A Caitlin Clark-less Indiana Fever returned to the Gainbridge Fieldhouse to repeat their heroics from earlier this July against the Las Vegas Aces. While their 80-70 win did achieve that, it also triggered the talk of the WNBA world– the officiating. While it’s a league-wide topic, the absence of the same has not gone unnoticed in Indiana with HC Stephanie White calling out their “inconsistent officiating” on multiple occasions. 

In fact, she went a step ahead after the Sun game where Clark was wrestled throughout the game because “the level of physicality overall in our league has been at a different level than it’s been for a long time.” Add in that the Gamecock fire. No doubt, every Fever vs Aces game is going to need a fire extinguisher just for what goes on in the paint. Dawn Staley’s two favorites, A’ja Wilson and Aliyah Boston, make sure to box it out in the restricted area. 

While the first two games did not attract much outside heat for officiating, the stripes in the final season meeting did get some glares from the fandom. It all started in their second quarter of the game. With 8:43 on the game clock, Aliyah Boston made a run into the paint with Wilson guarding her. But the screening was so close that Boston was unable to make her move up into the basket. After a 10-second bout to keep the ball away from Wilson and NaLyssa Smith on the front, the referee finally blew the whistle. Only, the call was…

… a ‘jump ball.” Boston went directly to Amy Bonner, one of the referees on the line visibly saying, “She came from my back.” Even the commentator, Debbie Antonelli, spoke, “When you get someone from the back, it doesn’t usually get you a jumpball.” However, the game went on and the Fever finally won the season series over the Aces in the 80-70 grind. But according to WNBA Rules, a jump ball may occur to settle any held balls.

But the people? Well, Indiana is known for its loyal fanbase. And they weren’t wrong.

Fans react to Refs making a wrong call against Aliyah Boston

Although the game was later in Indiana’s hands, at that moment, it could have tied the game. However, with Jackie Young gaining possession, the outcome could have gone differently. Least to say, the Indy crowd wasn’t happy with the call that should’ve gone to Boston.

“This was called a jump ball. Seriously???😒😒😒 AB is absolutely fed up of this B-😭😭😭,” one fan said about the whole incident. Certainly, it is not the best ways to settle an argument. However, the ball was certainly in Boston’s hand. With Wilson trying to reach from behind and Smith still quite far to actually make a move on the ball, the possession should’ve stayed with Indiana.

Just a few days ago, Tina Charles straight up shoved Aliyah Boston to the ground and got hit with only a common foul. Natasha Cloud’s hard contact on Caitlin Clark earlier in the season? Nothing given! Marina Mabrey and Jacy Sheldon’s scuffle with Clark? No ejection!

So, it is understandable why fans are saying, “The call was laughable. So goes the refs of the WNBA. Second guessing, calling late fouls, jump balls after controversial calls, and on and on. This league will never be thought of as serious till they get rid of the refs. Increase their pay scale and bring in quality officials!!” 

And this wouldn’t be the first time someone poking at the quality of WNBA officials. The inconsistency in calling of the same plays in two different ways certainly needs to be straightened out.

Coach White went on record saying she was fined for calling the officials out. Sophie Cunningham got fined for making a TikTok calling out the refs. And it’s not just the Fever who suffer from such calls; other teams are in the mix as well.

Coach Nakase, for example, came out and said she was begging for consistency from the refs after a close loss to the Mercury earlier this month. Becky Hammon has expressed her frustrations against the refs countless times this season already. Naturally, fans coming out and saying “Pathetic!” against the officials is reasonable.

Beyond that, there were also fans who were quick to point out that A’ja Wilson gets calls like this in her favor. “Wilson gets away with these fouls all the time… Especially against the Fever,” they said. And to be fair, they weren’t wrong. Remember the July 4 game between the Aces and the Fever? While Indiana completely dominated, there was one nearly identical moment, this time with Wilson and Lexie Hull instead of Boston. A’ja came from behind, made contact trying to steal the ball, and instead of a foul, the officials once again called a jump ball. Deja vu, anyone?

That said, given how often Wilson and Boston go head-to-head, we probably should’ve seen this coming – especially with this being the final regular-season clash between the Aces and the Fever. We have had enough flashes before, with Boston even getting frustrated with all the back-and-forth and Wilson accusing the Fever star of flopping (as the lip readers say). Understandably, in the next matchup, it seemed like Boston’s eyes were on Wilson only as she dialed up the physicality against her from the get-go.

Well, she has really been holding her own in the paint. However, as one fan thinks, the refs have been trying to bring her down. “Honestly what other starting big averages 2 freethrows a game in the WNBA? She gets zero calls,” they said. And look, Boston had a bad game as mentioned above, but she also went to the free throw line a grand total of zero times in 35 minutes. For a big, that’s unusual. When you’re taking hits in the paint, you’d expect a few whistles your way… right? And that reminds us of Kelsey Plum.

“I don’t understand how that’s six free throws playing 40 minutes and touching the paint almost every play. It’s absurd, it’s absurd,” Plum said after a loss to the Valkyries after shooting a total of six free-throws. So, clearly, the officiating is not consistent and despite several pleas, nothing is improving. What is your take? Do you also find yourself wondering what the refs are calling games for?