Officiating dominates headlines as WNBA playoffs continue

The GIST: Even with one WNBA semifinal done and dusted and the other heading for a winner-take-all Game 5, officiating continues to dominate headlines. From the buckets to the blown calls, let’s get into it.

🪐 Phoenix Mercury punch finals ticket: But Phoenix star Alyssa Thomas’ double-double in last night’s 86–81 series-clinching win wasn’t the story. The game was already embroiled in drama before tip-off as Lynx head coach Cheryl Reeve served a suspension for a tirade about the Game 3 officiating, particularly a heated late-game incident that sidelined superstar Napheesa Collier for yesterday’s elimination tilt.

🥵 Indiana Fever force series-deciding Game 5 tomorrow at 9:30 p.m. ET: Down 2-1 with their backs against the wall, the Fever tandem of Kelsey Mitchell and Aliyah Boston did what they do best, putting up a combined 49 points in a 90–83 win yesterday. The game was not without ref-induced controversy, though: The Fever shot 34 foul shots compared to the Aces’ 11.

☝️ Officiating continues to mar on-court W product: The WNBA officiating problem isn’t exactly new. Yes, refs have an incredibly challenging (and thankless) job, but the overall lack of consistency makes it difficult for players and teams to appropriately adapt in-game.

• Potentially to blame? The high turnover of WNBA officials. The league’s best are often promoted to more lucrative NBA contracts, leaving gaps that are then filled by inexperienced refs, who are also trying to climb the ladder. A frustrating cycle.