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Player With 4th-Most Technical Fouls Demands Fines for WNBA Referees

Originally posted on Athlon Sports | By Kevin Borba | Last updated Jul 17, 2025 12:41 PM ET

Whether the WNBA itself is willing to admit it or not, the league has a problem with its officiating.

The officials have been frequently called out by players and coaches this season, and there is clearly tension between both parties seemingly every night. One of the latest players to point out the officiating issue is WNBA Champion and New York Liberty guard Natasha Cloud.

The team's leader in assists (5.9) is also among the league leaders in technical foul assessments, as she is tied for fourth with a handful of other players, with two. In a recent interview with ESPN, Cloud highlighted the inequality between officials and players, expressing that players are punished for behaviors and mistakes while officials are not.

Something that she thinks should be modified by the WNBA.

"I also think that there needs to be [a] (expletive) fine placed on referees for missed calls, right?" Cloud told ESPN. "If I can get a technical in the game for my emotions, I think the referees should be able to be reprimanded for their mistakes too. … If my fines are going to be public knowledge, I think their fines should be (expletive) public knowledge."

Cloud also expressed that she feels as if the officials have too much of an impact on the games, and thinks that the relationship between the ref and the player should be more collaborative.

"I work my (expletive) ass off all offseason for these four and a half months to try to win a championship," Cloud told ESPN. "And if I feel like [refs are] having too much f---ing impact on the game, it shouldn't be. ... This is collaborative to make this thing go."

While some may assume this is just the typical situation between player and refs, ESPN did report that the 18.7 fouls per game are the highest since the 2017 season.

With a brief break after Saturday's WNBA All-Star Game, the league could use the time to adjust, but there's no telling if this is an issue that can be fixed in a couple of days.

This article first appeared on Athlon Sports and was syndicated with permission.

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