WNBA making long overdue change to officiating process

WNBA commissioner Cathy Engelbert. IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect

WNBA making long overdue change to officiating process

By Adam Gretz | Last updated Jul 25, 2026 9:12 PM ET

Nobody seems happy with the state of officiating in the WNBA, and the league is finally taking a long-overdue step to address it.

Just before the league's All-Star game on Saturday night, WNBA commissioner Cathy Engelbert announced that the league will be introducing a centralized replay center beginning with the 2027 season.

WNBA makes long overdue change to officiating process

Engelbert said the center will be done with the intention of improving efficiency and transparency with the league's officiating and decision-making.

Pretty much every other major professional sports league in North America has something like this, and it's long overdue for the WNBA to get in on that process.

WNBA to Launch Replay Center Beginning with 2027 Season pic.twitter.com/VWq9cLRVEl
— WNBA Communications (@WNBAComms) July 25, 2026

While much of the discussion on the league's officiating this season has centered around Indiana Fever star Caitlin Clark, the issue and criticisms go far, far beyond here, and have existed for far longer than she's played in the league.

Things have started to reach a boiling point now that the league's popularity is rising and far more eyeballs are on it.

Following this past year's WNBA Finals, Phoenix Mercury head coach Nate Tibbetts was highly critical of the league's officials. That prompted a team executive to tell ESPN one of the league's biggest issues is not having a centralized replay center.

Now it will.

Officiating is never going to be perfect, and even something like this isn't going to fix everything, but it's at least something to help address the concerns that fans, players and the teams themselves have.

Better late than never, at least.

Adam Gretz

Adam Gretz is a freelance writer based in Pittsburgh. He covers the NHL, NFL, MLB and NBA. Baseball is his favorite sport -- he is nearly halfway through his goal of seeing a game in every MLB ballpark. Catch him on X @AGretz

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