PHOENIX — Minnesota Lynx coach Cheryl Reeve unleashed one of the strongest public critiques of WNBA officiating in recent memory Friday night, calling for a change in league leadership after an 84-76 loss to the Phoenix Mercury in Game 3 of their semifinal series.

Reeve, who was ejected in the closing seconds, blasted the officiating crew for what she described as “malpractice” after star forward Napheesa Collier left the game with a leg injury in the final minute.

“One of the best players in our league shot zero free throws,” Reeve said. “She had five fouls … got her shoulder pulled out, and finished the game with her leg being taken out. And probably has a fracture.

“If this is what our league wants, OK. But I want to call for a change of leadership at the league level when it comes to officiating. It’s bad for the game. The officiating crew that we had tonight, for the leadership to deem those three people semifinal-playoff worthy, is f—ing malpractice.”

Collier, who finished with 17 points on 8-of-15 shooting, went down after colliding with Phoenix guard Alyssa Thomas on a fast break. No foul was called, and Thomas scored the layup that sealed the Mercury’s win. Collier limped to the bench and did not return. Reeve said afterward the injury was “probably a fracture,” but the team did not provide an update on her status for Sunday’s Game 4.

The game itself was tight throughout, featuring 15 lead changes and no double-digit advantages. But Minnesota managed just nine points in the fourth quarter, as Thomas, Satou Sabally and Kahleah Copper combined to score Phoenix’s final 29 points.

After the final sequence involving Collier, Reeve stormed onto the court and had to be restrained by her players and assistants. She was assessed her second technical foul of the night and ejected, continuing to shout at officials and even some fans on her way off the floor.

“I can take an L with the best of them,” Reeve said. “I don’t think we should have to play through more than what they did. Masha’s on the glass and gets f—ing cracked, no call. They’re f—ing awful.”

Reeve’s frustration echoed broader concerns around playoff officiating. Earlier this week, Las Vegas Aces coach Becky Hammon also voiced complaints about the level of physicality being permitted in postseason games, warning it created unsafe conditions.

Reeve herself foreshadowed her concerns before Game 3, noting that the Lynx-Mercury series had set a record in Game 1 for fewest combined free throws in a playoff game (10). “When you let the physicality happen, people get hurt,” she said then.

On Friday night, her criticism escalated into a direct challenge to league leadership.

“This is the look that our league wants for some reason,” Reeve said. “When you let the physicality happen, people get hurt, there’s fights. I wanna call for a change in leadership at the league level when it comes to officiating. It’s bad for the game.”

The Mercury now lead the best-of-five series 2-1, with Game 4 set for Sunday in Phoenix. The Lynx’s chances could hinge on whether Collier is available — and on how the officials manage the increasingly physical play.