This article was originally published by basketball.com.au and is reproduced with permission
WNBA veteran Bec Allen told basketball.com.au the league was physical, but the primary issue players faced night in and night out was how the games were officiated.
“The league is physical, but the bigger issue is inconsistency,” she said.
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Rebecca Allen of the Chicago Sky drives against Chelsea Gray of the Las Vegas Aces. Ian Maule via Getty Images
“If games are called differently every other day, frustration follows.
“Some players feel more protected than others, and blatant missed fouls add to it.
“Players and coaches want accountability; if we get fined, why not referees for clear mistakes? Communication would solve a lot.
“The best refs explain calls — even admitting a miss — and that human element calms things down. There were officials this year I really liked, but there are others where that communication was missing.”
Allen spoke to basketball.com.au less than 48 hours before Minnesota Lynx superstar Napheesa Collier unleashed on the WNBA and its commissioner, Cathy Engelbert, in an extraordinary prepared statement.
“The real threat to our league isn’t money, ratings, missed calls, or even physical play,” Collier told media in her playoffs exit interview.
“It’s the lack of accountability from the league office. Since I’ve been in the league, you’ve heard constant concerns about officiating, and it has now reached levels of inconsistency that plague our sport and undermine its integrity.”
Allen was ejected for fighting during a heated clash against the Connecticut Sun in August.
She was elbowed in the face on the defensive end.
Game footage showed she talked to the referee on the way down the floor, but then crashed a rebound hard on the next play.
“I was ejected once this season — my mum was so disappointed,” Allen said.
“I rarely get techs. I took a hard elbow to the head with no call and saw red. I fouled hard — too hard — and I’d handle it differently now, but in that moment I snapped.
“I was shocked to be ejected so quickly.”
The Australian Opals’ star was ejected for fighting Sun’s Bria Hartley as they contested a rebound, while Sky guard Ariel Atkins joined the fray, pushing Hartley while also making contact with a referee.
Connecticut Sun’s Bria Hartley and Chicago Sky’s Rebecca Allen compete for a rebound under the basket. Sean D. Elliot via Getty Images
Sky coach Tyler Marsh said after the game officials had “overlooked” an earlier incident between the two. He said they missed Hartley hitting Allen in the face with an elbow.
“I think things like that have a tendency to happen when there’s not a control put on the game prior to,” he said.
“There’s usually an incident that goes overlooked that leads to something like that.
“[Allen] clearly got elbowed in the face right in front of the ref, and it wasn’t called. Then other things ensued.
“It’s unfortunate for us. Two players that play high-quality, high-value minutes for us.”