Brianna Turner, a new addition to the Indiana Fever and Caitlin Clark‘s team for the 2025 season, is already calling attention to an issue that has been growing alarmingly in recent years: officiating problems that could carry over into the WNBA.
There has been excitement about its potential to elevate women’s basketball within the United States through the launch of Unrivaled, a new league known for its expanded salary, top-tier amenities, and media exposure,
However, Turner is concerned that a rise in officiating controversies within Unrivaled might be a preview of what’s to come in the WNBA after Angel Reese‘s February 21 ejection proved to be the latest suspect call.
“While Unrivaled refs have a tendency to hand out techs often,” Turner said via X.com, formerly Twitter. “I’m just hopeful that means they won’t deal out as many during the W[NBA] season.
“They’re getting all of them out now.”
Turner‘s hope is that these disciplinary calls won’t follow the athletes into the WNBA, particularly since some of the referees involved are familiar faces from last season’s WNBA games.
Unrivaled’s officiating has recently been the subject of heated debate and it’s not just connected to the Chicago Sky’s 22-year-old Reese either, especially after several controversial moments elsewhere in Florida.
Then, in a dramatic Mist vs Phantom game, a late-game technical foul on Phantom coach Adam Harrington altered the entire outcome of the match; and during the league’s 1-on-1 tournament, a questionable foul call led to Courtney Williams advancing.
Turner, joining a talented roster that includes Aliyah Boston, Natasha Howard, and, of course, Caitlin Clark for 2025, is eager to see players perform at their best without the game being overshadowed by controversial officiating decisions.
With her WNBA experience and past history with the Phoenix Mercury, she knows how critical fair play and consistency are, especially for teams with championship aspirations as the Fever chase their first title since 2012.
Is it a WNBA thing or a basketball thing?
This pattern of inconsistent officiating is not limited to Unrivaled. In fact, technical fouls have become an increasing issue across various levels of basketball, including the NBA and WNBA. The WNBA handed out 92 technical fouls before the All-Star break last season, surpassing the total number from the previous year.
Even in the NBA, star players like Luka Doncic of the Dallas Mavericks have been at the forefront of foul-related controversies, with the Slovenian reaching 477 fouls in just 70 games during the 2023-24 season. Critics often accuse the Los Angeles Lakers’ LeBron James of being let off easily.
With rising concerns surrounding officiating consistency, it’s clear that action may be needed to preserve the integrity of the game across all levels of basketball.
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