Rough play often takes center stage when it comes to the Indiana Fever.<\/p>\n
As the Aces head to Indianapolis for Game 3 of their semifinal series against the Fever on Friday, the pressure is higher than ever for the officials to get it right.<\/p>\n
Coach Becky Hammon, after her team routed Indiana 90-68 in Game 2<\/a> on Tuesday to tie the best-of-five series 1-1, was asked why both games felt more intense than the final scores would indicate.<\/p>\n \u201cThe physicality is out of control; that\u2019s for sure,\u201d Hammon said. \u201cThere\u2019s no freedom (of movement). And I\u2019m not saying that we\u2019re not fouling, too. I\u2019m saying it\u2019s out of control.\u201d<\/p>\n Referees did call more fouls in Game 2, issuing 41 on Tuesday compared to the 27 they gave out in the Fever\u2019s 89-73 victory in Game 1<\/a>.<\/p>\n Indiana coach Stephanie White was unhappy with the change. The Aces took 21 free throws in Game 2, compared to 15 for the Fever.<\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s hard for us to find flow when there\u2019s a foul call every 10 seconds,\u201d White said Tuesday. \u201cWhen they\u2019re at the free-throw line, we can\u2019t get up and down the floor. And that\u2019s the challenge. They were much more aggressive and physical defensively.\u201d<\/p>\n Fever guard Odyssey Sims said before the series began that whichever team is more aggressive early often earns a more favorable whistle.<\/p>\n Indiana did that in Game 1, shooting 17 free throws to the Aces\u2019 12. Guard Jackie Young said her team did not match the Fever\u2019s intensity and physicality.<\/p>\n But White noted Tuesday that Indiana guard Kelsey Mitchell was like \u201ca little pinball\u201d with all the contact she took in Game 2. Mitchell scored 13 points on 4-for-14 shooting in the loss, after dominating with 34 points in Game 1.<\/p>\n Even ESPN analyst LaChina Robinson said during the TV broadcast of Game 2 that the officials needed to make changes.<\/p>\n \u201cOne thing that has to happen in this series is the officials need to clean up contact on the ball handler, and they\u2019ve got to clean up some of these fouls on screens,\u201d Robinson said in the final four minutes of Tuesday\u2019s blowout. \u201cThere\u2019s a lot of physicality and a lot happening on the court.\u201d<\/p>\n Hostile territory<\/p>\n Hammon anticipated that physicality would be an issue after the Fever\u2019s first-round series with the Atlanta Dream.<\/p>\n She said Indiana\u2019s 87-85 win in a decisive Game 3 was a \u201cfootball match\u201d that featured hits she claimed would send a normal civilian to jail.<\/p>\n Hammon, when asked if the intensity could rise on the Fever\u2019s home court, said she knew her team would keep its composure. But she also criticized the WNBA\u2019s officiating.<\/p>\n \u201cMost of my assistants come from the NBA, and they\u2019re like, \u2018This level of physicality would not fly in the NBA. There would be fights,\u2019 \u201d Hammon said. \u201cWe just have well-mannered women that can get to the next play. But there would be fights.\u201d<\/p>\n One of the two fights in the WNBA this regular season took place on the Fever\u2019s home court, during their 88-71 win over the Connecticut Sun on June 17. There were two scuffles, including a near-brawl in the final minute that led to three players being ejected.<\/p>\n Fever star Caitlin Clark, who has been ruled out for the playoffs with a groin injury, was issued a technical foul during that matchup.<\/p>\n Aces star A\u2019ja Wilson believes her team is equipped to handle whatever Indiana does on its home court.<\/p>\n \u201cIs it going to be loud? Yes. Is it going to be rowdy? Probably,\u201d Wilson said. \u201cBut when it comes to us in our locker room, we\u2019ve just got to keep the main thing, the main thing \u2014 and that\u2019s continuing to be there for each other.\u201d<\/p>\n Contact Callie Fin at cfin@reviewjournal.com.<\/a> Follow @CallieJLaw<\/a> on X.<\/p>\n Up next<\/p>\n Who: Aces at Indiana Fever<\/p>\n What: Game 3, WNBA playoff semifinals (best-of-five; series tied 1-1)<\/p>\n When: 4:30 p.m. Friday<\/p>\n Where: Gainbridge Fieldhouse, Indianapolis<\/p>\n TV: ESPN2<\/p>\n Radio: KRLV-AM (920)<\/p>\n Line: Aces -4; total 162\u00bd<\/p>\n Remaining schedule: Game 4, at Fever, noon Sunday; Game 5 (if necessary), at Aces, TBD Tuesday<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"Rough play often takes center stage when it comes to the Indiana Fever. 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