Candace Parker Reveals 'Cardinal Sin' for WNBA Referees

The WNBA's players and coaches are fed up with the league's referees. While this has always been a prevailing issue (as it is with any other sport), it seems to have reached a boiling point in 2025. This is shown by many players and coaches calling out referees for their uneven whistles and inconsistencies, even to the point where their incorrect calls are shaping the outcomes of games.

A great example of this is what Indiana Fever head coach Stephanie White said after her team's August 12 loss against the Dallas Wings, where she noted, "Yeah, it was a physical game, you know? I think there's a double standard in how people get their calls. I think Kelsey Mitchell, number one, is held or chucked on every freaking possession, and never gets a call off the ball. I think Aliyah Boston is the worst officiated player in the league. She never gets a call.

"And there's a double standard there, certainly. But, again, if it's gonna be physical, and you're gonna allow us to be physical, then allow both teams to be physical. If you're gonna call the holds, and you're gonna call the chucks, then call it both ways. I think we've been pretty consistent in what we're asking for, and I don't feel like it was consistent — especially for those two," White added.