In a tense WNBA semifinal showdown on Sunday, September 28, 2025, the Las Vegas Aces fell 90-83 to the Indiana Fever, forcing a decisive Game 5 on Tuesday. The defeat ignited fiery criticism from head coach Becky Hammon and superstar A’ja Wilson, who accused match officials of bias and incompetence, claiming it all but handed Indiana the series-extending win.
Hammon, known for her unfiltered candor, didn’t hold back postgame. “This was a disgrace,” she fumed, slamming the referees for “everything possible” to tilt the scales. She highlighted inconsistent foul calls, particularly in the paint where Wilson’s dominance was stifled by unchecked physicality from Fever defenders like Aliyah Boston. “The physicality’s out of control—it’s not basketball; it’s a bar fight with no bouncer,” Hammon said, echoing her earlier complaints from Game 2. The Aces racked up 22 fouls to Indiana’s 19, but Hammon argued key no-calls on aggressive plays against her team allowed the Fever to mount an 11-2 closing run.
Wilson, the four-time MVP who poured in 28 points and 12 rebounds despite the loss, called the officiating “disappointing on every level.”
“They did everything to make sure we wouldn’t close it out—missed free throws after techs, phantom fouls. It’s rigged for the drama,” she vented, alluding to a technical on Hammon with 30 seconds left that gifted Indiana possession. The reigning champ, averaging 29.3 points in playoffs, felt personally targeted, shooting 10-of-22 amid what she deemed “unfair contact.”
The Fever, led by Kelsey Mitchell’s 24 points, capitalized on home-court energy at Gainbridge Fieldhouse, staving off elimination in their Cinderella run. Coach Stephanie White praised her team’s resilience but sidestepped the ref drama. Yet, social media erupted with Aces fans echoing the sentiment, labeling the WNBA “rigged” for ratings.
As Game 5 looms in Las Vegas, Hammon vowed adjustments: “We’ll match their fire, refs or no refs.” Wilson added, “This fuels us—time to expose the league.” The series, now knotted 2-2, promises playoff pandemonium, but the Aces’ trust in officials hangs by a thread. Will the WNBA respond, or let the controversy simmer? Fans await Tuesday’s reckoning.
