Kelsey Plum slams refs in Valkyries game — but is it really that bad?

Kelsey Plum is mad. The Sparks veteran unleashed a tirade against what she believes was a series of poor calls from refs during the team's Monday night game against the Valkyries — a game Golden State won 89-81 in overtime. The game was the team's second loss to the Valkyries, and the Sparks now have a 3-7 record this season. While Plum's comments being delivered after a disappointing loss could be seen as poor sportsmanship, the veteran guard isn't wrong — something needs to change when it comes to officiating WNBA games, which can begin with establishing consistent calls across the league.

Plum acknowledged the likelihood of receiving a fine for what she needed to say, but she said it anyway. After pointing out that she drives to the basket "more than anyone in the league," she pointed out the number of free throws she took in one game. "So, to shoot six free throws is f---ing absurd. I got scratches on my face, I got scratches on my body, and these guards on the other team get these ticky-tack fouls, and I'm sick of it. I get fouled like that on every possession."

She added that teammate Rickea Jackson "gets fouled like that in the post all the time" but a call isn't made. "There are multiple shots at the end of the game, either going into the third, into the fourth, where they're just coming out and just f---ing swining, and they don't call anything," Plum continued. "I don't understand how that's... six free throws. I'm playing 40 minutes, touching the paint on almost every play. It's absurd."

Plum noted she "needed to make more shots late-game," but the fouls got in her way. "I'm very frustrated with that, and I'm sick of it ... I don't what I need to do. I've talked to the refs nice, I pray before the game, like, f---, I'm over it."

Valkyries vs. Sparks: were there too many fouls?

The Sparks' coach Lynne Roberts also chimed in (after Plum said she'd pay any fine Roberts received). "Three of those were off a three. One was technical, a three-second violation," she noted. "She got one time to the free-throw line attacking. When you think about it, it’s not right. ... Obviously, the scouting report is to be as physical as you can with her. And it’s being allowed." Plum, who ended the game with 24 points, 7 assists, and 4 rebounds, also spoke with the game's officials — Jenna Reneau, Biniam Maru and Blanca Burns — after the game.

To understand Plum's frustration, it's imperative to look back at what happened during the game (especially its final moments) and what did not. Plum rose to the occasion and attempted to power the Sparks to a late-game win at the bottom of the fourth quarter. With just under 40 seconds left in the game, it was clear the Valkyries were nearly entirely focused on stopping Plum from scoring no matter the cost — and Plum fought through defender after defender to sink a 3-pointer and bring up the score to 78-76 in favor of the Sparks.

The Valkyries returned fire, laying up the ball with only seconds left and pushing the match into overtime. Jackson didn't get the ball at any point during overtime, an oversight the Sparks will likely address before their next game, and Hamby missed two layups that could have given the Sparks the fuel they needed to win.

It's also worth noting the Valkyries came away from the game with 49 total rebounds (a feat that is all the more impressive when considering the team added the bulk of those in the second half) to the Sparks' 34, a worrying trend that has the latter averaging 32.2 total rebounds per game this season. Fouls were certainly dire and intense, but the Valkyries also exposed several holes in the Sparks' game.

Plum isn't the only WNBA player calling out refs this season

The Indiana Fever has also made a lot of noise about foul calls this season, and for good reason. After the team's loss to the New York Liberty — the same game that caused Caitlin Clark's left quadriceps injury — White noted that she believed Clark was fouled on the final possession.

"I think it’s pretty egregious what’s been happening to us these last few games," she told reporters following the game. "A minus-31 free throw discrepancy (over three games) — I might be able to understand that if we’re chucking 3s, but we’re not. We’re attacking the rim. The disrespect right now for our team has been pretty unbelievable. It’s disappointing that it doesn’t go both ways, but we can’t allow that to consume us."

The game's final minutes were marred by a series of questionable calls. DeWanna Bonner wasn't given a foul call after Natasha Cloud's arm hit her in the face during a crucial layup attempt, and a foul was called on the Fever's Lexie Hull despite White's protestations. New York attempted 32 free throws during the game compared to the Fever's 15.

"You know, I felt like [Aliyah Boston] got [fouled], had one going to the rim. (Bonner's non-call) was crazy. And in Lexie's, I felt like, equally, you know, we talked about coming into the path," White also said. "And it was an offensive player, varying into the defensive player’s path. So, I mean, it is what it is. We have to be able to play through it. But at the same time, I feel like it's really disrespectful."

The WNBA needs clear and consisting reffing

The biggest issue that needs to be addressed is a lack of consistency across the league — not individual refs per game. There have been key elements of calling a game that are consistently discussed and that vary wildly — what is a travel and what is not, landing space calls, and what constitutes freedom of movement in particular — that should be addressed.

The WNBA is a physical league, and we are certainly all seeing that now, something that makes it all the more imperative that a consistent standard is implemented no matter what teams are on the court and what city they're playing in. Otherwise, players and coaches are going to continue to speak out — and at some point, officials will be forced t o listen.