Stephanie White slams WNBA officiating: Fever’s Cup run shadowed by chaos

Indiana Fever coach Stephanie White slammed WNBA officiating following a turbulent Commissioner's Cup semifinal victory over the Connecticut Sun on Tuesday.

The Fever secured their first-ever appearance in the Commissioner's Cup Final, set for July 1, but the win was marred by multiple scuffles and controversial calls.

White criticized the referees, calling the poor officiating a league-wide problem, stating, "everybody [in the league] is getting better, except the officials."

The game featured intense physicality, with Fever star Caitlin Clark involved in several altercations, including a technical foul for shoving Sun guard Jacy Sheldon in the third quarter.

Tensions escalated after Sheldon poked a Fever guard in the eye during a pass attempt, leading to a series of fouls and confrontations. Sun guard Marina Mabrey further inflamed the situation by knocking Clark to the ground.

Officials responded by upgrading Sheldon's foul to a flagrant 1 and issuing technical fouls to Clark, Mabrey, and Fever player Charles. The Fever crowd vocally expressed their displeasure, booing officials and Mabrey throughout the remainder of the game.

In the final minute, Fever player Cunningham was assessed a flagrant 2 foul for pulling Sheldon down, sparking a massive player swarm and resulting in the ejections of Cunningham, Sheldon, and Lindsay Allen.

Despite the chaos, the Fever's victory advances them to the Final, but the game’s disorder has raised concerns about officiating standards in the WNBA.

"Bad officiating" overshadows Fever's milestone win, highlighting ongoing league challenges.

Indiana Fever coach Stephanie White criticized WNBA officiating after a chaotic Commissioner's Cup semifinal marked by multiple scuffles and ejections. The Fever advanced to their first Final in five years, but the game was overshadowed by missed calls and physical confrontations involving Caitlin Clark and Connecticut Sun players.