There were several technicals in that game. I think the main criticism was that Marina Mabrey should have been ejected. The thinking was if that had been properly addressed, the second incident wouldn't have occurred. Some were expecting Sophie Cunningham to be suspended, but it turned out the league fined her and Mabrey. In a related note, Cunningham's jersey has now sold out lol.
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This is where they fail miserably. They've allowed the antics on the floor to become "part of the game" a lot like we see in hockey at times. I've known people over the years who would go to hockey games just to watch the fights. The game itself meant nothing to them.
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About 25years ago, I became a girls lacrosse referee. The sport was just kicking off here in Minnesota. I was referee #4....ever. Eventually I rose to the point of doing the big college games, which was a lot of fun. I had never played the sport or seen it played, but learned the rules quickly. It's a finesse sport based upon safety. Well, that only lasts so long. The sport has gotten to be a lot more like men's lacrosse, especially after girls hockey players started making lacrosse their "offseason" sport. Helmets quickly became required and (I'm not longer involved) but I wouldn't be surprised if they wear pads soon, like the boys.
Maybe in 2006 or 2007, I was refereeing the state semi-final game. Normally any stick contact within a sphere around the head is a penalty, and contact with the head itself was a major penalty. As the game progressed, the play got more aggressive. Players were swinging intentionally at opponents heads creating contact. Those are automatic red cards, ejection from the game, and you sit out the first half of the next. By midway through the second half, at least 7-8 players from each team had been ejected. Coaches and fans were going bananas because whomever won, was going to be missing a lot of their starting players for half of the game. As the lead ref, I called multiple official's timeouts to bring captains and eventually coaches into the discussion of safety and the consequences of continuing to play rough. Nobody did a thing to control it, so we did. I eventually even stopped the game and ejected a coach from the field. The game ended with booing from just about everyone, but it's the players that ultimate control any game in any sport.
The above was the worst example of the behavior that I began to see more regularly. The viciousness displayed is hard to describe. Women play their games with different emotion than men. I'm not saying that it's right or wrong, but it will be hard for the WNBA to legislate out the way that women can treat one another in the heat of a game. It's different than a men's game, not that men are any better. The aggression is just channeled and displayed differently.
Maybe in 2006 or 2007, I was refereeing the state semi-final game. Normally any stick contact within a sphere around the head is a penalty, and contact with the head itself was a major penalty. As the game progressed, the play got more aggressive. Players were swinging intentionally at opponents heads creating contact. Those are automatic red cards, ejection from the game, and you sit out the first half of the next. By midway through the second half, at least 7-8 players from each team had been ejected. Coaches and fans were going bananas because whomever won, was going to be missing a lot of their starting players for half of the game. As the lead ref, I called multiple official's timeouts to bring captains and eventually coaches into the discussion of safety and the consequences of continuing to play rough. Nobody did a thing to control it, so we did. I eventually even stopped the game and ejected a coach from the field. The game ended with booing from just about everyone, but it's the players that ultimate control any game in any sport.
The above was the worst example of the behavior that I began to see more regularly. The viciousness displayed is hard to describe. Women play their games with different emotion than men. I'm not saying that it's right or wrong, but it will be hard for the WNBA to legislate out the way that women can treat one another in the heat of a game. It's different than a men's game, not that men are any better. The aggression is just channeled and displayed differently.
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Excellent description of what's happening. Women in sports tend to react emotionally and with a greater passion then men do. Men have a tendency to be sneaky, women just put it out there on the table and let 'er rip.
You mentioned the sticks to the head. That's what seems to be happening deeper in games within the WNBA. Initially the shots are lower, in the body, but they migrate up to the head eventually and things like what's happening to Clark start becoming prevalent. And you're right, the players do control the game, and the officials need to make sure that they understand there are rules of conduct out there and you're going to live within them or you're not going to be playing. What you did is exactly what I would have done as well. You handled it perfectly. If anyone has a problem with it, that's their problem, your actions were merited.
I was watching the Pacers win Game 6, and as soon as that was over, I switched over to watch the end of the Fever game. And the Fever looked terrible, got beat by the expansion team Golden State Valkyries. After bragging her up, Clark had a bad game and most of them looked like they were barely trying. They looked tired, I think it was after their bedtime.
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It happens. I'm looking forward to game 7. At least there is one. I didn't expect it to go 7. I think they took away, somewhat, that going directly to the basket and Williams using those long arms for a layup/hook left or right. They will have to try and stop that. It's just too easy and deflating imho
So Clark is currently injured again (left groin), and is out of the game tonight (the sixth she's missed this season). During the road trip the Fever just came off of, she has played the worst I've ever seen her. In fact, she was an astonishing 1 for 28 from three point range. Which makes people think she's been playing injured, because she doesn't look like herself.
I have to say she kind of reminds me of Jordan Love last year and the sophomore jinx. Last year was actually Love's fifth year, but it was his second year as a starter. And he was hurt off and on and struggled to show the form he had the year before. We seem to be seeing something similar with Caitlin Clark. Sophomore jinx.
I have to say she kind of reminds me of Jordan Love last year and the sophomore jinx. Last year was actually Love's fifth year, but it was his second year as a starter. And he was hurt off and on and struggled to show the form he had the year before. We seem to be seeing something similar with Caitlin Clark. Sophomore jinx.
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I have a hunch a lot of Clark's problem stems from injuries that they haven't talked about. The groin injury could have happened some time ago. It's hard to tell but I'm going with that as a benefit of the doubt.
There's a pic going around from the Connecticut game where you can see that Clark had her leg wrapped very high up on her left thigh. If she was standing normally, it would be covered by her shorts, but in the action shot, you can see it peeping out. She did have a quad strain, but the fact that it's wrapped so high makes you wonder if there was some left groin association even at that time, which was about 10 days ago.
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It would make sense. She had a solid game coming off the injury then without warning her game went cold and she wasn't playing defense like she normally does. It would account for the reduction in both playing time and results.
Watched the game last night (Friday June 27) and the team came together amazingly well against Dallas. Of course Dallas is now 4-8 and in this league the difference between 4-8 and 8-4 is huge. The talent swings by team can be enormous.
There wasn't a lot of chippy play out there with Clark in civvies. It seems like every team in the league has one or two "enforcers" who have to mix it up with her by instigating problems every game. It's hurting the overall support of the game. It needs to stop.
But funny thing, the Fever can look unbeatable one night and the next night look like the worst team in the league. One night they beat the Liberty but then they can lose to the Sparks.
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Tonight the Fever take on my MN Lynx, the best team in the league with the '25 MVP. The Lynx don't have any goons, but they play strong defense and have plenty of scorers. It will be tough for Indiana with or without Clark.
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The Lynx don't need theatrics to offset their lack of ability. They're a solid team top to bottom. They should handle the Fever fairly handily tonight. Clark more than likely will still be sitting for a while. The Lynx should win the whole show this year. They're that good.
In a way, the Fever are gaining by Clark being out. They're finding out that they aren't that bad a team without her and better with her. Still a long way from challenging for a title.
Not only do they play, it's for the Commisioner's Cup. There's some incentive there because it's extra money for the players. I believe the game is on Prime Video exclusively. I'm not even sure if it counts as a regular season game. Anyway, yeah you're right, the Lynx will be a big favorite. The Fever are very inconsistent, but they can play very well in streaks.
Why do you think the refs are reluctant to do this?
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I don't know. But the refs, from the little I see, are not very good.
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Refs are often reluctant to toss players from games. It is easier to learn the rules and call fouls. It's a different ball of wax to eject players from games, incurring the wrath of the coaches and fans. The good refs make it look easy, but it's not. It takes a strong spine.
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It was a team effort for the Fever tonight. 5 players in double figures. This is what will make them even stronger when Clark is back on the floor. I think a lot of the problems the Lynx had tonight was due to a Fever team that set out on a mission to play their best defense possible. They kept the Lynx off their marks on shots.The Lynx looked a little flat and cold tonight (sorry, El Guapo). Not sure what was wrong with them, but I'm happy to see the Fever win the Commissioner's Cup. I like seeing the girls fight for money
This could be a real morale booster for the Fever.
Fever playing out of their mind tonight so far, leading the Aces by 22 at the half. You can see they're putting in extra effort, always good to see a team sharking after the ball. And Clark isn't even playing. No lead is safe with A'ja Wilson on the floor though. If they blow this one I will be ticked off.
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Great game against the Aces. An interesting facet of the game was how they fed off each other on defense. They made it a point to make almost every shot by the Aces contested.
Two games in a row they've held the other team under 60. Maybe they're finally getting it.
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The Fever reminds me of the Beacon Hill Beavers in Teen Wolf. The Fever have been learning how to play without their best player. They are learning how to win as a team.
Caitlin Clark = Werewolf?
Caitlin Clark = Werewolf?
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If they blend Clark's game in with the rest of them, they could be a pretty good team.
