The Fever's recent win over the Sun was anything but smooth sailing. The game ended in a chaotic scrum that left fans and players alike shaking their heads. It all started when Sophie Cunningham, a new addition to the Fever team, took down Connecticut's Jacy Sheldon. This happened with just 46 seconds left on the clock and the Fever leading by a comfortable 17 points. Sheldon was on her way to the basket for a layup when Cunningham tackled her, sparking a wild brawl. Both players, along with the Sun's Lindsay Allen, were ejected from the game.

The incident was not an isolated one. Earlier in the game, Sheldon had poked Fever star Caitlin Clark in the eye, and her teammate, Marina Mabrey, had knocked Clark to the floor. The referees had given Sheldon and Mabrey flagrant 1 fouls but did not eject them. This decision seemed to fuel the frustration on the Fever's side. The Fever's coach, Stephanie White, was not happy with the officials' handling of the game. She pointed out that the officials had been allowing physical play all season long. She also noted that the players were competitive and would have their teammates' backs, especially when the officials did not keep the game in check.

The Sun's coach, Rachid Meziane, also had strong words for Cunningham's foul. He called it a "stupid foul" and "disrespectful" given the Fever's comfortable lead. Meziane also agreed that aggressive play was going unchecked "all over the league" by officials. The Sun's Jaelyn Brown echoed this sentiment, stating that players have to defend themselves when things happen to them.

Cunningham, for her part, seemed to respond to the criticism with a shrug. She posted a picture of herself shrugging from the Fever's media day on her Instagram Story. This move did not go unnoticed and added another layer of controversy to the already heated situation.

The win put the Fever in the Commissioner’s Cup championship against the Lynx. However, the victory was overshadowed by the chaotic end to the game. It raised questions about the officials' role in maintaining order on the court and the players' responsibility in keeping the game clean.

The incident also highlighted the need for better officiating in the league. Both coaches agreed that the officials were not doing enough to keep the game in check. This is a problem that needs to be addressed if the league wants to maintain its integrity. The players are competitive and will always have their teammates' backs, but the officials need to do their part in keeping the game fair and safe.

LEAGUE OFFICIATING CONTROVERSIES

Chaos on the Court: Fever's Victory Marred by Controversial Fouls

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