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The WNBA is facing complaints about officiating changes after a significant increase in foul calls and free throw attempts early in the season. The league's task force, created to address past officiating issues, has led to teams averaging 22.3 fouls and 23.1 free throws per game, up from last year's numbers.
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The WNBA is trying to fix its officiating problem, but there have been clear growing pains through the first weekend of the season.
After several years of officiating complaints across the league, WNBA commissioner Cathy Engelbert created a task force in the offseason that included players and coaches to try to address the issue. Several coaches said that a tighter whistle was expected coming out of the meetings.
Less than a week in, there has already been a marked increase in the number of foul calls and free throw attempts. Through the first 11 games of the season, WNBA teams are averaging 22.3 fouls and 23.1 free throws per gameâup from 17.5 and 18.2, respectively, last year. There have already been five instances where a team has had at least 25 free throw attempts this year, compared to 25 for all of last season.
Indiana Fever head coach Stephanie Whiteâwho was involved in the task forceâhas been patient about the increased foul volume, saying the league needs to âovercorrectâ from past years when the primary complaints were from missed calls.
âWe have asked, in all of our offseason, have asked officials to call everything,â White said Saturday after the Feverâs loss to the Dallas Wings. âThe challenge, and the question sometimes: Is it consistent? So thatâd be the next growth phase and growth area. But this is what we need to clean up some of the stuff that we saw last year. So there is going to be frustration early, but itâs necessary.â
But Minnesota Lynx coach Cheryl Reeve, who was handed the largest fine in league history after ranting about officiating during the 2025 playoffs, already called out officiating issues after the her teamâs opener on Saturday, which featured a 42 fouls and 52 free throws.
âWhat Iâm confused about, being on the task force, we talked about unnecessary physicality. We didnât say we want to call marginal fouls. We never brought that up,â said Reeve, who was also involved in the task force. âIt takes a little bit of time for sure to calibrate, both them and us. ⊠Obviously, weâll continue to work with the league on getting right because weâre not the only team sitting here wondering why everything is a foul.â
The WNBA implemented a tighter whistle approach, resulting in more foul calls and free throw attempts.
Teams are averaging 22.3 fouls per game, an increase from 17.5 fouls per game last season.
The average number of free throws per game has risen to 23.1, compared to 18.2 last season.
The task force includes players and coaches, with Indiana Fever head coach Stephanie White being one of the members.
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New York Liberty star and union exec Breanna Stewart said it was âinsaneâ that their game against the Washington Mystics on Sunday lasted for two hours and 41 minutes. (A WNBA game is scheduled to run for about two hours.)
âI know itâs going to take time, but there are calls that are being called that are unnecessary on both sides. And then thereâs no flow,â Stewart said.
The complaints even started in the preseason. Dallas Wings rookie Azzi Fudd said she was âconfusedâ after her first preseason game due to the number of calls.
âI thought you could be physical in the W and anytime you touch someone, itâs a foul,â Fudd said. âSo Iâm not really sure whether to be physical, whether toâI donât know. Iâm still figuring that out.â
In the past, the WNBA has been quick to fine players and coaches for their complaints about officiating. But FOS reported that Fudd was not fined for her comments, and the league has yet to fine any player or coach for early-season officiating concerns.
The post WNBAâs Officiating Changes Already Drawing Complaints appeared first on Front Office Sports.