Sometimes coaches are measured in their words when it comes to giving postgame media interviews. But sometimes they have a point to make, and though it will surely mean a fine, those coaches will head into the press room with guns a-blazing. That was Fever coach Stephanie White on Tuesday.
The Fever had just lost to the Wings in a heartbreaker at home, by an 81-80 count. And White–not for the first time this season–laid into the game’s referees, saying there were calls that should have been made for Kelsey Mitchell, and that officials do not know how to handle Fever star Aliyah Boston.
When a reporter asked White about the physicality of the game, she was prepared to unload. And she did.
White singled out the handling of star guard Kelsey Mitchell, who had 24 points on 7-for-15 shooting, with 6-for-7 shooting from the free-throw line. Aliyah Boston had 14 points and was 4-for-4 from the free-throw line.
“I think it was a physical game, you know?” White said. “I think there is a double standard in how people get their calls. I think Kelsey Mitchell is held or chucked on every freaking possession and never gets a call off the ball.
“I think Aliyah Boston is the worst officiated post player in the league. She never gets a call. And there’s a double-standard there, certainly. Again, if it’s going to be physical and you’re going to allow us to be physical, then allow both teams to be physical. If you’re gonna call the holds, if you’re gonna call the chucks, then call it both ways. We’ve been pretty consistent in what we’ve been asking for.”
White does have a point. Mitchell, for one, is fourth in the WNBA with 15.8 shots per game, yet she is just 14th with 4.1 free-throws per game. That disparity has White flummoxed, clearly. And the like is sure to fine her because of it.
