Controversy in the WNBA: Criticism of Refereeing and Injuries in Playoffs
Amidst criticisms regarding the level of physical play this season, league sources informed Alofoke Deportes that data does not show a correlation between recent playoff injuries and questionable referee decisions. The WNBA’s officiating operation reviews data throughout the season to address what are considered “legitimate criticisms” and to identify areas for improvement for referees. Through this process, the officiating operations committee determined that the accusations that officiating errors have led to more injuries are unfounded. This arises from the public concern of high-level players and coaches who demand that the league address what they consider to be poor refereeing performance. Recently, Minnesota Lynx coach Cheryl Reeve was suspended after requesting a change in league leadership regarding who hires and assigns referees to games. Reeve will serve the suspension during Game 4 of the Lynx’s semifinal series against the Phoenix Mercury on Sunday.The incident involved a collision between Phoenix’s Alyssa Thomas and Collier after stealing the ball from the MVP runner-up, with no foul called. On Sunday, Las Vegas Aces coach Becky Hammon, who criticized the officiating before Game 1 of her team’s semifinal series against the Indiana Fever, backed Reeve and her comments.It was “bad practice” for the WNBA to assign the three referees who worked Game 3, questioning their credentials after their star player, Napheesa Collier, was injured in the final seconds.
Cheryl Reeve
The same officiating crew that worked Game 3 in Phoenix is working Game 4 in Indiana on Sunday. Previously, Hammon said that the level of physical play that WNBA referees are allowing would never be tolerated in any other league. Fever coach Stephanie White said Reeve “brought up many valid points”.From what I heard, she didn’t lie. She told the truth.
Becky Hammon
White continued to explain that it’s often infrastructure in terms of training, it’s often financial. And it’s really investing in who we have as officials, and sometimes it’s labor. Who is entering the program? How do we get them to stay? How do we keep them growing and improving? Do we have more resources to support them? Do we have more resources to help, whether it’s something like a replay center? And those are conversations that continue to be ongoing. The league goes through a three-pillar evaluation process to determine its officials, sources said. First, there is a review by WNBA officiating officials. Second, there is a panel of independent reviewers who analyze the referees and their work. Third, there is a text line to which coaches can send feedback after each game. There are also mid-season and end-of-season reviews of all officials. The WNBA will not punish officials with fines or suspensions for a single error, but will evaluate their work throughout the season. If there is a common series of errors, that will be addressed, sources said.Every part of our league has improved, and that part has been left behind, for whatever reason.
Stephanie White
