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WNBA Referees Are Under Fire For ‘Failing’ Caitlin Clark originally appeared on The Spun.
The Indiana Fever’s impressive win over the Connecticut Sun this Tuesday night was overshadowed by a pair of altercations that went down on the hardwood.
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During the third quarter of the Fever-Sun game, Jacy Sheldon hit Caitlin Clark in the face as she was swiping at the ball. Clark, who was upset with the foul, tried chirping at Sheldon before getting laid out by Marina Mabrey.
Although it was a blatant cheap shot on Mabrey’s end, the WNBA’s officials weren’t willing to eject her. Instead, they let her off the hook with a technical foul.
Later in the game, however, Sophie Cunningham was thrown out for a hard foul on Sheldon. Some fans thought the refs set a double standard.
Award-winning columnist Christine Brennan shared her thoughts on the WNBA’s officiating. She ultimately believes the league “failed to meet the moment” when Mabrey shoved Clark.
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To make a long story short, Brennan is saying the WNBA should’ve ejected Mabrey.
“The WNBA continues to fail to meet the moment,” Brennan wrote on X. “Terrible decision to allow Marina Mabrey to stay in the game. People are watching as never before. And this is what they see?”
INDIANAPOLIS, IN – JUNE 17: Indiana Fever guard Caitlin Clark (22) reacts after being hit I the face by Connecticut Sun guard Jacy Sheldon (4) during a WNBA game between the Connecticut Sun and the Indiana Fever on June 17, 2025 at Gainbridge Fieldhouse in Indianapolis, IN. (Photo by Jeffrey Brown/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)Icon Sportswire/Getty Images
Brennan wasn’t the only person who ripped the WNBA’s officials.
“Marina Mabrey being allowed to stay in the game further proves how big of a joke WNBA officials are,” David Eickholt of 247Sports said. “A player is holding their eye and gets thrown to the floor from the back.”
“Marina Mabrey clearly shoving Caitlin Clark to the ground after a DEAD BALL and not getting ejected from the game is absolutely unbelievable,” another person declared. “That was so clearly not a basketball play at all. Seriously do better refs.”
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The WNBA has a lot of explaining to do over the next 24 hours, make no mistake about it.
Will the WNBA learn from Tuesday’s mistakes though? Only time will tell.
Related: Brawl Breaks Out After Sophie Cunningham Fouls Caitlin Clark’s Rival
WNBA Referees Are Under Fire For ‘Failing’ Caitlin Clark first appeared on The Spun on Jun 18, 2025
This story was originally reported by The Spun on Jun 18, 2025, where it first appeared.
