The WNBA playoffs are intense, as rookie Caitlin Clark found out in her and the Indiana Fever’s first-round series against the Connecticut Sun. Still, referees are responsible for making sure that players stay safe throughout a game.
That seemed to be too much to ask for on Wednesday night.
In Game Two of the playoff series between the Fever and Sun, serious accusations were levied against the refs for mistreating Clark and failing to ensure that the star guard was treated safely.
One play in particular caused an uproar online. Sun star DeWanna Bonner seemingly failed to give Clark enough space to land on her three-point attempt, an illegal play that often results in serious ankle injuries, but no foul was called on the play.
Let’s show why the 🐐 was upset…
Clearly a foul, Caitlin Clark had no space to land.
It’s crazy how that was missed & the Fever had to use a challenge AGAIN to have a foul corrected 🤦🏾♂️
Refs need glasses 👓 pic.twitter.com/Lh9slqS0lZ
— Kyle Tusing (@ktusing34) September 26, 2024
Fans online were outraged over the no-call.
“How is this not a foul call in favor of Caitlin Clark??? She literally had no landing space,” one fan said on Twitter.
“Clearly a foul, Caitlin Clark had no space to land. It’s crazy how that was missed,” another said.
“dewanna didn’t give Clark a place to land on the 3 PT shot. It should’ve been called a foul & wasnt,” someone wrote.
“Why do the refs never call a foul when Defenders land in Caitlin Clark‘s Landing space on a three? It’s actually a flagrant foul to land at their feet,” another fan added.
The referees seem to be officiating Clark differently, which is strange considering how much she does for the league.
It’ll be interesting to see if the issue is addressed in the offseason by the WNBA.
