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What’s next? The aftermath of Saturday night in Phoenix

By Kim Doss

PHOENIX, AZ- AUGUST 10: Brittney Griner #42 of the Phoenix Mercury looks on during the game against the Dallas Wings on August 10, 2019 at the Talking Stick Resort Arena, in Phoenix, Arizona. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2019 NBAE (Photo by Michael Gonzales/NBAE via Getty Images)
PHOENIX, AZ- AUGUST 10: Brittney Griner #42 of the Phoenix Mercury looks on during the game against the Dallas Wings on August 10, 2019 at the Talking Stick Resort Arena, in Phoenix, Arizona. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2019 NBAE (Photo by Michael Gonzales/NBAE via Getty Images) /
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Views on the refs, the ejections, and the Dallas victory from the Phoenix locker room.

Last week, Across the Timeline noted that the WNBA was on track to have the fewest number of disqualifications in its history this year. After the events at Talking Stick Resort Arena on Saturday night that led to six ejections for fighting and leaving the bench, members of the Phoenix Mercury were questioning whether the turn in officiating was a good one.

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Both Phoenix coach Sandy Brondello and Diana Taurasi alluded to a build-up, both over the season and over the course of the game, that they believed erupted in the third quarter.

The first half was foul-ridden with the teams combining for 41 free throw attempts in the opening 20 minutes. The two leading scorers–Arike Ogunbowale (11 points) and Yvonne Turner (10 points) – had done almost all of their scoring from the line, with each player scoring 7 points from the charity stripe.

Did that have an effect on how the second half was called and the eventual altercation between Brittney Griner and Kristine Anigwe? Taurasi felt that it did. More importantly, she believes it is evidence that the league isn’t willing to protect its players, putting the onus on them to protect themselves.

“When you have referees that came to those situations and let situations get to that point,” Taurasi said. “I mean, BG gets pretty much beat up every single game. The minute she steps on the floor, she gets basically physically abused, and a person can just take so much. I think she’s doing a great job of being poised, just playing her game, and when you get hit in the face the refs aren’t willing to protect you night in, night out, you gotta protect yourself.

“They definitely don’t pay you enough money not to protect yourself in this league. There’s a lot at stake, playing all around the world, and if the league feels like it shouldn’t protect its players by letting a lot of things go during the game…

“I have obviously watched a lot of games this year because I haven’t been playing. This is the most physical it’s been a long time. And when you say you want things to be free-flowing and you want freedom of movement, and then you see people just physically hitting each other the whole game throughout the year, things like this will keep happening.”

For her part, Brondello wasn’t surprised that problems eventually arose between Griner and Anigwe, specifically.

“Anigwe has done similar things when we played her in Connecticut,” Brondello said. “The referees need to have a little bit more control of that.”

Regardless, Dallas was able to maintain their mental edge despite being down to six players, one of whom picked up five fouls in the first half, after the ejections. When push came to shove, Phoenix had the lead and the ball, but couldn’t keep from turning it over or get the crucial rebound.

“It’s unfortunate,” Brondello said. “Dallas is a tough team because they’re so aggressive and physical, which is probably not what we are. We always have tough games against them. I thought we could have pulled it off even without BG, but they made plays and made the three and tied it up. Then, with Ogunbowale and sending them to the foul line, that was hard. And the offensive rebound on the free-throw line, that should never happen.”

As for what happens going forward, the hit will be far tougher for Phoenix than for Dallas. The Mercury is still clinging to the final playoff spot, while this was the Wings’ first road win all year. The Mercury now sit at 11-12 with the New York Liberty (8-14) two games behind in the loss column.

The Mercury also face the possible suspension of Briann January, who was ejected for leaving the bench. The loss of Kayla Thornton, Kaela Davis and Anigwe is unlikely to hit the Wings in the same way that the loss of Griner and January will affect Phoenix.

Phoenix doesn’t have the players to withstand too many more personnel losses, especially considering the caliber of the players who are facing suspension. The team already had to sign multiple replacement players due to injuries. In addition to Taurasi, Essence Carson, Alana Smith and Sancho Lyttle sat out against Dallas.

In 2008, the longest suspension handed down by the league for the Detroit Shock-LA Sparks altercation was four games.

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