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The Women’s NCAA Tournament provided viewers with excitement throughout, culminating with a high-scoring national title game. Unfortunately, many believe the refs stole the show in that heavyweight finale between Iowa and LSU.
Calls against both sides were under the microscope as fans chimed in with their opinions on officiating. They quickly posted reactions to social media both during and after the game.
LSU would win the matchup, 102-85. The dominant performance was led by sophomore Angel Reese, who posted a double-double with 15 points and 10 boards. Her trash talking skills were on full display, too.
The Tigers earned every bit of that swagger on their way to the first national championship in program history. Kim Mulkey’s bunch took down a one-seed and a pair of two-seeds on their run to a title.
Iowa, meanwhile, came up a bit short in their quest for a championship. Still, they had the best offensive player in the tournament as Caitlin Clark scored an NCAA record 191 points in the Big Dance.
On Sunday, Clark notched a game-high 30 points despite finding herself in foul trouble for large chunks of action. In one instance, she was whistled for a technical foul for throwing a ball in frustration.
Caitlin Clark is whistled for a technical foul for this reaction.
During a national championship game.
There have been bad officiating calls before.
This is the worst. pic.twitter.com/ufA120isf2
— Ben Stevens (@BenScottStevens) April 2, 2023
Here’s another angle of the play. Not many were happy with the call.
She flipped the ball to the baseline. Angel Reese was sitting too, this crew ain’t it pic.twitter.com/EwNCXw3odj
— Doug Gottlieb (@GottliebShow) April 2, 2023
As Gottlieb points out, Angel Reese was on the bench with foul trouble, too. While many were quick to note Iowa’s problems with the refs, there was one point in the contest when NBA star Damian Lillard made a comment on LSU’s issues.
These refs out here bout to foul LSU whole team out.
— Damian Lillard (@Dame_Lillard) April 2, 2023
Maybe the most criticized play in the game was a no-call, however.
While the officials seemed to be quick to call anything and everything on the players, LSU coach Kim Mulkey appeared to get away with a blatant technical foul after both questioning and making contact with a referee.
Refs have to box out Kim Mulkey but T up Caitlin Clark for throwing a ball. What a joke these refs have been pic.twitter.com/IUlngtLUUT
— Marty Mush (@martymush) April 2, 2023
When all was said and done, everyone agreed that the officiating was poor for both sides throughout the game.
can’t remember a game where the refs so consistently, thoroughly & ceaselessly tried to destroy a Championship game
garbage from start to finish
— Warren Sharp (@SharpFootball) April 2, 2023
LSU/Iowa Refs before the game pic.twitter.com/LmXii9rWvD
— Barstool Sports (@barstoolsports) April 2, 2023
Refs ruined what was going to be a great game. LSU would likely have won in any event the way they were shooting outside, but the erratic officiating kept us from seeing it.
— Dottie Luber (@DottieLuber) April 2, 2023
It unfortunately took away from the biggest game of the women’s college basketball season.