheryl Reeve was doing Charles Barkley's guaranteedddd slogon!!!

[@daiquanplaysgameing8287]

The fact no tv analyst wanted 🗽 to win makes me even more happier 🤣

[@antihero5203]

If the Liberty lost the game under that same non-foul, those “commentators” would have burned down the TV studio.

[@DavidMotherland]

The game was lost when the Lynx couldn't make The ball go through the hole in overtime,

[@jamesbartholomew7664]

​@DavidMotherland shouldn't have gone to OT... if the game is officiated correctly then it's game over in regulation Lynx win.

[@SuperDB43]

​@DavidMotherland, you are a maroon

[@TF-vb9us]

They won in game 4 if we gonna play the cry about the refs game 😂

[@JayAli-u3x]

It was just a horrible game to watch. Only the controversy made it interesting

[@Keeks1983]

Great game and series!!!!

[@judithmais4643]

Can we suspend all the officials???

[@jermainewhite2450]

Malika really??? If you are not getting your deserved foul calls that is very much also a factor in momentum swings and the outcome of the game. The Lynx can only do what they can do. They don't make or not make calls. This game was clearly fixed in favor of NYC. Sabrina & Stewart were horrible & shot them out of this i.e. Starks like. They didn't earn this ship PERIOD regardless of what the scoreboard said. 8 total fouls. ZERO foul shots for the MVP runner-up & dpoy...smh TRASHED what was one of the best Finals in league history!! WNBA should be ashamed smh

[@kevinkoobmeejyang]

ESPN biased as heck for NY.

[@jeter81]

7:03 I knew KAT got traded to the Knicks, but somehow missed the cross-league finals between the TIMBERWOLVES and Liberty...c'mon ESPN.

[@rjescano2117]

How has this not been noticed more in the comments? 😂

[@JimBarksdale-d1o]

Stewart definitely traveled, difference in Championship!!!!! Refs game.

[@Dodgers2024WSC]

“Sabrina struggled out the gate, but so did Sabrina” 😂😂😂 how is everything, literally everything related to the W so bad.

[@JAmericanViewByRobertCGray]

When the WNBA started, I was living in New York and supported the Liberty which had terrific players like T-Spoon and Becky Hamon, Kym Hampton and Rebecca Lobo. Hard to believe that it's their first WNBA title in its history (28 years). So, I am happy!!! Curse lifted!!! Congrats to the team!!!

[@pursaallee8475]

Terrible officiating NY starving for some type of championship.

[@xofmetleh6618]

Like we didnt know NBA also have history of rigged game.

[@TF-vb9us]

Fr they whine about this after every NBA season 😂

[@jricks92921]

58 to 58 with 135 left in 4th quarter 😂😂😂😂😂

[@aswanwilliam]

Good D!! something the Women of the Wnba know no nothing about

[@jricks92921]

​@@aswanwilliam nah sabrina shooting 1 for 17 and Stewie 4 for whatever is not good d....just horrible play

[@aswanwilliam]

@@jricks92921 I watched 43 seconds of this game I can confirm the good D played.

[@tonyl9636]

THEYRE EATING THE DOGS WITH THE LATE GREAT HANNIBAL LECTER!!!

[@leir2005]

They’re women and women are unathletic by nature. They’d be scoring probably at least 80 points a game if there weren’t so many blown layups and missed shots so close to the basket.

[@IENetworkTV]

IF Phee makes that shot at @1:14 the ending doesn't even matter she split the double team so i know they got screwed at the end but phee you gotta make that shot doll

[@GodsLove4Howeverlong]

That is Huge I think a wage to merchandising increases for players and this is a growth market with expansion and NCAA build up I can see a nogational opportunity to capitalize on Key visuals and Brand increasing over a 5 year span with Olympic ties...my opinion 🏀

[@hydro8sixty]

The cramps is real 😂😂😂

[@JLo-c4f]

Rigged

[@rhi4288]

Game 4 was rigged too if you want to talk about shitty officiating

[@TF-vb9us]

Liberty won the ring in game 4

[@aloysiusfee1687]

Excellent series from beginning to the end

[@joka5345]

Well that's all folks, no one is watching next year.

[@brotherkossi]

The commisioner must go.

[@stephenam5893]

Stewie still had to make both free throws. If you thought that was a gimme, you were not watching the game. Both teams then had 5 minutes to finish the job. Liberty did. Lynx did not.

[@rhi4288]

This... The star players on both teams were shooting awfully and missing shots. Sandy decided to play the bench because they had the energy down the stretch. You can't blame the refs when Williams kept missing clutch shots in OT and they had turnovers. Sabally took advantage of the moment and did what she had to do.

[@haleyjadee]

the point is she wasn't fouled (and travelled!) therefore should've never been at the free throw line.

[@rhi4288]

@@haleyjadee if you are going to complain about this.... i wonder if you kept that same energy when lynx was gifted freethrows on that bs call on game 4

[@CarinaGalarza-e4m]

​@rhi4288 there was a 5 foul differential. You are delusional to believe 5 fouls is a give away. 😅 liberty was given 3 times the fouls!!!! 1/3 of their final score

[@noahwelch2931]

Stewie was awarded those 2 free throws?

[@jamesp1844]

Not a foul, but also Lynx had a chance to still win the game on the final possession, and show up in overtime.

[@carlottawisdom7140]

Congrats 🎉ladies

[@patjoseph8700]

Happy for the liberty but my heart goes out for collier and the Lynx.

[@trippy869]

I didn't even know that the WNBA was still going. I thought it ended when Caitlin Clark got eliminated. I hope she plays overseas. How women use their emotions and squander Caitlin's rookie year. People on WNBA: They're gonna make momey this year. WNBA: Let focus on beating up Caitlin Clark to make her look bad.

[@pamelasantiago7626]

The commisioner had two city sky lines on her dress. New York and Minneapolis' skyline was on her dress. Remember the book, "The Tale of Two Cities". The dress is black and white. "Things are not always as they seem" is one of the morals from 'The Tales of Two Cities'. The commissioner was also giving a shot out to Mya Moore. The foul was not overturned because she broke the plane.

[@safeTbob71]

Outside of Clark you wonder why this league struggles to grow, get a review system that holds everyone accountable, seriously it’s 2024. Why would any ref want to work in this league without a way to make sure things are done fairly and accurately.

[@djbasco4837]

They need a game rematch for this controversy. 🙄

[@kalvli]

They had time for Mcbride for 3 and extra time to prove that the call was wrong and it didn't matter. BUT NY took it during OT. .. The players did decide Stop complaining

[@tyquanperry6153]

They got robbed simple as that

[@TF-vb9us]

Cry. Liberty won in game 4 if yall wanna cry about refs.

[@cdnicdinc]

@JCic22 Catlin Clark is amazing, she does deserve her praise, but you should shut up now because there are so many other good players in the league, you just don't appreciate the sport so you shouldn't claim you like their star and be a fake fan if you just hate on everyone else. Also how is catlin clark even coming up in this this isn't even about her

[@wisethabrain1100]

Nerve of people not clapping for missed lay ups

[@floccomh4541]

Let’s not forget the fourth game where the same thing happen to Liberty it wasn’t a fair finals at all 🤦

[@daviddunnigan8202]

OT with neither team surpassing 70 points…terrible shooting…1-19 from three

[@georgesharrison6158]

For Stewie to have 7 points through 3 Quarters and For Sabrina Ionescu, to have been 0-10 through 3 Quarters and we gonna blame the Refs, Lynx Shame Shame Shame, You Ladies and your Coach Let yourself down, You Put up a great Fight and Made history, but You Lost Yourself.

[@Larhless]

That part. Lynx should’ve smacccccccked them by 20.

[@rhi4288]

Cheryl is too comfortable crying to the refs and bullying other teams when things don't go her way instead of taking accountability and changing up the rotation and making adjustments when her players were struggling... that's on her

[@SarignCleric]

Not just that, but the Lynx were slapping the Liberty throughout the first half.

[@apap1586]

LeBron your Lakers have eaten off foul fine line for two seasons despite being one of the lower seed teams in the NBA. Stop it.🛑.

[@alexcordero7782]

Lakers were always that type of team before lebron

[@Tony-Gatos]

Lets move on! A win is a win. No one was complaining about the refs when Clark was getting beat up with no calls 🤔

[@pickle.786]

Now she just needs All Star Game MVP

[@brotherkossi]

When the league starts using AI to officiate, we won't be missing those refs

[@ellaellela656]

Inconsistent refereeing in the Wnba and the Nba is one thing but no one discusses the mental toll. I bet its tough to perform under normal finals pressure, an away game, plus being gas lit in your face like you dont know the rules of the sport. Fiba and olympics end up more entertaining because the lack of this. (More entertaining Sports not story and star power)

[@gregthomas2448]

The real winner was the refs, their ring 💍 ceremony and parade will be announced soon 🤫🥺😮😝

[@harounmccadney7074]

All the complaints and there was overtime. And they wet the bed in overtime. That’s where they lost!!

[@DamianLee-hv2nu]

Watched didn’t care who won but it was clearly rigged

[@MrMex44]

Was that a soft foul? Sure but even MJ got calls like this. Was it a travel? Sure but if you watched MJ, he traveled a ton with baby steps like this. Also the opponents did touch the ball which can give a player back a dribble. All professional basketball players travel. Stewart was fouled before she even took a step on the inbound as well. At least she hit her free throws and didn’t the other team miss an open 3 to end regulation?