The defending WNBA Champion Las Vegas Aces had a tough time on Thursday night against the Dallas Wings as they fell 95-87, and Aces head coach Becky Hammon was not happy with the officiating.
There was plenty that Hammon was unhappy about after the game, and to be fair, most of her frustration was directed at her own team. However, Hammon did have a pretty significant gripe with the officiating. More specifically, Hammon was upset about the free-throw disparity.
During the game, the Dallas Wings shot 22 free throws, making 19 of them. The Aces, however, shot just 12 free throws, making just 7 of them. Even reigning MVP A’Ja Wilson was unable to get to the free-throw line.
A dominant post player, Wilson typically shoots a lot of free throws throughout the course of a game. That was not the case on Thursday night as she attempted just one free throw throughout the entire game.
Needless to say, Hammon was not at all happy about this split, and she did not hold back her true thoughts on the officiating during her postgame press conference as she fully acknowledged that her comments would almost certainly earn her a fine from the league.
“A’Ja Wilson shoots one free throw, Chennedy Carter shoots zero, Jackie Young – zero. I’m [expletive]ing tired of that bull[expletive],” Hammon told the media bluntly after the game.
“I’m not saying they didn’t earn their 22 [free throws] down there, but when Awak Kuier shoots more free throws than A’ja Wilson, Jackie Young, and Chennedy Carter all combined, that’s a problem. We’re not getting the same whistle.”
“Give me my fine,” she said as she walked away from the podium.
The Aces will have a chance to bounce back this weekend when they travel to take on the Golden State Valkeyries on Sunday.
About Dave Kelsey
Contributing author to The Comeback.