The WNBA Finals have not only delivered nail-biting action but have also ignited fierce debates over various aspects of the game. As fans and pundits are captivated by the on-court drama—with three of the four games decided in the final seconds—officiating controversies have taken center stage. Amid this whirlwind, NCAA coach Dawn Staley found herself swept into the conversation, as her changing opinions on the WNBA’s officiating became a focal point in the Finals’ mounting tension.

South Carolina Gamecocks head coach, Dawn Staley, took to her X recently to tweet, “I hope you all know I did not post this to denigrate the officials… just wanted to say they are working just as hard as the players. It was an appreciation post for hard-working peeps in our game! Let’s just continue to love on our beautiful game!”

So what were her initial comments that needed this serious clarification? Apparently, her tweet just minutes after the Lynx won Game 4 over the Liberty in the 80-82 thriller, was taken as a sarcastic jibe by many on the officiating crew.

Dawn Staley’s rollercoaster of shifting opinions began when she posted a certain comment regarding officiating via her X account. This comment posted a few hours prior, stated, “Whoever wins this @WNBA championship earned it!!!! And I must say, the officials will have earned their pay. AND I hope we don’t get any of the finals officials during the first few weeks of our season….they need a much needed break!”

While this could be interpreted as a lighthearted or congratulatory message, fans and media alike quickly misinterpreted it, fueling speculation about Staley’s true feelings on the whistles called and not called. The post seemed to echo broader frustrations, especially after Game 4 quickly caught traction. When the foul count alone was startling—with 14 fouls for the Liberty compared to just nine for the Lynx—adding to the tension. Hence, Minnesota received 20 free throws. Contrasting to the home team was New York with only 9 free throws.

NYL head coach Sandy Brondello, revealed her frustration in the postgame presser stating, “We got no calls today. So, do I need to talk up in a press conference? Because they were getting ticky-tack calls, and we went down there and got hit and got nothing. It was like 12 to 6 at halftime, and they tried to even it up near the end—it was 14 to 9. No. All we want is fair. Okay? So, if we’re getting hit, that’s a foul.”

This disparity sparked widespread conversation, with even former basketball players like Rebecca Lobo weighing in on the topic. She mentioned, “Do I think that’s [bad officiating] the reason the New York Liberty lost this game? No, I do not.” Her remarks only further stoked the debate around officiating, which had by now become a hot topic after Game 4.

And understandably so, because this was the first time in the series when the foul counts had not been evenly distributed. However, what many overlook is that the Liberty faced two crucial review calls in Game 4—one of which actually worked in their favor.

Officiating drama: A key subplot in the WNBA Finals tug-of-war

While the fans have been enjoying the electrifying moments in the entire playoff series of the 28th WNBA season, officiating has become one of the pain points for many players and coaches which Staley had previously hinted at. In fact, throughout this stretch, players from both teams have subtly pointed out that officiating has influenced their performances.

Lynx star Napheesa Collier also voiced her frustrations after a disappointing loss in Game 3 by mentioning, “It’s hard, you have to adjust to the refs. I mean, definitely, it’s not an excuse. We played really bad… but it’s hard to adjust because you are playing one way and you are gonna get used to the refs, and they change it up.”

Moreover, Cheryl Reeve also openly criticized the officiating, particularly the calls against Collier. She complained, “The game’s called differently for Phee than it is for Stewie, for sure… for whatever reason, we have a hard time getting to the foul line in this series.”

With the WNBA Finals now at a boiling point, it’s clear that the officiating narrative will remain a pivotal part of the conversation. However, as is often the case in sports, history is written by the victors. Only time will tell who gets over the close calls with just one more game remaining to crown the new World Champion of the WNBA.