The heated semifinal series between the Lynx and Sun reportedly extended beyond the field after Game 1 on Sunday.

Lynx head coach Cheryl Reeve confronted Connecticut players outside the visitor’s locker room in Minneapolis about how the Sun celebrated their season-opening win, according to The Athletic.

The 2024 Coach and Executive of the Year reportedly ‘rushed towards the Sun players’, and stadium security had to intervene to de-escalate the situation.

The series opener between the No. 2 Lynx and No. 3 Sun was nearly over, with Minnesota’s Napheesa Collier missing a potential tying 3-pointer with just a second left on the clock.

At the buzzer, Sun’s Alyssa Thomas, who was one assist away from a triple-double after recording 17 points, 10 rebounds and nine assists, was quick to celebrate – shouting and bowing to the Sun bench to join together enjoying the victory with her teammates. .

The WNBA acknowledged being aware of the incident.

“It’s like the players always say: There are really competitive people out there,” Reeve told reporters after the Lynx Game 3 90-81 win over the Sun, when asked about the showdown. “Really competitive people. It’s the play-offs.”

Sun head coach Stephanie White admitted Friday that she was not present for the alleged confrontation and “had no comment on it,” according to The Athletic.

So far it has been a physical series between the two teams.

In Game 2, Sun’s Marina Mabrey fouled out for sticking her foot out to trip Lynx’s Bridget Carleton in the second quarter.

Later, Mabrey was also involved in a pile-up over a loose ball, diving on top of Collier, as the 2024 Defensive Player of the Year pushed Mabrey away and Minnesota’s Myisha Hines-Allen also shoved Mabrey to get out of the way. .

The Lynx haven’t made the semifinals since 2020, and the last time they took home a title was in 2017 against the Sparks.

On the other hand, the Sun have come close in recent years but have yet to win a championship.

In the past five years they have reached the semi-finals three times and the final twice without emerging victorious.

Without newcomers to their roster and free agency for Thomas, Brionna Jones and DeWanna Bonner this offseason, their chances are up.

The Lynx currently lead the best-of-five series 2-1, with Game 4 scheduled for Sunday at 5 p.m. at Mohegan Sun Arena.