“This s*** was stolen from us.” Minnesota Lynx head coach Cheryl Reeve referred to a foul during the crucial hours of the game last season. She explicitly expressed how a poor call cost them the 2024 championship title. Fast forward to now, and nothing seems to have changed. These officiating issues have only become the league’s identity over the past couple of years. While the physical aspect of the game has been accepted, it is the inconsistency that’s raising a bigger question now. After all, can you really blame a player who asks, “Why is it not uniform? What are you guys looking for?”The latest teams to join the bandwagon are none other than the Seattle Storm and the LA Sparks. First, it was Gabby Williams, who was at the receiving end of Dijonai Carrington’s “just hard” play. While the athlete was about to land after attempting a jump shot, the Wings player stood in her landing space. While this tactic could have serious repercussions in the NBA, which has strict landing rules, Carrington got away as Williams rolled her ankle in the process. Maybe this is what prompted the guard to continue with her gameplay. When guard Skylar Diggins went for a fast break layup in the fourth quarter of the game, Carrington leaped to block the shot. Instead of dodging the ball, Carrington’s hand landed on Diggin’s head and sent the Storm athlete crashing to the floor. However, the referees did not stay silent this time and slapped the team with a flagrant foul 1. Naturally, this prompted a lot of backlash against someone who just hasn’t improved since last year. Everyone remembers how Carrington gave Clark a ‘black eye,’ and the recent incidents do not help her case at all. However, Ex-ESPN host and national analyst Rachel DeMita took to YouTube to give someone else their fair share of the blame as well. “The overly aggressive, sometimes reckless, players are getting away with it. So, why wouldn’t they keep doing it?” she said, taking a direct shot at WNBA officials, arguing that the play against Williams should have set an example before Diggins got hurt. “I just don’t think the physicality should be a selling point. We see so many injuries. We see so many reckless plays. And that’s all I have to say about that,” DeMita added, taking more shots at everyone who has ever seen a marketing bigwig in the so-called “play on the ball nun more, nun less,” as Carrington said in her defense. It reminds us of the time when Sophie Cunningham raised her voice against the physicality issue. “Since I’ve been in the league, I’ve had torn elbows, separated shoulder, broken finger, broken jaw,” Sophie had clarified. “It’s always been physical, and if anything, it’s actually gotten less physical because they call more foul.” While Cunningham said that officials have improved over the years, the physicality has been normalized in W over the years. It was pretty evident in the Wings vs Sparks game where Carrington literally pulled rookie Sarah Ashlee Baker by her hair to the floor. That was where the pot boiled over and everyone began demanding her exit from the league. Not even Sonia Citron wanted to defend her after that. It was ruled a common foul by officials, however, as per fans, just fouls won’t cut it now. A system needs to be in place that prevents such brutal acts before anyone gets seriously injured. DiJonai Carrington emerges most reliable player for the Dallas WingsHow the Wings feel as the worst team in the league right now is bound to be a lot different from the rest of the world. As Myisha Hines-Allen herself proved, saying, “What Nai does defensively, like she’s the head of the snake.” Understandable, though, since the Dallas Wings have been relying on DiJonai and Arike Ogunbowale after rookie Paige Bueckers succumbed to injuries.Allen further clarified how the two have taken the roster’s responsibility and bolstered the team. “It’s important for everyone to step up, especially during this time right now”. Cannot argue with her there. With an average of 13 points, 4 rebounds, and 1.5 assists in the season so far, Carrington successfully contributed 22 points, 8 rebounds, and 4 assists in the last game against the Seattle Storm. Moreover, head coach Chris Koclanes was pleased with the team’s overall gameplay as he appreciated the athletes for an improved defense.Koclanes hinted at Carrington’s defence tactics during the match and said, “I thought we did a lot of good things- our connectedness there. We disrupted Skyler and Nneka a little bit. You saw some good discipline disruption there, defensively.” That is sort of a defense for her reckless defense.Despite fans and reporters calling out the incident with Gabby Williams as a clear foul too, Carrington herself strongly defended her move. “Y’all fans swear I’m such a dirty player. I’m so over this narrative because if you really know ball, you know I just play hard asf and never give up on a play,” DiJonai clarified.Fans were hoping for an apology, however, she instead called herself a competitive player with a go-getter attitude. So, yes, the Wings might see her as this good defender they desperately need, but the criticism against her isn’t stopping anytime soon. The post Bitter Reality Closes In on WNBA Officials as Paige Bueckers’ Teammate Triggers National Analyst’s Bold Claim appeared first on EssentiallySports.