Caitlin Clark might just be the face of the WNBA, but even the brightest stars can’t dodge the shadow of bad officiating—or literal elbows, apparently. In her rookie season, Clark endured what fans are calling a “basketball battlefield” of foul calls, or more accurately, the lack thereof. Now, the WNBA seems to be addressing its officiating crisis with two new referee improvement positions offering $140K a year. But is that enough? Fans seem to think otherwise.
The news was first shared by Clark Report, a Caitlin Clark fan page on X (formerly Twitter), accompanied by a clip of an uncalled foul from a game on September 26. The video showed Clark tangled in what could generously be called “intense defense” and less generously, a scene from an action movie. Fans were quick to express their outrage.
“They need the LAW to arrest some of these players,” one fan commented. “@CaitlinClark22 was lucky she didn’t end up with head trauma or broken bones. Kareem Abdul-Jabbar started wearing goggles for a reason!”
Another fan didn’t hold back: “Good God Almighty… I think I counted 17 fouls on that one possession. Basketball has an officiating problem.”
Hiring WWE Refs? Maybe Not.
While some fans are cautiously optimistic about the WNBA’s hiring spree, others took a more sarcastic approach. One user joked, “Maybe don’t hire refs from the WWE,” while another lamented, “Fr, I ain’t even got hope for them. NBA refs are already soft; doubt WNBA refs are any different.”
It’s hard to blame fans for their skepticism. Over the years, officiating controversies have plagued basketball, and it’s not just a WNBA issue. But hey, at least the league is making an effort—though perhaps hiring more than two people would be a start.
Rookie of the Year in Spite of It All
Despite the bumps, bruises, and questionable calls, Caitlin Clark shined in her rookie season. She won the Rookie of the Year award and led her team to the playoffs for the first time since 2016. Talk about carrying a team—Clark wasn’t just a player; she was a one-woman highlight reel.
But Clark has shown she’s got a sense of humor about it all. In an August game against the Seattle Storm, she received a technical foul for slapping the backboard after missing a three-pointer. Instead of sulking, she thanked the referee in a post-game interview.
“I got a technical for basically being mad at myself,” she said. “But I think he fired me up to play a lot harder. So, I want to thank him for that.”
Clark also revealed that the moment reminded her of a similar incident in college. Maybe she’s onto something—using technical fouls as fuel to dominate on the court could be the next big motivational trend.
What’s Next?
With Clark enjoying her off-season on the golf course and the WNBA attempting to patch its referee woes, all eyes are on next season. Will two new referee experts make a difference? Or will fans continue to call for law enforcement to step in?
One thing’s for sure: Caitlin Clark isn’t going anywhere, and if she can thrive in the chaos of bad officiating, imagine what she’ll do with a fair shake. Until then, fans will just have to hope the league listens—or at least hires refs who can tell the difference between a basketball game and WrestleMania.
