Fans Outraged Over WNBA Officiating in Caitlyn Clark’s Playoff Game
WNBA fans are fuming over what they saw as terrible officiating in Game Two of the playoff series between the Indiana Fever and the Connecticut Sun. Many believe Caitlyn Clark was unfairly treated, claiming she was the victim of multiple missed fouls that left them scratching their heads at the referees’ decisions.
Just over 3 minutes into the first quarter of the Fever’s 88-81 loss, Clark launched a deep three-pointer from near half-court. As she shot, Sun veteran DeWanna Bonner collided with her, causing Clark to lose her balance. Despite the clear contact, no foul was called. Frustrated, Clark dashed over to a referee to make her case, but her pleas went unanswered.
Later in the game, Clark caught an inbound pass and raced down the court with Sun guard Veronica Burton hot on her heels. As she drove toward the basket, Marine Johannes went up to block her layup but ended up hitting her in the face. The ESPN broadcast team was shocked when they reviewed the play, with one announcer exclaiming, “That’s a foul, an obvious foul.” Another commentator added, “And it wasn’t called!”
Fans quickly took to social media, echoing the broadcasters’ disbelief. Many criticized the referees for missing what seemed like clear fouls. One of the most heated reactions came from Barstool Sports founder Dave Portnoy, who tweeted, “That’s the most automatic call in the league. How do you miss this?” He later added, “These refs are literally blind. It’s disgusting we keep wasting challenges on fake fouls,” sharing a clip of the missed foul on Clark’s layup. Portnoy didn’t hold back, calling it “absolutely outrageous and disgusting.”
Sports commentator Stephen A. Smith also expressed his frustration, criticizing the refs in the WNBA for their poor decisions during the Fever game. The lack of calls against Clark throughout the match has raised serious questions about the consistency and fairness of WNBA officiating, with fans and analysts demanding answers.
