INDIANAPOLIS — Indiana Fever head coach Stephanie White criticized the officiating in Tuesday night’s 81-80 loss to the Dallas Wings, calling it a “double standard.”
White’s remarks followed a bruising matchup in which the Fever (18-15) battled back from a 17-point deficit but fell short on their final possession. “If it’s going to be physical, let both teams play that way,” she said. “If you’re going to call holds and chucks, call them for both sides. We’ve been consistent in our requests, but I didn’t feel the officiating was consistent.”
Throughout the game, White repeatedly approached referees during breaks to question calls. Her frustration peaked when she challenged a foul on Aliyah Boston, arguing that Dallas forward Li Yueru hooked Boston’s arm and held it during a shot attempt. Officials upheld the shooting foul on Boston even after review. White added, “I think Aliyah Boston is the worst-officiated post player in the league. She never gets a call.”
White also pointed to inconsistency in two flagrant foul reviews. Early in the game, Dallas guard Paige Bueckers was awarded a flagrant 1 after landing on Sophie Cunningham’s foot on a three-point attempt. In the fourth quarter, Kelsey Mitchell experienced a nearly identical landing foul from Grace Berger, but no flagrant was called, with referees explaining Mitchell landed on two feet before the contact. “Kelsey Mitchell gets held or chucked on every possession and never gets a call,” White said.
This is not the first time White has voiced concerns over officiating. She previously said referees “lost control” during a June 17 game against the Connecticut Sun, and she criticized calls that contributed to a May 24 last-second loss to the Liberty. WNBA Commissioner Cathy Engelbert, speaking before the All-Star Game, acknowledged officiating is under continuous review, with independent evaluations conducted throughout the season.
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