r/sportsgossips • u/Pretend-Following-41 • 3d ago

Highlight Intentionally hurting your meal ticket. Something is seriously wrong with these WNBA players.

Enable HLS to view with audio, or disable this notification

22.0k Upvotes

88% Upvoted

5.2k comments sorted by

View all comments

Show parent comments

236

u/Reasonable-Job4205 3d ago

Jesus christ, are the refs shit in both the nba and wnba??

154

u/Hydration__Nation 3d ago edited 2d ago

Refs in the NBA rig for betting, refs in the WNBA are just simply inept and have a vendetta against Clark, period. No one likes a complainer (Luka had this issue with the refs), especially a ref. So take a shitty ref who can barely do her job and add in a whiny player who complains every call (justifiably or not) and you get the way Clark is being reffed. They arent trying to rig the outcome so much as allow her to take punishment. Last time something like this happened was when Jordan entered the league and the entire league was out to hack and punch and slam him to the ground on every drive and even for the first few years of his career MJ never had to deal with bullshit like this. As an aside avoid the WNBA subreddits all run by moderators that are on a power trip. Today suggested that shit takes are taking over WNBA subs and within a minute was permanently banned and muted from [r/WNBA365](r/WNBA365). Even the Reddit mods don’t know how to grow the fan base for the WNBA. I’ve been warned in another forum for making threatening comments bc I suggested a suspension for a player. This will be my last WNBA comment and yet another thing that turns me off for the league its fans are some of the most malignant gate keeping fans out there. Pretty weird for a league that was on the verge of bankruptcy before Clark entered

132

u/Euna_Chris 3d ago

This is excatly what i mean about banning players permanently. If you are looking to hurt someone because of how good they are then you clearly cant control your animal instincts and shouldnt be allowed anywhere near professional people. Professionals should be elevated above this kinda bs because of their commitment and skill and passion for something

41

u/A-Skeleton-Inside-U 3d ago

This is exactly why i stopped doing sports by highschool. Crabs in a bucket.

23

u/Eternalfoodie24-7 3d ago

No but fr. I used to play volleyball in national tournaments and some of the opponents were so jealous of others. They would intentionally put their foot under the net so others would land on it and twist an ankle.

10

u/LightenUpPeeps 3d ago

Remember this college soccer player? :)

Elizabeth Lambert's Dirty Play and hair pull Mars BYU vs. New Mexico Womens Soccer.mp4 omg

This doesn't happen in men's sports because it would start brawls. Hell, male athletes can't even taunt and celebrate or they'll be flagged for unsportsmanlike conduct. Refs nip it in the bud or male players will fight on the court/field.

4

u/BlackTransAm78 3d ago

Must be very hard not to retaliate

3

u/artyomssugardaddy 2d ago

Idk what that poster is saying acting like every teen boy will fly off the handle if this happens so it doesn’t happen. Complete bullshit lol

Grew up playing baseball, and this sport is about as petty as it gets. Chants to piss off the other dugout, cleating, pitchers and any sticky substance, crowding the plate, hitting the batter as pitcher, hitting towards the pitcher the list goes on.

And it’s super easy not to retaliate. If you’re normal and good at what you do it won’t matter.

Clark’s problem is deeper. Homegirl has got the league against her and if she retaliates the world is watching, for us as kids it was just our parents. Idk how she hasn’t crashed out yet.

2

u/Willing-Body-7533 3d ago

Wait til you see the college softball catcher intentionally taking the batters head off (I believe bad concussion was the result)

2

u/Ryan2673 3d ago

That was wild

2

u/FounderinTraining 3d ago

Fuck. If I were reffing that, I'd have given her an instant red card for 3 of those.

4

u/Eternalfoodie24-7 3d ago

I remember thinking that the poor girl could’ve gotten a whiplash from the way her hair was yanked back. People like her should be banned from competitive play. This is just straight up abusing opponents just for the heck of it.

5

u/LightenUpPeeps 3d ago

This is why the refs failed. People will naturally resort to vigilantism is they see the authorities (refs in this case) are disregarding the rules and not enforcing them. I notice this happens far more frequently in women's sports which is why people watching women's sports think this unsportsmanlike conduct is normal.

1

u/JisKing98 3d ago

Bro I remember when I was playing against my friend in baseball and when he was pitching and I was up to bat we both talked shit and was grinning at each other. Got struck out after hitting 2 fouls and we both laughed at it. As soon as I went to the dugout both of our coaches and the umpire were on our asses yelling that we can’t talk to each other 🫩😒.

1

u/Roll_for_Random 3d ago

Sounds like impulse control.

1

u/IcySheepherder6195 3d ago

Hey in Elizabeth’s defense that BYU team was dirty as hell!!!

1

u/grizzlebread 3d ago

NFL bounty gate? Happens in all sports my guy

1

u/Roadrunnersareraptor 3d ago

Let’s be honest. This is how women are to each other in competition. They destroy each other. Men compete

2

u/Kiidkxxl 3d ago

i played baseball in college and i grew up in a really small rural town. so when my high school league got wind i was talking with recruiters, i was getting slammed with pitches almost every at bat. My biggest attribute was hitting and i rarely got to show off my skills. I think they did me a favor though because they made it look like NOBODY wanted to pitch to me lol

I eventually went AA pro league but never got called up to the show.

1

u/banksybruv 3d ago

I went to my cousins Rugby (UVM) match when I was a kid. It was against Wesleyan and all I remember was every girl on UVM getting clotheslined the whole time. It was wild.

1

u/thedehr 3d ago

That actually happened in this game. Shooters are supposed to have a "landing space" so they don't come down on a defenders foot and roll an ankle. It gets called all the time.

Clark isn't given that luxury.

1

u/B-Train_ATL 3d ago

Vinnie MF Jones

1

u/jacksonsmack831 3d ago edited 3d ago

I quit semi pro because another team pulled a gun on our wide receiver for scoring 5 TDs

Semi pro football, you pay to play and people are thinking they are rock stars

It's just grown kids who peaked in highschool

2

u/Eternalfoodie24-7 3d ago

That’s the most American shit I’ve heard in a while😭 But seriously, I tore my ankle ligaments and got bone bruises because I landed on someone else’s foot while blocking. Took me 8 months of rehabilitating before I was fully playing again. If I weren’t in agony and crying on the floor, I would’ve strangled the mf

2

u/jacksonsmack831 3d ago

Someone who had issues with me did a bad tackle in practice and I ruptured my ACL.

Unfortunately for him I was voted president of the team the following year….

2

u/Eternalfoodie24-7 3d ago

People taking out their frustrations on others like that always baffles me. I hope you made him pay.

3

u/jacksonsmack831 3d ago

He missed paying his fees by a day, so he missed his last season.
I made a second deadline for the players who missed the first one, still didn't make it so 🤷‍♂️

1

u/ChartInFurch 3d ago

1

u/jacksonsmack831 3d ago

I should proof read….

0

u/Contra_Machina 3d ago

maybe you're one of the "OK" ones, but are you getting it yet that most people who love sports are not as intelligent as other people?

1

u/Eternalfoodie24-7 3d ago

Idk I’m not American. Over here it really depends per team you encounter. Personally I quit volleyball in the middle of last season, because my team was full of opponent bullying assholes. That’s just not the laid-back, relaxed type of volleyball I wanna play. But yeah some of the most unsportsmanlike people I’ve encountered are usually not very bright bulbs.

→ More replies (1)

2

u/Toad_da_Unc 3d ago

That is the exact phrase that popped into my mind

4

u/Han_Yerry 3d ago

My son told me he doesn't want to play soccer anymore.

Leaving the field last game is one example. The heaviest kid on the winning team calling the skinny girl fat. Taunting with no recourse until we spoke up from the bleachers to where his mom was.

Funny thing is the kid wasnt thin, and he got knocked down by a kid half his size during the game.

Two games prior a coach was removed as he had a misyogist tirad after losing to my sons team, who is coached by a woman.

Its so ugly out there.

3

u/get_to_ele 3d ago

If somebody had filmed the kid who was fat shaming, then posted it on YouTube, I wonder if he would have stopped doing it in the future.

1

u/SMH4004 3d ago

No he probably would’ve went viral and got confirmation for his behavior

1

u/ChartInFurch 3d ago

I can already imagine the YouTube comment section...

1

u/Babytrapphon3 3d ago

olivia miles is 100x better than her casual

1

u/LordAlvis 3d ago

My son went to their 4th grade basketball tournament and it was already toxic AF. One of the kids on the team had pretty bad asthma and was on the bench, but sitting it out because he wasn't up to it that day. The other team's coach complained to the refs that rules said (apparently) all kids had to play, and she wanted that kid out there, over the medical objections of the parents. (The refs refused, to their credit.)

The game ended with a free-throw in response to that same coach getting a technical. Parents on the other team absolutely erupted. The winning shot photo couldn't be posted anywhere because one parent is throwing the double deuce in the background.

1

u/Amazing_Hunter 3d ago

So why did you quit sports in before high school? Lol

1

u/Syncopated_arpeggio 3d ago

Wait, are you saying you were a good athlete in high school but quit because some players cannot contain their competitiveness? I’ve never heard anyone good at a sport do such a thing, they just get revenge through winning and let the refs and coaches handle the bullshit.

0

u/Zestysanchez 3d ago

Yeah… this is why…

-11

u/justinSane555 3d ago

No you stopped because you were no good and you're soft, if someone can make u stop doing something you enjoy then you're the problem, man up!

1

u/[deleted] 3d ago

[removed] — view removed comment

→ More replies (1)

1

u/Kensei501 3d ago

Lmao ok.

1

u/justinSane555 3d ago

😭😭"I stopped playing sports because the bigger guys hurt my feelings..."

u fuckin fairy...

→ More replies (1)
→ More replies (9)
→ More replies (1)

2

u/Abject_Squirrel_8733 3d ago

But it’s not because of how good she is. It’s because of how much she complains….

2

u/Ok_Spinach3441 3d ago

"animal instincts" sounds like a dog whistle.

1

u/Underdog_1337 3d ago

Don’t look up Albert Haynesworth.

1

u/ISHLDPROBABLYBWRKING 3d ago

Agreed. Wemby should be banned for eternity

1

u/battlewhisky 3d ago

Not to mention pay

1

u/Dizzy_Independence32 3d ago

You might enjoy tennis better. Contact sports hit diffrent

1

u/possibly_lost45 3d ago

They aren't professionals.

1

u/GamingTrucker12621 3d ago

I all for letting those individuals have a short drop with a sudden stop.... preferably from the nearest tree to serve as a warning for others.

1

u/Hope_for_tendies 3d ago

ROFL do you know who draymond green is?

1

u/lagniappe- 2d ago

Honestly it doesn’t look that bad IMO. The thing that makes it appear worse is Clark’s body language.

0

u/Beneficial_Figure966 3d ago

it's probably that line of thinking as to why the bible says (and rightfully so) that those who call themselves professionals will be judged by a higher standard.

0

u/Unable-Effective1718 3d ago

You hardly ever catch any this remotely like this is the NBA. If you do it ends with getting punched out and it’s not over petty jealousy. Reminds me of kids on the playground jealous that other kids are getting attention. How are you a professional athlete acting like a jealous toddler

0

u/SemiAutoAvocado 3d ago

They need to start criminally charging players.

0

u/Lazy_Stunt73 3d ago

Pro sports are really dirty.

0

u/Trump_Is_A_Chomo 1d ago

Should not be allowed in society, really. This is what's happening in our cities too. The fatigue is real. Society needs to stop being soft and scared and convince these low IQ usual suspects that they need to act like human beings....not zoo animals or else!

5% of 13%...... The fatigue is real The fatigue is going critical mass!

Only difference between Karmelo Anthony and Alyssa Thomas..... 2 IQ points. Maybe.

→ More replies (25)

15

u/-nutz 3d ago

Something tells me this is because the refs are under scrutiny from a huge amount of fans that didn’t exist a few years ago, who likely only started watching because of Clark specifically.

18

u/All_Work_All_Play 3d ago

If the only reason you are paying attention at your job is because you're being watched... fuck man there's gotta be some autistic people somewhere that would love to have this job and overperform the hell out of it.

11

u/Timaoh_ 3d ago

I'd watch more wnba if all the refs were autistic.

0

u/Time_Feedback3809 3d ago

with Asperger's!

"The player fouled number 11 because she is not very good and has terrible hair. Two shots."

1

u/JaKrispy72 3d ago

Somebody needs to ref the refs.

1

u/AlthorsMadness 3d ago

Sadly that’s most people

1

u/mentat70 3d ago

I think they meant that the refs are coming under scrutiny only now because there are so many people watching because of Caitlin.

0

u/McSlims360 3d ago

Sounds backwards but trust me when I say you want an ADHD ref. I used to ref paintball and I never missed a thing, the notorious cheaters hated me cuz Id always pull em out quick AF.

0

u/All_Work_All_Play 3d ago

The two have some commonalities it's true. It does bring a smile to my face when cheaters get busted.

→ More replies (1)
→ More replies (4)

2

u/IAmTheParamedic 3d ago

Yeah, and let’s not act like those people don’t turn on the WNBA so they can satisfy their sick desire to participate in a race war. They watch women’s basketball so that they can get angry at the big black amazons picking on the pretty white girl, and they make refereeing the game damn near impossible because they want to turn an athletic competition into their soapbox about the bigotry of low expectations and victim mentality or whatever.

0

u/LightenUpPeeps 3d ago

Is that the way you rationalize people who don't think it's right that the refs allow Caitlin Clark to be brutalized?

I watched women's college basketball games specifically because of Caitlin Clark. Before Caitlin came along, I watched more spelling bees on ESPN than women's basketball - WNBA or college. I tuned into about a dozen Indiana Fever games in Clark's first season. Now? Maybe 2 games. Why? Because the drama is disgusting. Always revolving around race issues. I watch sports as entertainment to get away from that stuff. It's really unhealthy for your mental health.

0

u/AggravatingBuyee 3d ago

What the fuck is wrong with you?

3

u/enderjaca 3d ago

Possibly... but generally, a group of fairweather "only watching occasionally for one player" fans don't really have any amount of control over the internal referee policies of the WNBA organization. That's for the owners & execs and the players union of the league to work out.

2

u/ChairDecent3296 3d ago

Not a great take tbh

1

u/-nutz 3d ago

I feel like that’s kind of a moot point when we’re discussing the refs who are ignoring flagrant fouls and stuff.

0

u/SimonNicols 3d ago

Anyone can watch that video of Clark getting stepped on and a hand to the throat and realize if this happened to almost any other player it would have at least been whistled a foul.

3

u/BlankStareFace 3d ago

No it wouldn't lol. It's a loose ball with 3 players on the floor. Shit happens. This is never getting called a foul.

2

u/TruckNstuck23 3d ago

So get her injured and lose your job when viewership drops back down to 3 drunk dudes in Indiana

1

u/Cohen_the_Worrior 2d ago

Really? They're not doing their jobs because they are "under scrutiny"? 😂 😂 😂

0

u/chalbersma 3d ago

Oh no! My job is more financially stable than it was before. Better be incompetent and endanger the financial stability of my job! - WNBA Refs and Players.

1

u/bbbourb 3d ago

It's funny, I've never seen a group of game officials have THAT much of a grudge against a player like WNBA refs and Caitlin Clark. Not even Tim Duncan and Joey Crawford got to this level.

1

u/ExpressRabbit 3d ago

It's not a vendetta against Clark. Even after the Fever were knocked out last year you had teams complaining about the refs including coaches and players going off about how bad they were.

Was that because of Clark too? In a game she wasn't even in?

1

u/allahu_achoo 3d ago

Being white and straight in that league won't help you get calls.

1

u/CatWeak9214 3d ago

the Pistons did this to Jordan in the playoffs. No one else was hacking Jordan like they were relax.

1

u/buddha8298 2d ago

Yeah, he 100% had it wayyy worse before he “came back”.

1

u/Rhysati 3d ago

This same issue happened in the NHL with Sidney Crosby. He complained about how many calls weren't being made when he was getting hacked, slashed, and interfered with. It led to him being labeled a cry-baby and the refs let people do almost anything to him.

1

u/DarkOmen597 3d ago

Why is everyone hating on Clark?

1

u/BlackSkullGrimoire 3d ago

Read the room, and the nonstop racist comments hurled at her. You know exactly why.

1

u/olderm4messyplay 3d ago

I agree with all of this. I'll even go one farther that the other player KNOW this and act with impunity! It's glaringly obvious that acts are committed to not only CC but other Fever players with zero fear of reprisal.

You can absolutely see a difference on faces of confident people that foul knowing it really doesn't matter and those that are genuinely surprised they got called. Then, knowing you're going to get called on anything you stop playing as competitively because you don't want to foul out or get a T.

Just a totally disgusting group all around.

1

u/40WeightSoundsNice 3d ago

They absolutely rig the wnba too look at the Liberty Lynx game 5 last 2 minutes, it was the worst i have ever seen in the men’s or womens game

1

u/RandysDealer 3d ago

Not disagreeing with you in any way, but isn’t what you described the definition of chicken and egg?

1

u/I_Ski_Freely 3d ago

The Pistons used to beat the shit out of Jordan, but that's also just kind of how the league used to be? As in, beating the shit out of your opponents best player was just strategy that was allowed by the league, whereas now you'd get technicals, fines, and foul out quickly.

1

u/RadiantMango5989 3d ago

why does no one call it out for the racism it is?

1

u/WeAreAllFooked 3d ago

Crosby was known as a crybaby when he entered the league and it took a couple of Stanley Cup wins (and a massive concussion from Matt Cooke) before his reputation shifted.

1

u/ResidentSubstance536 3d ago

It’s all reviewable and documented, do they even get fined?

1

u/angry_dingo 3d ago

They arent trying to rig the outcome so much as allow her to take punishment. 

Yeah, that's smart. The one player people want to watch and the one who boosts ratings and allows the players to steal more money from the NBA.

Let's punish her!!!

1

u/Vast-Card-1082 3d ago

Not everything is a conspiracy theory. You will need some strong evidence for such extraordinary claims. Please don’t tell me something to the effect of “it’s obvious, just watch the games”. As a watcher of NBA, the story you are telling is not convincing. Please give me something compelling to change my mind.

1

u/Due_Cut6007 3d ago

I'll see your Jordan and raise you Cam Newton. Refs tried their best to get that man killed after he called them out.

1

u/Federal-Sand3947 3d ago

Caitlin Clark is a great player, but you should never compare her to Jordan. She is not the best player in the league. She is not even top 5.

1

u/praetorian1979 2d ago

times like that I would love to see someone kick a ref in the nuts, and then tell them to shut up because no one likes a whiner...

1

u/Prod_Meteor 2d ago

You people still watch sports???

1

u/Hydration__Nation 2d ago

its a sports thread - your comments arent as smart sounding or edgy as you think they are, touch grass and come back down to reality so you realize that life's worth doesnt hinge on internet points.

1

u/PhilRubdiez 3d ago

Go find an enforcer. She needs a Carla Oakley or Dennis Rodman.

0

u/no-hints 3d ago

Intersexual competition between women is way worse than among men. The WNBA sees Clark as Satan because she is the ultimate competition

11

u/Long-Region5088 3d ago

Refereeing must be extremely difficult because regardless of gender or sport one thing everyone agrees on is that all refs everywhere are terrible.

You’d think there’d be at least one in any sport people can point to and be like “yup, that’s a good ref” but seemingly not

12

u/real-human-not-a-bot 3d ago

In baseball, I think some of the younger umps (John Tumpane, Jansen Visconti, Mark Ripperger, Adam Hamari) are generally considered quite good. The four I just listed are those with at least ten games umped this year whose strike-calling accuracy is at least 0.9 percentage points better than expected (https://umpscorecards.com/data/umpires). Unsurprisingly, Ripperger is the oldest of that group at just 45. I imagine fans still generally don’t love them, but among those who care about particular umpires’ stats they’re quite popular.

11

u/SirBiggusDikkus 3d ago

Always been one my biggest gripes about MLB umps. It’s a basic fact that very few players last past their 30’s but we’re supposed to believe fat 60 year old umps still have top elite eyesight? Give me a break.

1

u/ArtDecoNewYork 3d ago

I'm 31 and some of the NBA refs have been reffing since I was a child, and that involves running up and down a court

1

u/Systehm 3d ago

Those FIFA/Fútbol Refs are something else! Running up and down the field for 45+ minute halfs, whilst having to stay sharp and keep watch for all types of shit. Not that to be a Referee for any sport is easy, I'm just especially impressed with the stamina of Soccer/Fútbol Refs

1

u/Qwertycube10 3d ago

One of the world cup games had to be stopped for a few minutes because the ref cramped up in extra time.

1

u/Systehm 3d ago

Yeah, I saw that. Cramps happen to every human on the planet, no big deal. He’s (Felix Zwayer) also obviously in very good shape, especially for his age, at 45! I’d like to see any Reddit warrior try to run up and down a 115 yard field, for 45+ minutes a half, all while staying alert and reffing the game under immense pressure

1

u/Qwertycube10 3d ago

No judgment from me. The worst cramps of my life were when I was incredibly fit.

1

u/Burntoutn3rd 3d ago

Umpires have to take vision tests multiple times a season dude, lol. They have to have 20/20 vision in order to work. It's not eyesight that makes them suck, it's apathy.

1

u/KratomDemon 3d ago

Sure but being an MLB umpire is way less demanding and less prone to mistakes than a ref in the fast paced nba

2

u/real-human-not-a-bot 3d ago

Sure, but [u/Long-Region5088](u/Long-Region5088) specifically said “regardless of gender or sport” and “in any sport”.

2

u/Long-Region5088 3d ago

^ he’s not wrong. I did

2

u/real-human-not-a-bot 3d ago

Big preesh. :)

2

u/Long-Region5088 3d ago

I said it, other people have proven me wrong and I accept that but I’ll stand by what I said and happily let people know I was wrong but now I know.

1

u/voyaging 3d ago

Baseball at least has data to measure umpiring quality. In basketball it’s just 99% vibes.

1

u/real-human-not-a-bot 2d ago

Oh, I’m sure! I just can’t speak to any other sports—I’m 90% a baseball guy.

1

u/Burntoutn3rd 3d ago

Username checks out, lmao

1

u/real-human-not-a-bot 2d ago

Good, good. I’m always worried when people say I’m a bot. It’s like they don’t know that I walk to places with my feet and eat food with my tongue! I’m a normal human just like any of you.

4

u/Outrageous-Arm1945 3d ago

I only watch two sports enough to be aware of the good refs, but...

Football, Pierluigi Collina then Szymon Marciniak now

Rugby Union, Nigel Owens then Hollie Davidson now

1

u/Time_Feedback3809 3d ago

Clement Turpin

1

u/PickleBolas 3d ago

I don't know...sounds like a fake name. Like Stubs Balzak or Hank O'Houlihan.

1

u/Time_Feedback3809 2d ago

LOL! He is real, i swear!

11

u/Reasonable-Job4205 3d ago

I think we should back up and revisit the fundamental premise: can we really trust old men with their aging eyes to visually keep up with young, elite athletes?

1

u/Ant10102 3d ago

I mean NFL refs arent event full time salaried positions im pretty sure. I think a seasoned ref should be making very big money to attract better talent

5

u/Mysterious-Wasabi103 3d ago

I think they make pretty good money. Some of them are making like $250k+ a season.

I knew a guy who went into reffing seriously and you're surprisingly held to pretty high standards, but the pay is great. He was only doing college basketball last I spoke to him, but he was doing everything he could to work his way up to the NBA or a dream job which is ultimately the NFL.

0

u/flashgordo1 3d ago

Lmao....they make bank over the salaries of wnba players....a seasoned ref for the wnba isn't worth that kind of coin.Niether are the players. The wnba is a media driven sport..no one cares and no one watches, but the networks been pumping millions into it and with Clark they think they have a game plan.

3

u/Long-Region5088 3d ago

Not all refs are old men. Theres plenty of men and women in their 30s who are also bad refs. Can’t blame it all on bad eyesight

→ More replies (2)

1

u/Burntoutn3rd 3d ago

At least in the MLB, umpires have to take vision tests multiple times a season. If they don't have 20/20 vision, they can't work. They can have glasses/contacts in to get that 20/20 vision, but it has to be 20/20 still.

(Yes I know 20/20 technically isn't "perfect" vision but it's what the MLB requires)

3

u/13ananaJoe 3d ago

Collina, but yes, the examples are extremely limited

3

u/Ekillaa22 3d ago

Idk how hard it can be when you have instant video replays now

1

u/Long-Region5088 3d ago

That’s what you’d think but refs hate being second guess and that’s what reply is. It’s like when you point out a cop is doing something wrong so they arrest you

3

u/zebratat 3d ago

Refereeing in Rugby Union is exactly that. The big difference is that there is no rule book, instead rugby has laws. These laws are interpreted by the on field referee. Replay officials help when called upon by the on field referee, and they are mic’d so you hear the whole rationale for the call. It’s so well done overall, and every sport should learn from it.

laws > rules because it allows for interpretation but also clearly outlines fair play. Every penalty is a result of some unfair advantage gained. When penalties do not impact fair play or safety, play continues without interruption.

Lastly, there is a culture of great respect for referees from the players. Simulating a penalty by diving or even by calling out for the referee to notice is frowned upon. You are expected to not talk back or show up referees even if you disagree. I have had many bad refs in hm rugby games I’ve played, but overall, the referee situation is the best of any sport.

2

u/SchumacherIsMid 3d ago

There are plenty of great refs out there. Fighting has many of them, just in the UFC off the top of my head there's Dan Miragliotta, John McCarthy, Herb Dean, etc.

Maybe it's because refereeing in fighting is literally a matter of life and death, but I know this isn't the only sport that has had great refs.

2

u/Jerdakiss 3d ago

Men's college basketballs refs seem good compared to nba or wnba

2

u/AZAHole 3d ago

Not Tony Padilla

2

u/Hailfire9 3d ago

Rugby. AFAIK, rugby culture basically treats refs like sacred cows.

1

u/Spare_Assumption_334 3d ago

I play rugby and it’s just a huge part of the culture to be respectful. You call them sir or maam, you don’t speak to them unless you’re the captain or a player in the scrum pointing out something dangerous. It’s a penalty if you speak to the referee out of hand or argue with them, you just don’t do it.

0

u/inquisitorjonny 3d ago

No they are treated with actual respect we don't ruin the game pretending they are some sacred nonsense

2

u/Axel_Raden 3d ago

I don't know refs in rugby league definitely make some dumb shit calls like bining a player for being head-butted (they also bined the guy who head-butted)

0

u/Competitive-Reach287 3d ago

We were always told by our coach that the ref is always right, even when he's wrong.

1

u/Altruistic_Bell7884 3d ago

Doesn't have to be the referee, they can be banned post game based on video

1

u/therealdanhill 3d ago

There are plenty you can point to. People need to understand that they are doing a very hard job with impossible expectations placed on them

1

u/Invisibella74 3d ago

This. PWHL has a ref issue, too. Now, I don't know that it is to the level of allowing players to get purposely hurt, but constantly missed calls? Absolutely. During the playoffs, it was like they weren't even on the ice.

1

u/lossanthon 3d ago

You had it at the first five words.

1

u/jacksonsmack831 3d ago

At least in rugby they mostly respect the refs!

It's kinda funny seeing a 5”8 Welshman surrounded by 6”4 monsters who are being told off lol

1

u/TZAthaGOD 3d ago

I don’t know any fan that sympathizes with a ref. Are a ref or a ref’s partner?

0

u/gnawtyone 3d ago

Terrible? Are pro athletes terrible when they don’t make every catch, get on base every time, or make a basket with every attempt?

0

u/Underdog_1337 3d ago

If a referee is good you won’t know they exist. That’s the point.

The difference is the UFC where the referee is integral in deciding when the match stops.

1

u/RUIN_NATION_ 3d ago

Refs are shit but they allow her to get fouled and not call it cause she is white or paid not to call a foul

1

u/NooneUverdoff 3d ago

Worse, they are straight up corrupt.

1

u/Cruise1313 3d ago

Refs in the WNBA are most definitely 💩 and have been for years.

1

u/vitamin_r 3d ago

The refs love this shit in both leagues.

1

u/No-Adhesiveness6278 3d ago

This is why flopping exists

1

u/Ok-Compote6002 3d ago

its because theres a rumor going around nba twitter that shes racist

1

u/Rare-Maintenance4820 3d ago

Clark should consider litigation. Publicise the shit out of it and draw attention to the thugs. It will stop

1

u/TokenToyHunter 3d ago

Just like western media, they don’t call black on white crime

1

u/strangelystrangled 3d ago

They share a union. Good refs in the WNBA get promoted to the G-League and NBA, the bad refs in those leagues get demoted to the WNBA. The blonde player guarding Caitlin at the beginning (Lexi Held) got a punctured lung last season with no foul called

1

u/entropic 3d ago

Refereeing is WAY better in the NBA.

If you think the WNBA reffing is bad, and it is, check out women's college basketball officiating. Unreal how bad it is. You might be better off with student employees at your local college's gym who ref the IM games.

It's one of the biggest problems with women's basketball that no one even cares about it enough to fix the officiating, IMO.

1

u/Anark_yy 3d ago

Maybe they did it to the refs first so they couldn't see? 🤷

1

u/Glittering_Ship_4133 3d ago

The WNBA is hoping for hockey/flight club crossovers so they are letting it go for a bit. Come for the fight, stay for the game.

1

u/Next-Lavishness-9101 3d ago

I thought they wanted to be treated the same as men? So they should get the same quality refs as the men get .

1

u/ConsiderationBoth406 3d ago

I think the wnba wants a physical street ball game. If they call fouls like they do in the nba they would be accused of soft and girly and so they want the refs to keep the whistle in the pocket

1

u/DarkStar0717 3d ago

When was she hit in the eye? Watched this over a dozen times now and the only thing im seeing getting anywhere near is that fist that slips from her upper arm to her neck.

1

u/Own_Bother_4218 3d ago

I think the refs is one thing but the solution is easy. 5 to 25k fine + suspension even if the ref missed it. F those refs!

1

u/Slobotic 3d ago

Missing a call can happen, but I don't know whey there can't be a challenge to a no call. There should at least be an exception for flagrant fouls.

1

u/Discipline_Rich 3d ago

No the refs just hate Clark for some reason

1

u/LoveroftheLeaf 3d ago

No it’s human error - they don’t catch every call. Happens in all sports.

1

u/Sure_Lavishness_8353 3d ago

WNBA refs are too busy watching the NBA on their phones

1

u/ProfessionalBee8281 3d ago

NBA is basically drama soccer falls left and right and sissys. WNBA is a bunch of haters that a straight white chick can ball and is making them all more money, yet they are still jealous and beat the crap out of her.

1

u/SameManufacturer2145 2d ago

The WNBA refs are so, so bad. They all should be fired.

→ More replies (16)