With every game filled with drama and intensity, the WNBA finals have been a thrilling showcase of competition. However, amid the excitement, officiating has come under strict scrutiny, particularly in the recent showdown between the New York Liberty and the Minnesota Lynx. Sandy Brondello, head coach of the Liberty, expressed her frustrations about the officiating, a sentiment echoed by an analyst too.

On the Locked On Women’s Basketball podcast, Howard Megdal highlighted Brondello’s emotions, saying, “This one will be for the ages. Sandy Brondello, who by her own acknowledgment, and I think we will both agree with this, she’s one of the nicest coaches in the league. She went off, was not happy about some of the calls that were made or, more specifically, were not made.” While talking about the comments made by Liberty’s head coach in a recent post-game press conference.

Brondello’s outburst was in direct response to the game’s officiating, as she stated, “I will say this, um, and I look at the thing here, and I know Cheryl talked about it last time, but 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.” Her comments highlighted the disparity in foul calls—14 for the Liberty compared to just 9 for the Lynx—raising significant questions about impartiality in officiating.

The stakes have never been higher

While this discrepancy is concerning, Howard Megdal noted that it reflects the intense nature of the series. “This series is so tight. Everyone’s looking for any advantage they can get of any kind. Can you get a couple of extra fouls?” he explained while stating that each decision made by the referees can significantly shift the momentum of the game.

To further highlight his point, Megdal pointed out that game 4 hinged on two critical free throws and a missed three-pointer, emphasizing the importance of every call in such a competitive series. The Sports Analyst also went on to assert that this was not just a series of games. In fact, it represented a battle between two of the most successful coaches in WNBA history.

While discussing Brondello’s frustration Jackie Powell co-host of Megdal’s show remarked, “Especially when you have Stewie in foul trouble, and I just, it’s like, when was the last time Stewie was in foul trouble? I don’t remember it.” While emphasizing the effect that the calls had on Breanna Stewart’s performance in the game.

In the ongoing Finals, where both teams have shown nearly identical shooting percentages, with the Lynx slightly edging out in free-throw attempts, the focus will inevitably remain on how officiating impacts the outcomes.

As both coaches strive to maneuver through these officiating challenges, every call could be the difference between triumph and heartbreak.