These days, it’s not a big game without a highly controversial refereeing decision.
UW forced back-to-back turnovers and held the ball, trailing 70-69 with 10 seconds left after a timeout call.
However, Aaliyah Edwards was subsequently called for an illegal review, and the whistle seemed to have been very minimal.
Gabby Marshall, screened by Edwards, certainly seemed to sell the phone, and Edwards barely moved after planting her face on screen and establishing herself.
Edwards moved his left foot slightly into Marshall, but it didn’t seem to be enough to warrant a call, especially considering how the match had progressed up to that point.
UW then fouled Caitlin Clark, who made 1 of 2 free throws, and Iowa held on to win 71-69.
It spoiled what was by all accounts a thrilling Final Four clash.
And it immediately caused widespread condemnation.
“There’s probably an illegal screen call on every possession,” UW coach Geno Auriemma said after the game. “All I know is that we had three or four of them called, but I don’t think any of them were called.”
ESPN’s Andraya Carter appears on “SportsCenter” I even said: “I don’t know if I can say this on TV, but that phone call was the worst.”
LeBron James agreed with that opinion.
“Naaaaaaaaaaaaa!!!” he posted on x. “I can’t take that call.”
UW legend and Phoenix Mercury star Diana Taurasi agreed.
“That’s a bad call.” she said on the post-game show.. “We always talk about letting the players decide the game, especially those innocuous calls that didn’t really affect the players. They were still going over the screen, but that It’s really tough to let the game end like that. … I want the players to make the decision, and it was disappointing that they couldn’t do that tonight.”
Even former LSU superstar Angel Reese, whose Tigers lost to Iowa in the Elite Eight, had the same sentiment.
“Wait, wasn’t that screen set to clean?” she wrote to x.
The Hawkeyes will face undefeated South Carolina in the NCAA Tournament championship game.
Clark overcame some early struggles to score 21 points, and Hannah Stuelke led Iowa with 23 points.
Paige Bueckers and Edwards each led University with 17 points.
