Chicago Sky coach Tyler Marsh is the latest leader in the WNBA to call out refs for their officiating — except Marsh did so in dramatic fashion, and was ultimately ejected from the team's Saturday game against the Sun. And though Marsh approached the ref in question a big, um, energetically, his crash out was completely justified and points to a larger issue the league has contended with all season.
Marsh, who was making his frustration with the refs visible well before the moment in question, absolutely lost his composure during the game's second quarter. The Sky were trailing the Sun by 15 points when Elizabeth Williams got tangled up with Aaliyah Edwards, and Marsh decided enough was enough.
Marsh stormed toward the official in question with an arm raised, and for a brief moment many fans (and probably players on the floor) worried the situation could escalate further. Marsh was soon restrained by security (and even Angel Reese) and escorted from the floor. The official in question admitted after the game that refs "did not see illegal contact" during the game, but once the moment was reviewed "there was contact that should have been called."
When it comes to WNBA reffing, something has to give
While Marsh's response wasn't ideal (everyone on the floor deserves to feel safe at all times), his outburst does underscore an issue that has dominated conversations within and about the WNBA all season: the reffing seems especially uneven and even detrimental to the game this season. As Marsh pointed out during the postgame press conference, refs have very little accountability when they do make mistakes, and that's what has allowed the situation to become as contentious as it has.
"Today would have been another game that went by where we get calls admitting mistakes and nobody has to answer for them," Marsh said. "But our players continually have to answer when they don’t play well, and our coaches around the league have to continuously answer when they make decisions that don’t go their way."
The Sky ultimately lost the game 94-84, and it's unclear how this potential call could have impacted play if it had been made. The Sky and the Sun have also had dramatic games before — the last time the two teams met, Aerial Powers and Rebecca Allen were both ejected for the Sky, and Bria Hartley was ejected for the Sun. At the time, Marsh blamed unchecked and unnoticed fouls for the debacle.