Paige Bueckers has been compared to Brittney Griner, who also requested an explanation from officials, as first reported by Athlon Sports. In a narrow 88-85 win for the Atlanta Dream over Bueckers and the Dallas Wings on Wednesday, WNBA legend Brittney Griner was ejected after receiving two technical fouls in quick succession, the second coming after she made physical contact with an official.
In the Wings’ following game against the Indiana Fever on Friday, Bueckers was caught on camera making similar, if not more obvious, contact with an official but was not penalized. This has drawn direct comparisons between the two incidents, highlighting inconsistencies in officiating.
During a frustrating loss to the Miami Heat, Bueckers clearly made contact with staff. Officials acknowledged the contact and appeared to warn her, yet she was not given a technical foul. By contrast, Griner was promptly penalized for similar conduct during the Wings vs. Dream matchup.
The WNBA Rule Book outlines that disrespectful behavior, physical contact with officials, and overt reactions to calls can lead to technical fouls. Although profanity alone doesn’t always trigger a technical, continued criticism, physical contact, or aggressive behavior toward officials may result in penalties. Fines for technical fouls escalate from $200 for the first three to $800 plus a one-game suspension starting at the seventh technical foul.
Following the double technicals, Griner has now accumulated three technical fouls this season. Bueckers, meanwhile, has avoided technical fouls to date despite incidents that could warrant them. As of August 2, Angel Reeth of the Chicago Sky leads with seven technical fouls, followed by Shakira Austin with five, and others including coaches and players with multiple technical fouls.
This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on August 3, 2025.
Fan Take: This discrepancy in officiating highlights ongoing challenges in consistency that directly affect player treatment and game outcomes in the WNBA. Ensuring fairness in calls is crucial for the league’s credibility and supports the growth of women’s basketball as a competitive and respected sport.
