NEW YORK (AP) 鈥� The is trying to fix its physicality problem and is going through some growing pains during .
Fouls are up so far in the first week of the WNBA season with teams averaging 21.6 fouls 鈥� that’s up just under two per game from the same point last year (19.9). That number dropped over the course of the year with 17.5 fouls on average per game for each team.
鈥淔ouls are up. I don’t think if we are going to get rid of rough play that we saw in previous seasons there is any other outcome other than at the beginning fouls will be up,” said Monty McCutchen, who is the head of WNBA officiating, on a Zoom call with The Associated Press. “That’s a fairly safe assumption.鈥�
The increased fouls aren鈥檛 really leading a major increase in free throws with 21.9 being attempted this season to 21.4 last year at this point. By the end of the year, 18.2 free throws were attempted by each team on average.
The WNBA formed an officiating task force in the offseason as part of the 鈥渟tate of the game鈥� group that included players and coaches. The hope was to clean up some of the league鈥檚 growing concerns around physicality.
鈥淲hat came out of our meetings was we didn鈥檛 really change any rules or change an interpretation,鈥� said Sue Blauch, who is the head of referee performance and development for the WNBA. 鈥淲hen we drilled down to the nitty gritty, it came down to we needed to strictly enforce our current guidelines. So that鈥檚 what you鈥檙e seeing more of. A more stricter enforcement of freedom of movement. That will allow the game to open up and the players to showcase their talents.鈥�
McCutchen said the taskforce spent many hours discussing what players, coaches and the league wanted from officials.
鈥淭hat amount of hours gives clarity to Sue on the day-to-day portion for teaching our staff,” he said. “There will be some over calibration when we try to impart freedom of movement. I think we鈥檝e experienced a little bit of that.鈥�
McCutchen said the officiating group will continue to meet frequently to make sure that 鈥渙ur alignment can become finer and finer as we move into our best parts of our season.鈥�
Minnesota coach Cheryl Reeve is on the task force and knows it will take a little bit of time to get everyone on the same page.
鈥淥bviously, we鈥檒l continue to work with the league on getting right because we鈥檙e not the only team sitting here wondering why everything is a foul,鈥� she said.
Increased fouls also lead to longer games. The New York Liberty鈥檚 overtime win over Washington went for 2 hours, 41 minutes.
鈥淚t disrupts everyone鈥檚 flow,鈥� Liberty star Breanna Stewart said. 鈥淭his game was 2 hours and 41 minutes long. That鈥檚 insane. 鈥� I know it鈥檚 going to take time of, like, figuring out what鈥檚 the standard of what鈥檚 going to be called, but there鈥檚 calls that are being called that are unnecessary on both sides, and then there鈥檚 no flow.鈥�
Dallas Wings guard Arike Ogunbowale also noticed a difference so far.
鈥淚 guess we just have to adapt, because that鈥檚 going to happen,” she said. “It鈥檚 been a long time since I had three fouls in the first half and almost fouling out. I guess show our hands and see what we can do.鈥�
Indiana Fever star Caitlin Clark got a technical foul during the team’s win over Los Angeles on Wednesday night. After the game, she praised the officials for their efforts.
鈥淚 think the refs are doing a tremendous job. I deserved the technical they gave me. But it鈥檚 great for the game,” she said. ‘They鈥檙e going to keep the hands off; they鈥檙e going to make the play be good. Obviously they called a lot of fouls tonight but it鈥檚 going to even out. So, you鈥檝e got to give them credit. They鈥檙e doing the right thing.鈥�
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