A day after dropping a WNBA record 53 points in a game, Wings center Liz Cambage ripped the league’s officiating, saying the refs are trying to make the game “more ladylike.”
In a conference call on Wednesday, Cambage explained that she was recently assessed a technical foul for looking at a referee.
“It makes me feel like they’re trying to make it more ladylike, but that’s not how we play,” Cambage said. “We play like fierce women.”
Liz Cambage on officiating issues: "I got a technical last week for *looking* at a referee. I don't understand why our emotion and our passion is being suppressed. Let us play our game and don't try to soften it. It makes me feel like they're trying to make it more 'ladylike.' "
— Michael Voepel (@MAVoepel) July 18, 2018
Cambage on the officiating: “I don’t understand why our emotion … is being suppressed That is part of who we are. We are women and we are powerful. It makes me feel like they’re trying to make us more ladylike, but that’s not how we play. We play like fierce women.”
— Lindsay Gibbs (@linzsports) July 18, 2018
Officiating issues have been a hot topic among players this season.
Cambage’s teammate Skylar Diggins-Smith tweeted about a play last week where she was assessed a technical foul for showing emotion after scoring a bucket.
Who says guards can't rebound? Not @SkyDigg4 or the @DallasWings.#RiseTogether pic.twitter.com/jryF6h7nqT
— Bally Sports Southwest (@BallySportsSW) July 11, 2018
Even the diplomatic Elena Delle Donne acknowledged that players have been frustrated with the refs during a conference call on Wednesday.
Dream guard Tiffany Hayes—after hitting a crazy, game-winning three against the Sun on Tuesday—declined to comment on the officiating for fear of getting suspended or fined.
A word with @tiphayes3 after her cut-throat last second shot to secure the @AtlantaDream’s 5th win in a row! pic.twitter.com/KslVPWpfhF
— FOR(E) (@FanSided_Fore) July 18, 2018
