The Las Vegas Aces may have evened their WNBA semifinal series with the Indiana Fever on Tuesday night, but head coach Becky Hammon wasn’t in much of a celebratory mood after the 90–68 victory. Instead, the two-time championship coach turned her attention to what she called the “out of control” physicality and inconsistent officiating that have become defining themes of this matchup.
Before tip-off, Hammon told reporters that her team couldn’t afford to “tip-toe into a bar fight” against a gritty Fever squad. By the end of the game, that metaphor felt a little too literal. Both teams spent more time on the floor than they would have liked, with whistles and no-calls leaving players and coaches equally frustrated.
Hammon: “The Physicality’s Out of Control”
Hammon didn’t mince words when addressing the state of play. Comparing the WNBA’s current level of contact to NFL rules, she argued that referees are allowing defenders to hold and bump for an entire possession.
“You can bump and grab a wide receiver in the NFL for those first five yards,” Hammon said. “But you can do it in the W for the whole half court. You put two hands on somebody, it should be an automatic foul. The freedom of movement? There’s no freedom.”
While she admitted that her team isn’t blameless, Hammon emphasized that the broader issue goes beyond one team or one game. Complaints about officiating have lingered across the league all season, with coaches and players consistently calling out referees for letting too much physicality slide.
This is not a new problem either. Just last year, Minnesota coach Cheryl Reeve criticized officials after a controversial foul helped the New York Liberty force overtime and eventually win the WNBA Finals. Hammon pointed out that her assistants who came from the NBA are stunned by what they see allowed in the women’s game. “There would be fights,” she said, noting that only the professionalism of players prevents situations from escalating.
Fever Coach White Has Her Own Grievances
On the other sideline, Fever coach Stephanie White shared her own concerns but for different reasons. She highlighted the staggering number of fouls called in Game 2: 41 in total, with 22 going against Las Vegas and 19 against Indiana. The Aces, however, attempted 21 free throws compared to the Fever’s 15.
“It’s hard for us to find flow when there’s a foul called every 10 seconds,” White said. “When they’re at the free throw line, we can’t get up and down the floor, and that’s a challenge.”
Injuries Add to Fever’s Battle
Despite the loss and mounting frustration, the Fever remain resilient. They’re competing without Caitlin Clark, who suffered a season-ending injury, while Lexie Hull played through a back injury in Game 2 and still scored 15 points.
“It feels like it’s been a physical season,” Hull admitted. “But I’ve been on the ground a little more this series. We just keep getting back up.”
Beyond the Whistle
Hammon also expressed irritation at being forced to burn her coach’s challenge on what she considered an obvious out-of-bounds call. “That’s maddening,” she said. “I shouldn’t have to use a challenge in the first five minutes on something that went off your head. Every coach would agree that’s not ideal.”
With the series tied 1–1, the focus now shifts back to Indiana. But if the first two games are any indication, the conversation will continue to revolve as much around whistles and bruises as it does around baskets and strategy.