Liberty's Sandy Brondello Blasts Referees After Controversial WNBA Finals Foul Call

The Minnesota Lynx evened up their WNBA Finals series against the New York Liberty at 2-2 after securing a nail-biting 82-80 win at home on Friday night.

While the entire game was closely contested and stressful on both ends, the game ultimately came down to a questionable foul call in the game's waning moments. When the score was 80-80, Lynx star Courtney Williams took a midrange jump shot with about 5 seconds left in the game and missed.

But her teammate Bridget Carleton fought for the rebound. And while she went up for a put-back basket, the referees called a foul on Liberty star Sabrina Ionescu.

Bridget Carleton was fouled going for the offensive rebound and knocked down both free throws ✨

Lynx up by 2 points!#WNBA pic.twitter.com/8TYuK9pMMT
— WNBA Universe (@wnbauniverse) October 19, 2024

Carleton then sank her two free throws; effectively icing the game for the Lynx and sending the series back to New York for a winner-take-all Game 5.

While Ionescu certainly had contact on Carleton, the foul getting called in that crucial moment — and thus the game getting decided by the referees — had Liberty head coach Sandy Brondello fuming after the contest ended.

"I will say this. I know Cheryl said it last time, but we got no calls today," Brondello said postgame, per Myles Ehrlich. "Do I have to speak up in a press conference? They called ticky-tacks and we were down there and got hit, and got nothing... I'm one of the nicest bloody coaches in the league, but this pisses me off. Just be fair, you know? If they're getting hit, it's a bloody foul."

Coach Brondello is not happy with officiating pic.twitter.com/F0UZWA7WWP
— Robin Lundberg (@robinlundberg) October 19, 2024

Brondello is alluding to Lynx coach Cheryl Reeve complaining about uneven foul calls during Game 4.

Regardless, these two coaches must prepare their teams for the biggest game of their careers on Sunday.