Becky Hammon slams WNBA refs over foul reviews: 'Encouraging more drama'
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Las Vegas Aces coach Becky Hammon is frustrated with WNBA referees.
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Following a 109-75 loss to the Indiana Fever on Sunday, Hammon condemned what she felt was an excessive number of foul reviews. In the second quarter alone, there were multiple reviews, including one involving Caitlin Clark. Clark was guarding Aces guard Chelsey Gray and was called for a foul after making contact with Gray.
Once the whistle was blown to stop play, Clark immediately doubled over, going to the ground. Clark was down for several moments before rising to her feet and asking the officiating crew to call a foul on Gray as she walked to the Fever bench.
The sequence was reviewed for a possible fragrant foul on Gray. Upon taking a closer look, the common foul call on Clark stood, and Gray was not called for a foul. Clark's foul was the first in a line of three fouls within the period that were reviewed for upgrades to flagrants, but later upheld as common following reviews.
"It's exhausting when they go to the review every time. I mean, these games are getting longer and longer. It's encouraging more drama," Hammon said postgame. "So, it's like somebody gets hit, and it's like take them to the hospital. And they jump up, and they're fine. So I actually think it's not just today. It's across the league. There's so many reviews."
The WNBA's foul review process has recently come under scrutiny, following a June incident with Clark and Alyssa Thomas.A group of Republican lawmakers penned a letter to WNBA commissioner Cathy Engelbert earlier this month, “pressing for greater accountability following repeated acts of physical violence” against Clark. The letter was signed by 11 members of the Republican Study Committee, including Texas Rep. August Pfluger, who led the effort.
“Clark has been hip-checked, poked in the eye, and struck in the throat during games. These incidents go far beyond routine physical play, yet the WNBA and its officiating have too often failed to address these unacceptable incidents and hold players accountable," Fluger said.
When reached for additional comment by USA TODAY Sports on Wednesday, Pfluger said the following: “The question we're asking is simple: Will the WNBA protect its players or won't it? Commissioner Engelbert can hold those responsible for the violence against Caitlin Clark accountable and show the next generation of female athletes this league is safe, or she can keep turning a blind eye to it while the violence continues on national television.”
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Becky Hammon slams WNBA refs over foul reviews: 'Encouraging more drama'