Indiana Fever star Caitlin Clark has joined coaches and executives in expressing concerns over the quality of officiating in the WNBA, calling for the league to invest in its referees and consider making them full-time employees. The calls come as the 2026 season continues to see controversies surrounding physicality and referee consistency.
Clark recently stated that the issue of officiating has been a topic of discussion for three years and that the league needs to do a better job of protecting players. Her comments followed an incident where Phoenix Mercury forward Alyssa Thomas was suspended for a play where Clark took a shot to the throat. Officials initially reviewed the play but declined to assess a flagrant foul, a decision the league later upgraded to a Flagrant 2.
"I did think it was a flagrant foul," Clark said. "Overall, the league just has to do better and we have to invest in those areas. The technology can get better. We can treat the referees a little bit better. Pay them like they're full-time employees."
Last year, WNBA Commissioner Cathy Engelbert acknowledged officiating as a significant problem and promised changes. The league formed a task force composed of coaches and executives and hired Eric Brewton as a referee performance and development advisor. Despite these measures, the issues appear to persist into the current season.
According to a report from The Athletic, coaches and general managers from eight different teams have indicated that the quality of WNBA officiating remains subpar and requires more resources, accountability, and investment. One coach suggested increasing referee compensation to attract higher-caliber talent. Other league personnel believe the system for reviewing plays is inefficient, with delays and minimal impact on in-game consistency.
High-profile officiating errors have been noted throughout the season. In one instance, Chicago Sky reportedly learned that three crucial calls in a June 20 loss to Dallas were incorrect. In another game, officials allowed Fever guard Kelsey Mitchell to continue playing after she had fouled out, with an announcer describing it as "gross unawareness."
Atlanta Dream guard Jordin Canada also voiced her frustration after a loss, stating, "Tonight, the officiating was awful." She recounted a situation where an official admitted to making an incorrect call, which still resulted in her incurring two personal fouls.
Clark emphasized that while no one expects perfection in officiating professional basketball, the league's current success, marked by expansion and record television audiences, necessitates improvements.
"At some point, 'we're working on it' doesn't cut it anymore," the report stated. Potential solutions mentioned include enhanced training, clearer foul definitions, improved communication, a more robust review process, and potentially hiring full-time referees with competitive pay.