**LeBron James, Bill Simmons, and Others Slam Officiating After New York Liberty Win WNBA Finals**
The New York Liberty’s first WNBA title, led by Breanna Stewart, was overshadowed by controversy, with stars like LeBron James and Bill Simmons calling out officiating errors. Game 5, which saw the Liberty face the Minnesota Lynx, was tightly contested until late in the fourth quarter and overtime.
At halftime, the Lynx maintained a steady lead. However, in the third quarter, the game took a turn as fouls appeared to favor the Liberty. A significant disparity emerged—Minnesota shot just eight free throws, while New York went to the line 25 times.
Stewie got away with a super obvious travel on the inbound#WNBAFinals pic.twitter.com/tCttai5pfx
— Tony Clements (@TonyCMKE) October 21, 2024
The most controversial moment came with five seconds left in regulation when Stewart was awarded a foul, despite no contact from Lynx defenders. She converted both free throws, pushing the game into overtime, where the Liberty ultimately secured their victory.
They lowkey cheated for NY but I get it lol.
— Isaiah Thomas (@isaiahthomas) October 21, 2024
While Stewart’s moment was historic for New York, fans and celebrities criticized the officiating. LeBron James, Bill Simmons, and Damian Lillard were among those who voiced concerns, suggesting the officiating handed New York the title, fueling debate over fairness in the WNBA Finals.
I’m crying 😂 https://t.co/f2dRVwko5l pic.twitter.com/dJlVM7US9i
— ✨Sheree✨ (@gullah_gal25) October 21, 2024
