The latest WNBA controversy makes it clear that officiating has to be better

Yahoo

4 hours ago

The latest WNBA controversy makes it clear that officiating has to be better
Stephanie White should have been solely talking about the surging Indiana Fever claiming a spot in the prestigious Commissioner's Cup finals. The Fever coach's postgame comments should have been fawning over Caitlin Clark's performance in her two games back from an injury, sparking the Fever to back-to-back wins with a combined 52 points and 11 3-pointers.
Instead, the aftermath of the Fever's victory over the Connecticut Sun on Tuesday was a focused frustration about WNBA officiating. Rightly so. The crew's blunders in Indianapolis were a blatant mismanagement of the game after scuffles broke out, including when Caitlin Clark was blindsided by a shove to the court by Marina Mabrey.
Advertisement
'When the officials don't get control of the ballgame, when they allow stuff to happen, and it's been happening all season long … this is what happens,' White said. 'You've got competitive women, who are the best in the world at what they do, right? And when you allow them to play physical, and you allow these things to happen, they're going to compete, and they're going to have their teammates' backs.'
White made her point clear: WNBA officials, catch up.
'They've got to get control of it,' she said. 'They've got to be better.'
Tensions were rising throughout the game, obvious to most that the Gainbridge Fieldhouse lid was in danger of blowing off. White said she noticed the tension in the first quarter as players chirped at each other and pointed it out to officials. In the second quarter, Clark and Fever teammate Sophie Cunningham had to be separated from Sun guards Jacy Sheldon and Marina Mabrey, after Clark gave Sheldon a slight shove as they jawed at each other.
Advertisement
In the third quarter, Clark was poked in the eye by Sheldon, who then bumped her. Clark shoved Sheldon, which prompted Tina Charles to approach Clark during a dead ball. Then Mabrey body-checked Clark from the side, sending Clark crashing to the court. The Fever crowd let Mabrey have it, of course, but ire later was directed at officials.
'Marina Mabrey's going to get ejected,' broadcast commentator Pat Boylan immediately and matter-of-factly predicted.
But she wasn't. After a review, Sheldon's foul was upgraded to a flagrant penalty 1. Mabrey was merely assessed with a technical foul, as were Charles and Clark. Officials missed an opportunity to draw a line.
Late in the game, Cunningham grabbed Sheldon as she drove through the lane, and pulled her to the floor, sparking another scuffle to break out. The kerfuffle spilled nearly into courtside seating and required arena security to break it up.
Advertisement
The broadcast crew rightly brought it back to the melee after Clark was fouled. 'I'm blaming this all on the officials tonight. This is their responsibility. … If they had taken care of their business earlier, we wouldn't be in this situation right now,' Debbie Antonelli said.
She also pointed out the obvious inconsistency: 'You can't eject her because you didn't eject Mabrey.' The officials did just that: Cunningham, Sheldon and the Sun's Linsday Allen were all tossed from the game.
From pee-wee basketball to the pros, hearing coaches, players and fans complain about officiating is nothing new.
Last season, Clark was similarly blindsided with a knock to the court by the Sky's Chennedy Carter, which prompted questions about what players can get away with during games. That Clark was involved in both instances has not gone unnoticed — some WNBA fans will argue this is really about protecting the superstar. But it's not just the physical aggression on Clark that has some in the WNBA questioning the caliber of officiating.
Advertisement
Last month, Atlanta Dream center Brittney Griner was on camera during an on-court interview when she walked away to tell officials to 'be better' with an expletive mixed in. Sparks guard Kelsey Plum also sounded off in an impassioned post-game rant about foul discrepancies. 'I drive more than anyone in the league,' Plum said. 'So to shoot six free throws is (expletive) absurd. I got scratches on my face. I got scratches on my body. And these guards on the other team get these ticky-tack fouls. I'm sick of it.'
What stands out about the WNBA is that in many of the instances that have drawn rebuke, coaches are advocating on behalf of the league as a whole, not just their own players.
Las Vegas Aces coach Becky Hammon recently referenced the rash of concussions in the league, including to her own star A'ja Wilson but also Wings rookie Paige Buckers and the Mystics' Shakira Austin. 'There's been too many shots to the face,' Hammon said.
White said Tuesday she wants to see more consistency across the league and indicated coaches raise concerns about officiating in league meetings every year.
Advertisement
'I've seen quite a few dustups in the league so far, so I think it's a league-wide issue,' White said. 'Bad officiating is bad officiating.'
This article originally appeared in The Athletic.
Indiana Fever, WNBA, Opinion
2025 The Athletic Media Company