A season defined by poor officiating came to a head in the WNBA Finals.
Phoenix Mercury coach Nate Tibbetts sounded off on the WNBA after his shocking third-quarter ejection from the team’s Game 4 loss to the Las Vegas Aces, who claimed the title with a sweep.
Tibbetts said he never received an explanation for the “bulls–t” double technical foul call that booted him from the game.
“It’s embarrassing. I feel bad that I was tossed,” Tibbetts told reporters after the 97-86 loss. “I’ve been around this game a long time, I think it’s one of the weakest double technicals ever. I didn’t even know that I got the second one, to be completely honest.
“I feel bad for our team, our fans, my family,” he continued. “It wasn’t needed in my opinion. I’d love to hear their call. But yeah, it was weak. We’re playing for our playoff lives. Most coaches, when they get tossed, you’re doing it on purpose, and that was not my intention at all.”
Tibbets exited the game shortly after Mercury guard Kahleah Copper drew contact on a drive to the hoop but didn’t receive a whistle, and then guard Monique Akoa Makami was charged for a ticky-tack foul on the next possession.
The Phoenix head coach approached referee Gina Cross to criticize the call and was promptly issued a double technical foul.
Tibbetts explained that he “probably” deserved a technical for what he initially said to Cross, but was dumbfounded when it became enough to have him ejected.
It marked his second straight game with a technical foul, but his first career ejection — and the first time a head coach has ever been ejected from a WNBA Finals game.
“There’s been issues with the officiating all year,” Tibbetts said, following a game in which Aces star A’ja Wilson shot as many free throws (19) as the entire Mercury team.
“I feel like I didn’t deserve that. I thought it was bulls–t.”
Poor officiating has been a heated topic of discussion around the league this season, one that has finally reached a boiling point during the playoffs.
Minnesota Lynx head coach Cheryl Reeve got ejected during Game 3 of the semifinals against Phoenix for arguing after a play in which star Napheesa Collier got injured.
Reeve was subsequently suspended for Game 4, which the Lynx lost without Collier.
In Collier’s fiery, league-altering exit interview aimed at WNBA commissioner Cathy Engelbert, she pointed to officiating as one of the primary concerns in the league.
Ahead of the WNBA Finals, Engelbert addressed the growing concerns and announced a task force aimed to “ensure that our officiating platform evolves with the growth of the league.”
Tibbetts seemingly spoke for players and coaches alike when he said that evolution can’t come soon enough.
“There’s change in this league,” he said. “The product is continuing to get better. There’s more eyes on it, and I think the officiating has to grow with the league.”
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