WNBA Commissioner Says Only Losing Team Blames Referees

The WNBA is quickly approaching the midway point of the 2025 season. While the year has moved at a fast pace, one hot-button issue has lingered throughout: officiating.

Complaints about referees have become a regular part of postgame reactions around the league.

In one recent incident, Sydney Johnson received a technical foul after arguing a call near mid-court. Indiana Fever head coach Stephanie White and second-year star Caitlin Clark have also spoken publicly about questionable officiating.

WNBA commissioner Cathy Engelbert addressed those concerns, along with other league topics, during a recent media session. Her comments on the issue were clear.

“There’s always room for growth and improvement in officiating," Englebert said. "I do find it interesting when you sit in the chair I sit in that no winning team ever complains about officiating; no losing team ever doesn’t complain about officiating.”

WNBA commissioner Cathy Engelbert talks to the media.

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In the same report, Monty McCutchen, who oversees officiating development and training for the NBA, weighed in. He acknowledged growing pains within the WNBA’s younger referee pool.

“With that young staff there’s going to be some growing pains, there’s no doubt about that," McCutchen said. "Our job is to recognize when consistency isn’t being applied and when there is that inexperience that needs to grow in this area. And when it is outside noise because this is a very convenient thing to say.” 

WNBA commissioner Cathy Engelbert and Hailey Van Lith

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A key structural issue remains: WNBA officials are not salaried. They’re paid per game and often split duties with NCAA basketball. This dual-role setup presents a challenge.

As Kareem Copeland of The Washington Post reported: "Going back and forth between the WNBA and NCAA can require officials to be able to call games differently from way they’ve been trained."

Players and coaches aren’t demanding perfection, but they do want more consistency. Minnesota Lynx forward Napheesa Collier voiced what many around the league have felt.

“I don’t think it’s consistent," Collier said. "I think every player would say that. I think it’s getting worse. I’m just going to be really honest about it. It’s a conversation I’ve tried to have with Cathy Engelbert and others. It’s something we have to get better at. We have so many new eyes on us, and consistency is the biggest thing.”

With the WNBA preparing to expand in the coming years, how the league handles officiating will be a major storyline for Engelbert and her team moving forward.