Indianapolis

The spotlight was on the Fever rather than the players as they aimed to make a strong statement against the reigning champions, Liberty, during Saturday’s game at home.

In the tense final seconds, all the calls seemed to go against the Fever, culminating in a moment where Kate Linklark was stripped of the ball by Natasha Cloud right before the final buzzer.

After the game, Fever head coach Stephanie White expressed her concerns about not only the final play but also the treatment her team had received recently from officials. “I thought she had been fouled,” White commented. “It’s pretty alarming what’s happening with the free throw discrepancies lately—minus 31 in total. If we’re just shooting threes, maybe we need to reconsider.”

White added, “It’s disappointing that we’re not getting the same calls or support.” She referenced the significant difference in free throw attempts during the game against Liberty, where New York shot 17 free throws, and a previous match against the Dream, emphasizing ongoing issues with officiating.

The end of Saturday’s game was equally contentious. Dewanna Bonner attempted a layup but was blocked by Cloud amid a flurry of contact, which left the crowd buzzing.

Postgame, White labeled the incident a “crazy” play. Even with limited replays shown, it seemed the calls were contentious among fans and analysts alike.

Following that play, Sabrina Ionescu made her way to the rim, only to be fouled by Lexie Hull, which sent her to the line for two free throws with just 2.9 seconds left on the clock.

White stated, “Honestly, those two calls were awful. Bonner’s situation? It was wild. Lexie…we talk about making smart plays under pressure. It’s frustrating, especially since we’re trying to navigate through these tough calls.”

Similar to the NBA, the WNBA has a system where teams can submit video clips to league officials if they feel a call was incorrect, though White pointed out that it can be a tricky process with unclear outcomes.

She said, “There’s a way to send in concerns and have a conversation about it. But honestly, it’s not about asking for changes. It’s more about ensuring consistency.” With that, the sentiments of both teams about the fairness of officiating lingered in the air.