The story of the WNBA offseason was the intense negotiations surrounding the new collective bargaining agreement, which has been described as “transformational.” However, just as important were negotiations on how games would be called by game officials, as a committee worked to address the league’s infamous physicality, which was determined as detrimental to the product on the floor.
The difference on the floor has been night and day, as touch fouls have been regularly called in the game’s opening weekend. In fact, some of the game’s biggest stars, such as New York Liberty forward and former MVP Breanna Stewart, feel the pace of the game has been compromised.
“It disrupts everyone’s flow, not just my team, both sides of the game. This game was 2 hours and 41 minutes long. That’s insane,” Stewart told the media after a win agianst the Washington Mystics on Sunday.
“We said it last game too. I know it’s going to take time figuring out the standard of what’s going to be called, but there are calls being made that are unnecessary on both sides, and then there’s no flow. So, I still don’t know.”
It’s worth noting that the game went into overtime, adding to the length of the contest. Still, it’s clear there’s a feeling that the game officials haven’t quite figured out how to call the games. Indiana Fever sharpshooter felt that given the league’s new whistle, she should’ve been able to draw more fouls.
“I think especially if they’re going to call it the way they’re going to call it this year, I think I honestly could have probably got a couple more calls on a few of them, but that’s okay,” Clark said to reporters after a 107-104 loss to the Dallas Wings in Indiana’s season opener.
The officials are clearly still getting used to the league’s new whistle, same as the players. It may take a couple of weeks, but alls sides should be on the same page in a couple of weeks.
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