On Friday night, WNBA fans witnessed an exhilarating double-overtime game between the Seattle Storm and the Los Angeles Sparks. The Sparks emerged victorious with a narrow 108-106 win, thanks to a strong team effort that saw four players score over 21 points each.
Rickea Jackson led the Sparks with 27 points on 11-of-23 shooting, along with nine rebounds and three assists over 47 minutes. Diaika Humphrey contributed 21 points and 13 rebounds, Kelsey Plum added 22 points and seven assists, and Azurá Stevens scored 21 points, including three three-pointers, helping the Sparks secure their sixth win in seven games.
Despite Nneka Ogwumike’s season-high 37 points and Skylar Diggins’ 18 points with six assists, the Storm fell short. Diggins notably went the entire 43 minutes without earning a single free throw attempt, a point of contention for Storm head coach Noel Quinn. In his post-game interview, Quinn criticized the refereeing, expressing frustration that Diggins played extensive minutes without a free throw call. He suggested he might face fines for speaking out but felt compelled to highlight what he saw as inconsistency in officiating.
This game marked the second instance in three matches where Diggins failed to get to the free throw line, raising questions about officiating fairness in tightly contested WNBA games.
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Fan Take: This game highlights the growing competitiveness and excitement of the WNBA, but it also brings attention to critical concerns about officiating that could impact player performance and fan trust. Addressing these issues transparently is essential for maintaining the league’s integrity and ensuring a fair, thrilling experience for everyone involved.
