Fans Erupt After Brutal No-Call on Caitlin Clark’s Teammate
When the Chicago Sky entered the United Center with just eight players, few expected them to challenge the Indiana Fever, yet they managed to stay competitive. Rachel Banham dropped a season-high 26 points, while Kamilla Cardoso responded early with 12 points and 7 rebounds in the first half. But the real story wasn’t in the box score, it was in the officiating.
In the first quarter, Cardoso drove hard to the basket. As she bent for a dribble, Natasha Howard leapt onto her back and placed both hands on her shoulders to stop momentum. A blatant foul, right? Apparently not. The refs missed it completely, and fans were furious.
Even Fever supporters admitted it: “Yes, that was a foul,” wrote one. The video clip of the play quickly went viral on X, drawing backlash from across the league.
Read More: Angel Reese Shows Class, Praises Teammate After Sky Win
Odds Stacked Against Kamilla
This isn’t Cardoso’s first time being on the wrong end of questionable whistles. She’s racked up multiple games with foul trouble, even fouling out against the Dallas Wings despite a strong offensive performance. Now, without Angel Reese, who’s out injured, Cardoso is being asked to step up and navigate new offensive zones, all while dealing with inconsistent officiating.
Fans didn’t hold back. “That ref hates our bigs…” one user wrote. Others called back to last year, when Angel Reese accused officials of favoring Caitlin Clark with what she dubbed a “special whistle.”
That narrative only gained steam as more players; Aliyah Boston, Kelsey Plum, and Sophie Cunningham spoke out on the league’s officiating inconsistencies.
And while the referees came under fire, Sky head coach Tyler Marsh wasn’t spared either. “Why isn’t Tyler screaming in the ref’s ear?” one fan questioned. But the rookie coach had other concerns mainly keeping Cardoso on the floor while the Fever’s defense worked to push her out of the paint and away from her comfort zone.
Cardoso hesitated. Banham urged her on: “Don’t give it up. Go at them.” Yet the emotional weight of inconsistent calls and extra pressure showed.
So yes, while the scoreboard shows another L for the Sky, the real loss according to fans is the integrity of WNBA officiating.
Read More: Chicago Sky Face Tough Angel Reese Decision With Kamilla Cardoso’s Exit
