WNBA: Angel Reese Is The Latest Star To Call Out The League’s Officiating Problem
"I don't give a damn if I get fined because that sh*t is cheap, and I'm tired of this sh*t," she said.
The Chicago Sky’s Angel Reese is the most recent high-profile women’s professional basketballer to call out the league’s officials. She even went so far as to say that the officiating “has to be fixed” because she is “tired of this sh*t.”
Reese made these comments while speaking to reporters following the Sky’s 80-75 loss to the Minnesota Lynx on Sunday. There was a large disparity in the number of free throws attempted by the two teams. The Sky went to the line eight times while the Lynx attempted 18 free throws.
“I think we fought really hard,” Reese said during the postgame press conference. “It’s tough when you talk to officials, and I ask them, ‘Hey, we only shot two free throws. We’ve only been to the free throw line twice, up into the fourth quarter,’ and she tells me it’s not her job. So, it’s frustrating because I know how hard we’re battling inside. I think that we came down and fought as hard as we could with what we had. I just know we continue to grow in this, and I think this is a leaping step for us.”
Through 17 games, Angel Reese has been called for 55 personal fouls, which is tied for the ninth-most in the league this season.
idgaf. DO BETTER. @WNBA https://t.co/rNNJFw767m
— Angel Reese (@Reese10Angel) July 7, 2025
“Obviously, we know we can compete with the best, but that has to be fixed,” she continued. “And, I don’t give a damn if I get fined because that sh*t [is] cheap, and I am tired of this sh*t because I’ve been nice and I’ve been humble with it, but I am tired of this sh*t.”
Reese continued to criticize WNBA officials on social media. Hours after the game ended, she wrote, “DO BETTER. @WNBA.”
The Chicago Sky as an organization seems to be falling victim to poor officiating. The franchise has the fewest personal fouls drawn in the WNBA this season, with 301, eight fewer than the next closest team.
Reese isn’t the only marquee WNBAer to express her displeasure with the league’s officiating. The Los Angeles Sparks’ Kelsey Plum, who is a four-time All-Star and a two-time WNBA Champion, also went off on the officials following LA’s June 9th 89-81 overtime loss ot the Golden State Valkyries.
“I drive more than anyone in the league, so to shoot six free throws is absurd,” Plum said in a postgame interview. “I got scratches on my face. I got scratches on my body, and these guards on the other team get these ticky-tack fouls. I’m sick of it. I get fouled like that every possession. (Rickea Jackson) gets fouled like that in the post all the time, and they don’t call it. I don’t know what else to do… I don’t understand how that’s six free throws playing 40 minutes, touching the paint almost every play, is absurd. I’ll get fined for that, and that’s fine… but they’re fouling the sh*t out of me every single play, so I’m very frustrated with that, and I’m sick of it. I don’t know what I need to do. I talk to the refs nice. I pray before the game like, f*ck. I’m over it.”
What in the world?
— Defiant L’s (@DefiantLs) June 18, 2025
There are even some coaches who have aired out their grievances with the league’s officiating. Indiana Fever head coach Stephanie White also went after the referees after Indy’s June 17th win over the Connecticut Sun.
“When the officials don’t get control of the ball game. When they allow that stuff to happen, and it’s been happening all season long,” White told reporters after the victory. “It’s not just this game. It’s been happening all season long. This is what happens, right? This is what happens. You’ve got competitive women who are the best in the world at what they do. And when you allow them to play physical, and you allow these things to happen, they’re going to compete. They’re going to have their teammates’ backs. It’s exactly what you expect out of fierce competition… They’ve got to get control of it. They’ve got to be better.”
White concluded by saying she wants to see more consistency from WNBA officials.
“[Getting] control of the game is call the fouls that are actually happening on the floor,” she said. “And consistently call the fouls that are actually happening on the floor. Not just if somebody swings and misses, right? Consistently call the fouls.”