WNBA Commissioner Stands Firm: Game 3 Refs to Officiate Fever-Aces Game 4 Amid Lynx Fury..
In a stunning display of league resolve, WNBA Commissioner Cathy Engelbert announced Sunday that the officiating crew from Friday’s controversial Lynx-Mercury Game 3 will handle Sunday’s critical Fever-Aces semifinal matchup. The decision, which has ignited a firestorm across the basketball world, comes just hours after Minnesota Lynx coach Cheryl Reeve’s explosive tirade labeled the refs’ performance “f**king malpractice.”
The Lynx, the top-seeded juggernauts who dominated the regular season, fell 84-76 to the Phoenix Mercury in Game 3, dropping 2-1 in their best-of-five series. Reeve’s ejection with 21.8 seconds left stemmed from her aggressive pursuit of officials over a no-call on Mercury forward Alyssa Thomas’s steal from Lynx star Napheesa Collier. Collier, the league’s second-leading scorer and a Defensive Player of the Year candidate, left the game with a lower leg injury, further fueling Minnesota’s frustration. Reeve’s postgame rant demanded a “leadership shakeup” in the WNBA’s referee selection process, calling the crew’s assignment to playoffs “unacceptable.”
Engelbert’s office confirmed the same trio—veteran refs including Marcy Williams—will work Game 4 between the Las Vegas Aces and Indiana Fever in Indianapolis (3 p.m. ET, ABC). The Aces lead 2-1 after an 84-72 defensive masterclass Friday, powered by A’ja Wilson’s MVP-caliber play. “Our officiating standards are rigorous, and this crew meets them,” a league statement read. “We stand by our professionals amid heightened scrutiny.” No changes were made despite Reeve’s suspension for Game 4 against Phoenix (8 p.m. ET, ESPN), where assistant Eric Thibault takes the helm.
The move underscores broader tensions in the 2025 playoffs, where physicality and ref critiques have overshadowed stars like Caitlin Clark and Kelsey Mitchell. Las Vegas coach Becky Hammon echoed Reeve’s concerns post-Game 3, decrying “inconsistent calls” in a league still underpaid compared to the NBA. Fans on X erupted, with posts decrying bias toward defending champs like the Aces and Mercury, while others praised the WNBA’s push for accountability.
As the Fever fight for survival at Gainbridge Fieldhouse, eyes will be on whether the “malpractice” crew tips the scales in a series blending rookie phenoms and veteran grit. A Fever win forces Game 5; an Aces victory sends them to the Finals against the Mercury-Lynx winner. With injuries mounting—Collier’s status uncertain—and officiating in the crosshairs, Sunday’s doubleheader could redefine the league’s growing pains.
