As WNBA Keeps Dishing Pain, Officials Try to Control Things After Storm Guard Sami Whitcomb Gets Drilled in the Face

The WNBA is one of the most physical leagues in the world. With each game and each contract being a prestigious one, players lay it all on the floor. Not playing hard can lead to the loss of one’s job. This is why a lot of contact can dictate games. With the season past mid-season, refs are trying to get a hold of things.

In one such instance, they charged a flagrant for something that they may let go of often.

Sami Whitcomb gets whacked but was it flagrant?

During the 18th August match-up between the Storm and Lynx, things got chippy. With a minute to go in the last quarter, the Lynx were up by 11 and the Storm was pretty much done.

Still, the playoff aspirants were working hard, getting the theme of tough defense to take center stage. As scoring phenom Jewell Loyd made a hard behind-the-dribble and flashed forward, Sami Whitcomb sent a screen for her.

Lynx’s Kayla McBride, who was guarding the leading WNBA season scorer, tried to fight through the screen. As she fought hard to prevent Loyd from getting any separation, her right hand banged into Whitcomb’s face.

The Storm Upon close inspection, it is clear her fist made huge contact with Whitcomb’s nose, a hit that would have surely hurt her a lot. However, the veteran guard tried to play it cool and didn’t make much of the hit.

Surprisingly, the refs decided that this was excessive contact, and that McBride had committed a Flagrant 1 foul. Upon watching multiple replays, it is difficult to tell whether it is intentional or not. 

Many times, when fighting through screens, defenders can have the extension of the arm. However, the refs thought otherwise and believed that the Lynx high scorer did it on purpose. 

This sparks a debate in the contact-heavy league. The refs are trying to tone it down.

Trying to get emotions in control

This has been another chippy WNBA season. There is not a day when a minor scuffle or excessive contact takes place. Just recently, Kelsey Plum was shoved by Layshia Clarendon after a made free throw. She retaliated by using her hand to knock out the Sparks player from behind. While Clarendon was slapped with a technical, the All-Star Guard had to face a flagrant foul call.

READ MORE: “54 Fouls, Most in a WNBA Game”: From Running Into the Ref to Slamming Each Other Down to the Floor, Aggressive Week of Basketball Gets Rounded Up

Such calls have put officials on notice. The current window is crucial for many teams when it comes to determining whether they will be in the Playoff or not. Amidst such circumstances, the league must be thinking of cooling down tempers.

But did McBride deserve that technical regardless of the large picture? Do share in the comments below. 

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