A lot of the discourse following LSU’s 102-85 national championship game win over Iowa on Sunday was about the officiating and people’s anger with it.
As LSU led 73-64 in the third quarter with 1:03 to go, Iowa superstar Caitlin Clark was called for a questionable technical foul after simply tossing the basketball behind her during a stoppage of play.
"Here's the T on Caitlin Clark… I mean… you have GOT to be kidding me." – @RyanRuocco
"No player in this game should get a technical foul for that." – @RebeccaLobo pic.twitter.com/qQuJD6bUTz
— Awful Announcing (@awfulannouncing) April 2, 2023
The tech instantaneously received a collection of criticism.
A number of WNBA greats, including Sue Bird, Diana Taurasi and Becky Hammon, during an alternate ESPN broadcast of the game were among those not supportive of such a dire tech so late in the game.
“She said nothing,” Rebecca Lobo said on the main ESPN broadcast. “No player in this game should get a technical foul for that.”
Caitlin Clark (22) of Iowa was called for a critical and questionable technical foul late in the third quarter of the 2023 National Championship Game against LSU.Getty Images
Caitlin Clark reacts to getting a technical foul in the third quarter.Getty Images
The technical foul was called as Iowa mounted a furious comeback, seemingly halting their momentum at least momentarily after LSU led 59-42 at halftime.
“You’ve got to be kidding me,” play-by-play commentator Ryan Ruocco said disbelievingly.
Iowa trailed by as many as 21 points before accumulating a 22-12 run before LSU scored the last four points of the quarter, including the technical free throw.
These refs are trying to give the gane to lsu!! That’s wild!!
— Micah Parsons (@MicahhParsons11) April 2, 2023
Among other reactions, Dallas Cowboys’ pass rusher Micah Parsons accused the refs of “trying to give” LSU the game.
They called a tech on Caitlin Clark in the National time game ?!!! Oh my gosh that is BS lol!!
— Chris Williamson (@CWilliamson44) April 2, 2023
The juxtaposition was that LSU head coach Kim Mulkey had made contact with an official in a mini-tantrum earlier in the contest and wasn’t called for anything.
LSU head coach Kim Mulkey reacts during the first quarter of the National Championship Game against Iowa.Getty Images
Sitting right behind Kim Mulkey, I have no clue how she hasn't gotten a tech so far
— Alexa Philippou (@alexaphilippou) April 2, 2023
How did Clark get a technical but Kim Mulkey — who has been literally on the court for most of the game — has not??
— Nicole Auerbach (@NicoleAuerbach) April 2, 2023
Truly can’t believe that technical. Mulkey has been the 6th LSU player on the court THE ENTIRE game and the refs look the other way… the best player in the country, having a historic tournament, tosses the ball away and you T her up for her 4th foul.
Just mind boggling.
— nick wright (@getnickwright) April 2, 2023
And, perhaps in the spirit of WrestleMania weekend, LSU star Angel Reese, later named Most Outstanding Player of the Tournament, taunted Clark with a John Cena “You Can’t See Me” while she literally couldn’t see her very late in the contest.
Clark, who finished with 30 points, used the gesture herself during her torrid Elite Eight and Final Four performances.
LSU subsequently won handily, so the tech — and lack thereof, in other cases — didn’t greatly alter the result.
Still, no one misses an opportunity to call out inconsistent officiating.
