WNBA Faces Growing Crisis as Backlash Intensifies originally appeared on Athlon Sports.
The WNBA’s season-long frustration with questionable officiating has reached a boiling point. Fans and players are openly airing grievances, and the tension finally snapped Friday during a heated matchup between the Minnesota Lynx and Washington Mystics.
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Mystics rookie Sonia Citron appeared to be fouled hard by DiJonai Carrington in the paint, but no whistle came. Many viewers held their breath, only to be left stunned by the no-call.
A fan tweeted, “You’re telling me I have to respect @WNBA Officials when they go to the instant replay booth and miss calls like this? This garbage (expletive) type call.”
The post summed up the growing resentment perfectly. What was odd about this specific call is that a foul was called, but was overturned.
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Even as elite athletes battle at the highest level, whispers of bias and inconsistency have grown into shouts of concern. Voices ranging from fan forums to locker rooms are questioning not just individual calls, but the system that allows them to happen.
What the WNBA Is Doing to Fix the Officiating Problem
Commissioner Cathy Engelbert has stepped into the spotlight, acknowledging the mounting concerns.
She has said the league hears the complaints and that “consistency is the name of the game” as they evaluate ways to improve officiating standards.
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Head of officiating Monty McCutchen has emphasized that officials are dedicated to enhancing their training and performance. The league still faces structural challenges like part-time referees, lower pay and fewer resources compared to the NBA.
Many fans took to social media to complain about the poor officiating on the Citron-Carrington call.
WNBA Commissioner Cathy Engelbert has made attempts to address the numerous complaints about officiating from players.Vincent Carchietta-Imagn Images
“Just be happy Carrington did not hit her in the face. Refs have missed this type of foul all year. They do not understand freedom of movement,” said one fan. While another noted, “She always raking near the face!”
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“She keeps fouling and getting away with it just to be called a ‘great’ perimeter defender 😂😂😂😂,” read another reply.
One fan had a lot to say, “For real. Refs simply don’t have a single standard for anything whatsoever. It’s currently all subjective, trying to read what the player was trying to do. They should make it much simpler and call ALL contact on a shot, and any contact that impedes motion on a no-shot.”
Another fan put it on the refs, “It’s how you know the refs are the problem. They can’t even get multi-angle replays right. Just set up a temporary review office at the WNBA headquarters like the NHL does. Takes some pressure off the refs too, which can’t hurt at this point.”
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Players’ Outcry Highlights How Deep the Issue Runs
Across the league, players have been blunt. Angel Reese has called the officiating “diabolical” and refused to walk back the criticism.
Kelsey Plum described the calls as “(expletive) absurd” after a game full of questionable whistles. Sophie Cunningham took her frustration online, first in a TikTok video mocking referees, for which she was fined, and then again on her podcast, where she was fined a second time.
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Washington Mystics guard Sonia Citron had a foul overturned from Minnesota Lynx guard DiJonai Carrington on Friday.© Bruce Kluckhohn-Imagn Images
It’s not just players voicing concerns. Coaches and fans have joined in, arguing that without fair, consistent officiating, the league’s growth and legitimacy are at risk.
The WNBA is now at a crossroads, where fixing officiating flaws is about more than fairness. It is about preserving credibility at a time when national attention on the league has never been higher.
The league’s next moves could define its future, both in the eyes of players and the fans who demand better.
Related: Fever Star Sophie Cunningham Lived Up To Her Nickname in Blowout Loss
This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Aug 9, 2025, where it first appeared.
