SAN FRANCISCO — Alyssa Thomas stood on the free throw line with 1 second remaining in a tie recreation between her Phoenix Mercury and the Golden State Valkyries, as boos from the Chase Middle crowd rained down.
She missed the primary free throw however swished the second by means of the ring, securing the 78-77 victory for Phoenix — and drawing the ire of Valkyries coach Natalie Nakase, who did not maintain again her disappointment that the sport was determined on the line.
“It is so unlucky that they get a win off of a free throw with no protection,” Nakase mentioned. “That is powerful.”
She continued: “To sit down there and watch somebody win a recreation off of a free throw, that is a disservice. I am simply asking for consistency. I am begging for consistency. Hey, if it is as a result of I am a rookie coach then I am going to take the loss. So if I’ve to be higher with the refs, if there is a badge of honor that I’ve to earn, then I am going to do it. I am going to blame myself.”
Thomas received to the free throw line off a foul referred to as on Cecilia Zandalasini. Mercury guard Monique Akoa Makani bounce-passed the ball to Thomas simply exterior of the paint with 2 seconds left on the sport clock. As Thomas took a dribble, Zandalasini slid into the restricted space with each arms up.
As Thomas went up for her shot, the 2 made contact and Zandalasini was instantly whistled for the foul.
“I noticed completely no foul,” Nakase mentioned. “The physicality of the sport for Phoenix was 10 instances extra versus our physicality. I noticed completely no foul … I consider it’s important to win off of nice photographs. That is simply a part of it. So I believe we deserve that.”
The primary half was a recreation of runs. The Valkyries received off to a gradual begin, outscored 12-2 within the opening minutes, however closed the primary quarter on an 18-4 run.
Phoenix then outscored Golden State 11-3 within the closing 4:43 of the primary half to go up by 4.
Within the fourth quarter, the Mercury didn’t make a free throw till the 5:38 mark, however the Valkyries nonetheless allow them to again in.
The Valkyries made 14 3-pointers however shot simply 33.8% from contained in the arc, persistently lacking layups and different photographs near the rim.
Janelle Salaun hit a troublesome 3-pointer with 10.3 seconds left in regulation to tug Golden State inside one, and after a Thomas free throw Salaun hit one other shot — this time a baseline jumper — to tie the sport with 6.8 seconds to go.
Phoenix’s subsequent possession noticed Thomas get fouled by Zandalasini and seal the win on her second free throw try.
“I used to be so happy with the execution down the stretch, the combat, how exhausting we performed — I could not have requested for a greater recreation. I actually do consider that,” Nakase mentioned. “I felt like we did the appropriate issues in a really crunch-time second … it is simply shedding off of a free throw, that to me hurts.”
Nakase joins an extended listing of WNBA personnel who’ve referred to as out the league’s officiating.
Most just lately, Chicago Sky ahead Angel Reese mentioned final week it is an issue that “has to be fixed.”
“I do not give a rattling if I get fined as a result of that s— is affordable, and I am bored with this s—,” Reese mentioned. “Trigger I have been good, and I have been humble with it, however I’m bored with this s—.”
Los Angeles Sparks guard Kelsey Plum additionally voiced her displeasure after a scarcity of calls in an time beyond regulation loss to the Valkyries on June 9.
“I received scratches on my face, I received scratches on my physique, and these different guards on the opposite staff get these ticky-tack fouls, and I am sick of it,” Plum mentioned.
Additionally final month, Indiana coach Stephanie White criticized the referees for not controlling the Fever’s recreation in opposition to the Connecticut Sun, which led to two scuffles and three ejections.
“When the officers do not get management of the ball recreation — once they enable these things to occur, and it has been occurring all season lengthy … that is what occurs,” White mentioned.