The WNBA has suspended the three-person officiating crew that worked Friday night’s Indiana Fever-Toronto Tempo game, citing a series of inconsistent and incorrect foul calls that drew sharp criticism from players and coaches.
The decision came hours after the Fever’s 103-85 victory in Toronto, where Indiana was whistled for 13 fouls in the first half alone. Those calls led to 20 free-throw attempts for the short-handed Tempo. Caitlin Clark, who finished with 28 points and 14 assists, voiced her frustration during a halftime interview. “We need to stop fouling. Whether they’re fouls or not — probably not, but they’re calling them anyway,” Clark said. “We gotta get our hands out.”
Clark later picked up a Flagrant 1 foul in the fourth quarter after her arm made contact with Tempo forward Isabelle Harrison on a drive. The sequence added to a night filled with disputed whistles on both ends. Fever coach Stephanie White has repeatedly called for greater consistency in officiating throughout the season, and Friday’s game renewed those complaints.
League sources confirmed the crew—crew chief Randy Richardson along with umpires Sarah Williams and Josh Reed—will miss upcoming assignments while the league’s officiating department reviews game film. The suspension is the latest step in the WNBA’s ongoing effort to address widespread criticism of refereeing standards, particularly in games involving high-profile stars such as Clark.
The Tempo, already missing key contributors including All-Star Marina Mabrey, struggled to keep pace once Indiana settled into its offense. Kelsey Mitchell poured in a game-high 33 points, surpassing A’ja Wilson’s single-season scoring record in the process. The Fever improved to 27-14 and moved into a tie for a top-four playoff seed, while Toronto fell to 11-30.
Officiating has been a recurring flashpoint in the 2026 season. Coaches across the league have publicly questioned the consistency of foul calls, physicality standards, and post-game reviews. Friday’s suspension signals that the league is willing to hold crews accountable when calls repeatedly disrupt the flow of play.
Whether the move produces more uniform standards remains to be seen. For now, the message is clear: repeated errors will not be overlooked as the regular season heads into its final week and playoff intensity rises.
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