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Fans Ripped Refs Over Brutal Call at End of Iowa’s Final Four Win Over UConn
Caitlin Clark and the Iowa Hawkeyes are going back to the national title game after beating Paige Bueckers and the UConn Huskies, 71–69, in a Final Four showdown that lived up to the hype in Cleveland.
It also came with some controversy, as a brutal offensive foul called against UConn's Aaliyah Edwards in the final seconds helped Iowa hold on for the win.
UConn trailed by a point with under five seconds left when Edwards was called for an illegal screen, which gave Iowa the ball back with 3.9 seconds remaining.
UConn's players and fans will be talking about this call for years to come:
Offensive foul?? pic.twitter.com/dpf45GPyHp
— Jomboy Media (@JomboyMedia) April 6, 2024
Here's another look at it:
Legitimately one of the worst offensive foul calls I’ve ever seen… Let alone with 4 seconds left & the game on the line.
— Josh Reynolds (@JoshReynolds24) April 6, 2024
Feel sick for Aaliyah Edwards & UCONN. There’s just no world where this is a moving screen. Brutal. pic.twitter.com/73AYbGmAnT
Fans blasted the refs:
I have no dog in this fight, I want Dawn Staley’s team to win it all, but this call was absolutely disgraceful. https://t.co/m7uvxvRtw4
— Shibe Vintage Sports (@ShibeSports) April 6, 2024
It isn’t a foul, but regardless... An official making THAT THE GAME DECIDING CALL is atrocious. #UConn https://t.co/zMxtanQxc0
— John Sonsalla (@JSonsalla) April 6, 2024
Just an all time bad call. I am so sick and tired of games being tainted but referees who lack zero judgement. Its truly criminal. https://t.co/dzrMwMpl8y
— Jerome Sweatpants (@talkintrashlin) April 6, 2024
I’m not a swallow the whistle proponent, but this is the lamest call in a big moment I’ve ever seen. It’s pretty clear Iowa is getting the calls this tournament and it’s hard to enjoy because of the officiating. https://t.co/Djgqg4v19J
— Nick Klus (@JudSchmails) April 6, 2024
That is so incredibly soft. https://t.co/UUuaBwNc0J
— Chad Ryan (@ChadwikoTWW) April 6, 2024
YOU CAN NOT CALL AN OFFENSIVE FOUL WITH THIS MUCH ON THE LINE, I FEEL BAD FOR UCONN, THEY WERE ROBBED https://t.co/qh45d00XEz
— JayMo (@crassiux) April 6, 2024
Andy Nesbitt is the assistant managing editor of audience engagement at Sports Illustrated. He works closely with the Breaking and Trending News team to shape SI’s daily coverage across all sports. A 20-year veteran of the sports media business, he has worked for Fox Sports, For the Win, The Boston Globe and NBC Sports, having joined SI in February 2023. Nesbitt is a golf fanatic who desperately wants to see the Super Bowl played on a Saturday night.