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WNBA Analyst Rachel DeMita Demands FIBA Refs Be Brought To WNBA After Viral Officiating Comparison
Rachel DeMita (Image Credits: Imagn)

WNBA Analyst Rachel DeMita Demands FIBA Refs Be Brought To WNBA After Viral Officiating Comparison

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Rachel DeMita mentioned that the officials at the FIBA event were quick, spot-on, and didn’t care about the players’ status, and that they should be included in the WNBA.

The FIBA Eve concluded with four teams qualifying for the main event in Germany during the September period. Players earned rewards and praise for their performances in the games, while Cailin Clark earned the highest accolade. According to a WNBA analyst, another key ingredient in the event’s success was officiating.

Even thoughWNBA fans were divided over Caitlin Clark’s alleged travel during Team USA’S rout against Italy in FIBA World Cup qualifiers, DeMita cleared the confusion using the rulebook. And she even backed the officials to be part of the WNBA in her latest video.

Nate Tibbetts And Referee Gina Cross
Nate Tibbetts And Referee Gina Cross (Photo by Imagn Images)

Analyst Wants FIBA Referees In WNBA

The WNBA drew comparisons with the ‘unrivaled’ league and now with the FIBA events after the CBA fiasco and delay. One point that was also visibly different and negative for the WNBA was the level of refereeing.

WNBA analyst Rachel DeMita took to social media and put out a post captioned, “Bring the FIBA refs to the WNBA!” She said, “We have not heard anybody complaining about the referees during this qualifying tournament. Isn’t that crazy? I feel like in every WNBA game, everybody is complaining about the referees. I feel like fans haven’t had much to say at all.”

Praising the FIBA referees, she said, “They are so quick to blow the whistle. They are so quick to also call a technical foul. The referees overall have been too good, they have been straight to the point and that is something that I think WNBA fans, players and coaches are always complaining about.”

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While her assessment depended on the facts and what was in front of her over the years, the 205 season had really been very tough to watch from a ‘fair gameplay’ point of view, and the league faced huge criticism over the same.

WNBA Officiating Faced Massive Criticism Throughout 2025

In 2025, WNBA officiating transitioned from a background annoyance to a central crisis, threatening the league’s unprecedented growth. As viewership soared, so did the intensity of criticism from fans, players, and coaches who decried a lack of consistency and dangerous levels of unchecked physicality. High-profile stars like Caitlin Clark and Angel Reese frequently voiced frustrations over inconsistent whistles and “diabolical” calls.

Coaches such as Cheryl Reeve and Becky Hammon faced heavy fines for public outbursts against referees. The tension peaked during the playoffs when a controversial no-call resulted in an injury to MVP candidate Napheesa Collier, leading Reeve to label the leadership’s referee selections as “malpractice”.

While Commissioner Cathy Engelbert maintained that the league was “on it,” the absence of a “Last Two Minute Report” and the continued use of part-time officials fueled demands for structural reform and better accountability. Ultimately, the 2025 season underscored a widening gap between the league’s professional rise and its officiating standards.

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