Kayla McBride blown away by Napheesa Collier as Cheryl Reeves slams officiating

Kayla McBride and Napheesa Collier were seen checking over the box score from the Minnesota Lynx' crushing defeat to the New York Liberty in the season finale - game five of the WNBA Finals.

Lynx head coach Cheryl Reeves had some strong words after the game, accusing the referees of stealing the game from them with a number of calls going against them throughout the game.

With just five seconds to go, Liberty forward Breanna Stewart was fouled with the likes of LeBron James and Damian Lillard questioning the legitimacy of the call - that allowed the team to hit free throws and extend the game into overtime before winning the championship.

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Lynx players had looked furious at the time, with McBride and Collier being sat beside Reeves as she spoke to reporters before being given the box score sheet to take a look at.

The two could be heard discussing the statistics, with McBride letting out an audible: "Wow" after Collier had pointed to one statistic in particular.

While unclear as to which statistic the two had been shocked at, it could well have been the calls against each team - with the Liberty going to the line for an incredible 25 free throws while having 13 shooting fouls called on them. Meanwhile, the Liberty had just four shooting fouls called on them.

Reeves told reporters: "I saw a very physical and aggressive New York team. We know this from being a part of the game for so long that sometimes, you get away with stuff when you're playing physical and aggressive, and they certainly did. It's a shame that officiating had such a hand in a series like this.

"Obviously, there's always going to be a team that's a little bit disappointed. I thought today was incredibly disappointing. We have got to change our Challenge rules and the officials doing the game should have a third party because that was not a foul. That call should have been reversed on that challenge.

"But on the other end, when we challenged it, if we would have turned that clip in, they would have told us that it was marginal contact, no foul. Guaranteed. Guaranteed. So when you review, those should be the same parameters that you're reviewing with.

"But the three people on the game need a third party to let them know because that decided the game. That decided the game." Reeve was aware that her scathing criticism of the officiating crew and the call to get a third party involved were likely to spark backlash – but it hardly stopped her from speaking her mind.

"All the headlines will read 'Reeve cries foul.' Bring it on," she said. "Bring it on. Because this s--- was stolen from us."