The officiating in the WNBA has been an issue all season long—and before this year. Several players and coaches have been vocal about missed calls and excessive physicality. That issue has not disappeared with the playoffs. If anything, the heightened pressure and implications in the playoffs have only increased some of the frustration with the officiating.
Becky Hammon is the latest coach to voice her displeasure with the referees after the Aces’ 90-68 win over the Fever. After a tough loss in Game 1, the Aces were able to even out the series. Despite the win, Hammon was visibly frustrated.
At first, she called out the physicality in the series. “The physicality is out of control. That’s for sure,” Hammon said in the postgame press conference. “You can bump and grab a wide receiver in the NFL for those five yards, but you can do it in the W for the whole half court…Freedom of movement. There’s no freedom of movement.”
“The freedom of movement is supposed to be a point of emphasis. Defensive three seconds is supposed to be an emphasis. I don’t know why we have points of emphasis,” Hammon added. She also said that the kind of physicality apparent in the Aces-Fever series wouldn’t be allowed in the NBA.
The Fever and Aces got to the line a combined 36 times in Game 2. In Game 1, the two teams shot 29 free throws. While Hammon thinks that more fouls could be called in this series, just the second game featured more free throws than the entire Lynx-Mercury series so far. Over two games, the Lynx and Mercury only got to the line a total of 32 times.
Hammon had to use a challenge early to overturn an out-of-bounds call
The physicality isn’t the only reason for Hammon’s frustration. She also had to use a challenge not even five minutes into the first quarter to overturn an out-of-bounds call. A’ja Wilson blocked Natasha Howard and the referees originally awarded the ball to Indiana, even though the ball went off Howard before falling out of bounds.
Hammon had to use her first coach’s challenge way earlier than is the norm. When asked about it after the game, Hammon said, “There’s three of you. I shouldn’t have to use a challenge on something that went off your head. And I’m sure every coach would agree.”
Challenges are valuable assets that can make a difference between winning and losing in close games. While Hammon retained her challenge due to the overturned call, it was frustrating to lose her first challenge that early in the game.
The Aces now have to head to Indiana
The Aces entered their semifinal matchup as the clear favorite. Indiana is playing without several key players and wasn’t even supposed to beat Atlanta in the first round. Nevertheless, the Aces lost the first meeting and now have to go to Indiana with an even 1-1 series. The Fever have a dedicated and loud fanbase that can make Gainbridge Fieldhouse a tough place to play in. Las Vegas will have to be ready to immediately deliver on both sides of the floor to take the 2-1 series lead.