A'ja Wilson Calls Out 'Ridiculous' WNBA Officiating
A'ja Wilson and the Las Vegas Aces have reason to be frustrated. The team has struggled since WNBA play has resumed and A'ja's stranglehold on the MVP has begun to wane as a result.
A'ja showed up to the game against the Chicago Sky looking like she meant business, but during the contest much of her smoke was reserved for the officials. Wilson blasted the referees insinuating her team has been targeted by the officiating.
During a sideline interview with CBS, Wilson said this. "Everyone has to do their job. From the players, to the refs, to the coaches. We all have to do our job. And I don't appreciate being looked at and stared at as if you're trying to intimidate me or act like I don't have a voice on this court. So yes we are messing up defensively and it's like we are not engaged and we need to get engaged and that's on us. But also it goes hand in hand. If I get fined for this I'm terribly sorry, but it's ridiculous. We've been going through this all season."
A’ja Wilson with some thoughts on the #WNBA refereeing
— Tyler DeLuca (@TylerDeLuca) August 25, 2024
“If I get fined for this I am terribly sorry but it’s ridiculous we have been going through this all season” pic.twitter.com/Rqi1YScWQz
It was the second time in as many games that an Aces star has complained about the refs. Kelsey Plum had lamented what she said was uneven officiating in the team's last game. Plum stated, "I don't feel like the officiating is both sides even" during her own interview with ESPN.
Kelsey Plum: Yeah, it sucks… It’s been brutal at the point of attack. I’m frustrated. I don’t feel like the officiating is even on both sides.
— 🌸 (@hrtwomensports) August 22, 2024
do you agree with her take: yes or no? pic.twitter.com/n0NIQr528j
So while the Aces have reason to be frustrated with their own play, A'ja and company are clearly fed up with the refs as well. The question then becomes, do they have a case or is it a case of sour grapes?
The personal fouls called against them and the Sky were even at halftime, while the exact same number of fouls were called against the Aces and Lynx in the last game. Las Vegas is also top five in the league in free throw attempts for what it's worth.
In A'ja's opinion, clearly not much.
Robin Lundberg is a media veteran and hoops head who has spent the bulk of his career with iconic brands like Sports Illustrated and ESPN. His insights have also been featured on platforms such as Fox and CNN and he can currently be heard hosting shows for Sirius XM and on his burgeoning YouTube show. And now he brings his basketball expertise to Women's Fastbreak on SI!