The WNBA playoffs have fans on edge, grumbling about referee calls that can swing a game in a heartbeat. A controversial no-call in Friday’s game resulted in a double blow to the Minnesota Lynx in missing Napheesa Collier and Cheryl Reeve for Game 4.
Now, the WNBA is stirring the pot again by assigning the same officiating crew to the Indiana Fever’s do-or-die Game 4 against the Las Vegas Aces.
WNBA Assigns Same Controversial Refs For Indiana Fever Game
The drama unfolded two nights ago in Phoenix during Game 3 of the semifinals, when a missed call sparked chaos. It led to Lynx coach Cheryl Reeve’s ejection and a one-game suspension. With the Fever down 2-1 in their series, the league’s decision to bring back referees Isaac Barnett, Randy Richardson, and Jenna Reneau has Indiana fans on edge.
It’s needless to say, they would be worried about another officiating blunder in a must-win moment. However, during the last controversial game, the drama took place with just 27 seconds left in a tight Game 3 when Minnesota’s Napheesa Collier grabbed a pass near the perimeter and moved left.
Some updates:
— Callie Fin (@CallieJLaw) September 28, 2025
-Becky Hammon said pregame that Cheryl Reeve "did not tell a lie," in her WNBA officiating critiques
-The same officials that Reeve accused the league of "malpractice" for assigning to Game 3 of Lynx-Mercury will work today's Game 4 between the Aces & Fever https://t.co/WaY528qt4b
She then found Phoenix’s Alyssa Thomas swiping the ball away for a fast-break layup, narrowing the Lynx’s lead to 82-76. Replays showed Thomas’s knee making contact with Collier’s, causing a stumble, but the refs didn’t blow the whistle.
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Furious, Reeve charged onto the court, earning her second technical foul and an ejection, followed by a suspension for “verbally abusing” the officials. The play was a turning point as Collier’s leg extended slightly while she maneuvered, but Thomas’s aggressive steal included clear contact that many argued warranted a foul.
WNBA Refs’ No-Call Received Support From NBA
Despite multiple rock and roll, the referees reviewed the play and stuck with the no-call, allowing Phoenix to ride the momentum to an 84-76 victory, shifting their series to 2-1. The Lynx coach didn’t hold back afterward.
Reeve criticized the officiating, calling it “malpractice” and slamming the league’s choice to keep the same crew for high-stakes games. The decision to assign Barnett, Richardson, and Reneau to the Fever’s game only amplified those concerns.
This is NOT a foul. Thomas legally gets to the ball and knocks the ball loose prior to any contact. The leg to leg contact is incidental once the ball is clearly loose. This was correctly judged in real time as a no call as were the subsequent technical fouls. pic.twitter.com/kdImDRwsNe
— NBA Referees (@OfficialNBARefs) September 27, 2025
However, while the WNBA’s officiating drew heat from fans and coaches, the NBA’s referees came to their defense. Analyzing the play, the account also posted a detailed outlook.
The NBA’s take didn’t quiet the critics, though. Many pointed out that Collier appeared shaken after the play. The league’s data, however, shows no clear link between missed calls and injuries, a point officials have stressed amid rising complaints about physicality in the playoffs.