The WNBA’s choice of officials for Game 4 between the Indiana Fever and Las Vegas Aces has raised eyebrows. The league has assigned the same referees who worked the highly controversial Game 3 matchup between the Minnesota Lynx and Phoenix Mercury. That game ended not only with on-court drama but also with heated postgame criticism of the officiating crew.
Minnesota head coach Cheryl Reeve was particularly blunt in her assessment after the loss, leaving no room for interpretation about her frustration. “The officiating crew that we had tonight … it’s f***ing malpractice,” Reeve said, voicing her anger over what she felt was inconsistent and damaging officiating. Her comments quickly made headlines, drawing attention to the broader conversation around officiating standards in the league.
Now, with those same referees set to oversee a critical Game 4 between the Fever and the Aces, fans are already buzzing about the potential for controversy. Both teams are fighting with everything on the line, and the quality of officiating could have a major impact on momentum and outcomes.
For Indiana, the matchup is about proving resilience and continuing their postseason fight. For Las Vegas, it’s about asserting dominance as defending champions. With such high stakes, the decision to bring back a recently criticized crew only adds tension to what was already expected to be a fiery contest.
Whether the officiating becomes a talking point once again or fades into the background will depend on how Sunday’s game unfolds. But one thing is certain: all eyes will not only be on the players, but also on the referees.
